Brilliantly Confusing

So I've come to conclude Toni Morrison is a little over my head. I read one of her books in a class at USU and I loved it, but I felt like I only got through it because I was reading it with a brilliant professor and a small group of students. Reading Beloved I was all on my own. Well, me and sparknotes.com. I think she is a very talented author, with a glorious collection of novels, short stories, and poems. I feel I have to expose my students to this gifted, modern day miracle of a writer, so we read her short story Rectatif. And they love it. And with a little help from me they really understood it. But I really was a little lost on this one. Thankfully, one of my colleagues saw me reading it, she is a middle aged black woman, and she too said Morrison is over her head. So I guess I'm not alone on this one.

I will definitely put Morrison on my list of top 50 books (when I finish this list I've created I plan to make up my own). But I think I will have to go with Paradise even though Beloved is suppose to be her greatest work. I just believe Morrison is most well known for her controversial depictions of race and Beloved didn't have as much as that. There was definitely an identity struggle happening among the ex-slaves. Which I think was probably pretty accurate of the time. It would be hard to figure out who you were if you were raised as a piece of property.

The story isn't really about that though. It's just one of the motifs running through the novel. It's really about a woman who kills her daughter, Beloved, because she thinks she will be safer dead - away from the grasp of White men. Well, Beloved comes back to haunt her mother. Causing her older brothers and her mothers boyfriend all to run away. The character who stays is her little sister Denver. I love this character. I don't think Denver got the credit she deserves. She was a very intriguing character. Maybe when I read it a second time (if I ever do) I'll understand it a little better.

W-O-W

This book really has me thinking about all the promises America has made to other countries. Promises we haven't kept. How many times have we convinced an impoverished country to engage in a war with us, while promising them schools, clean water, and all the simple things they need; just to end the war and move on to the next country? i.e Afghanistan to Iraq.

What Greg Mortenson does is truly amazing. I've learned so many wonderful things from him. First, one person can make a huge difference in the lives of thousands. Second, the best way to fight terrorism is education. Third, you can help a culture different from your own without threatening to change that culture. And so much more. He must be the most selfless man in the world. I can't believe the things he has gone through to help other people. He laid in the back of a truck and covered himself with dead goats (which might not sound bad when your life is on the line). He spent months at a time away from his wife and kids. He was practically homeless when he first toyed with the idea to build a school for poor kids in Pakistan. He has done so much to help so many. I can't imagine anyone who has lived a more exciting and rewarding life. What a guy.

I share in his love of Muslim people. I think it is one of the most pure cultures on Earth. The real teachings of Mohammad are love, peace, and a personal relationship with God. I think Islam is a beautiful religion and it's followers are truly prepared to meet God. They have so much faith and devotion. We could all learn so much from them. And they truly are some of the poorest people on Earth. I believe that is why they are so misunderstood. Mortenson points out that one can be easily persuaded to follow jihad if they are offering you the only bread and water you can find. All the more reason for America to keep its promises and help our Muslim brothers and sisters. If they could see us as their Savior's instead of their bullies they wouldn't fall so easily into the traps of radical thinking. This book makes it so clear.

Anyone who has ever equated terrorism with Islam needs to read this book. They need to spend a couple weeks in an Islamic country. If you watch closely, the way a Muslim family lives is no different from the way any family wishes to be. Close and loving, non-worldly.

I give this book five stars. Two thumbs way up. If I were rich I would donate all my money to the CAI. Someday. Maybe I'll be able to help build a school in Afghanistan, or another country America has failed to keep their promises with.

A True Classic

It seems likes its been a long time since I posted on this blog. I guess that's because I stopped reading my students' books and returned to the classics. I love the classics, and I especially love Dickens. I think he is the greatest writer of all time. Though I have to admit the beginning of this novel was a bit much for me. There were a couple of chapters that just blew me away with their beautiful literacy, but all the characters felt rushed and shallow. Except the Defarges. At all times I disliked Madame Defarge. She was so dark and evil. Such a contrast form some of the other characters. Doctor Manette seemed to be the only complex character at the beginning. Always returning to his work as a shoemaker. But by the end Mr Carton was definitely complex. Such a humble and heroic figure. I could not beleive what he did for Charles Darnay. I'd tell you but that would spoil it for you. Let's just say he made a huge sacrifice, with dignity.

There were a couple chapters that really painted a picture of the darkness of the revolution. People on the streets were gulping up spilled wine, as if it was their only hope of survival. An arrogant aristocrat runs down children on the streets of Paris with his carriage. That was so shocking. And as Ben said, probably true to the era. I just can't blieve that the world was in such a state just several hundred years ago. We've come a long way. But our troubles now are so different. We still have Defarges, Marquis and Manettes and Cartons. Heroes and heroines of all sizes.

I didn't think this book was as great as Bleak House. But that may be because I read Bleak House with a brilliant professor and I read this all on my own. I do look forward to more of Dickens classics. Brilliant man, absolutely brilliant.

Flight to Freedom

It was fun to read a book about the communist movement in an area other than Asia. I need to study South and Central America more than I do. This was a good start. It was a really easy Young Adult book. She writes in journal form and records the first year of her life in the US. I wish it had spent more time in Cuba, but it was interesting to read about the transition her family makes in their new country. I didn't realize how many Cubans live in Florida. She said thousands come each week. The other thing I found interesting was their desire to have the US step in and invade their country. Several times she mentions their want for us to leave Vietnam and enter Cuba. Overall, it was an alright book.

Love It

This book is fab-u-lous! I loved it. I totally see why it's won so many awards. It's all so true too. Very inner city. I love Maleeka and the journey she goes through. I totally recommend it. It only took me a couple hours to read. I wish I could write something this wonderful. All the stories that go on inside of this book are very touching. Especially the slave girl personna Maleeka takes on in her English class. Beautifully written. I think it would really reach and inspire the teenage girl. Great for middle schoolers to read.

A lot of thoughts on this one

I've always been really interested in the treatment of mental health patients. I have my reasons. I would even say that's why I selected Psychology as a minor. I've just always believed mental health is a real issue that needs more attention. So this book fascinated me. It brought out a lot of different emotions. First, it's hilarious. Then it's a bit dry and confusing. Next, it intrigues you. And finally it shocks you.

The theme of laughter really intrigued me. The idea that these hospital patients lost the ability to laugh was really interesting. I wonder what it would take to loose that. A lot of suffering and monotony. It was very rewarding to watch the men on the ward finally work up the gall to laugh at themselves. You just had to love McMurphy for that.

I found the characters in this novel fascinating. Nurse Ratched is such an evil witch. And I just know there are people in the medical field that are like this. There are people in all fields like this. So damaging and evil. Bromden, the narrator is also really interesting. I love that he acts deaf and dumb through the first half of the novel. And the night he finally begins to talk is wonderful. I love that he has to practice talking again. Then of course there's the McMurphy -- who I would claim didn't really need to be on the ward. I kept waiting for his great escape, but if I told you how he eventually got out I would ruin the shocking part of the novel.

Overall it is great book. But I don't know that it will end up on my list of the top 50. We'll see how the next 36 go. I'm curious to see who makes the cut.

Change of heart

So I changed my mind, I love One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. The middle was a bit watery for me. At first I thought it was hysterical, then it got weird, and now it's great again. I'm not quiet finished so I'll give you an update when I turn the last page. Three Cups of Tea is still going well. Eat Love Pray has been brought to a halt. I 'll have to pick it up again.

I have a confession to make. I've started writing a memoir. It's about my memories of my father's hospitalization and my own time in the loony bin. We'll see how it goes. Wow, that feels nice to get that out. Now I need to get back to the grind and interview Jon about his memories. And I need to tell my Dad about this book. But who really knows what will come of it.