Life of Pi

It took me a while to finish this one. The argument for zoos at the beginning of the novel really drew me in. I found the narrator to be very thought provoking and reliable. The idea of living at sea with a 450 pound Bengal tiger wasn't hard for me to believe. Because I trusted the narrator. But then he goes blind, bumps into a french man in the middle of the Pacific and later finds a floating algae island. These two events turned the narrator into a very unreliable fellow. So I'm not surprised the two investigators at the end also find his story of survival hard to believe. I guess that's what makes it such a great work of fiction.

Interesting themes were the role of religion in Pi's life. I especially liked when the leaders of his three studied religions (Christianity, Islam and Hinduism) all told him he couldn't believe in all three. That he had to pick. Even then, Pi didn't choose one. And interesting that Pi is infinite (mathematically speaking) himself. But I didn't really get the "And so it is with God" quote at the end, when the two investigators tell him they like the story with animals better. I really doubt that the other story is what actually happened, and wouldn't have even thought that plausible if it weren't for the reading guide questions.

Overall I liked it, even though it took me a long time to get through. I don't think I'll ever bother to read it again. But I'd recommend it to some adolescent boy. Or a real serious fiction/adventure book lover.

Caved

So I'm torn. It only took 400 pages for it to get exciting. But even before that I couldn't put it down for some reason. I think it was just because it's so easy to read. The writing definitely wasn't great. I liked this one part on page 30(?) Shoot I can't find it. I thought I took note of the page so I could quote it. She describes the scenery of Phoenix, AZ. And of course I just grew melancholy for my lovely desert home. I was impressed with the use of big words. Glad to see it in a YA novel. The two main characters were well developed but everyone else was truly flat.

In the middle of the novel I was secretly hoping Edward would just give in and eat her, so it would all be over with. I thought that would be real comical. But I knew it wouldn't happen. Bet it does on the movie that makes fun of it. I'm curious to see how the series ends but I really don't want to read the other books. Maybe if I wait a month or two I'll change my mind.

I confess I didn't read a lot of it. I skimmed through parts where there was no dialog. You could pretty much keep up with the whole story if you just read everything in quotes. Which is what I did. Like I said at the beginning of this post, it did become thrilling around page 400. I was glad to finally see something actually happening.

Parts of the love story was LA-HAME! But in the end I was a little dreamy for Edward, just like everyone said I would be. But I definitely don't think I'll ever become obsessed with him like so many women are. I just didn't see what was so great about him. Ben's better.

Wish there had been more symbols or metaphors. There may have been and I just missed them. I tend to do that. Well, I'd love to hear your thoughts on this book. Since I know so many of my blogging buddies have read it.

Mr. Obama

Surprisingly enough I didn't love this book. I still love Mr. Obama. But the book wasn't as good as I was hoping for. The beginning really sucked me in. I read the first 100 pages in less than a day. It was so fascinating to learn about his life in Hawaii and Indonesia. I can't even imagine what it would be like to grow up black when everyone who is raising you is white. I found one particular story about his grandmother being afraid of a black homeless man very interesting. His grandfather was upset because he assumed she wouldn't have been afraid if the man was white. Which I find true for a lot of people. So even with a black grandson living in her house, she was a little bit racist. As for his grandfather. I think he went out of his way to be tolerant, and it sounds like it might have made for some uncomfortable situations. Which makes me wonder if my presence as an assistant coach for basketball ever causes these awkwardnesses.

It was the middle that really dragged on. I liked his experience in Chicago and found it very interesting. Similiar neighborhoods to what I teach in. Similiar attitudes, similiar dissapointments. But it was just a little too much for me.

Then he goes to Kenya, and I was once again fascinated. His family just embraces him with all their hearts. And though he had only met his older half brother and sister he seems to just fit right in. But he does mention the disappointment that must come to all Black Americans when they return to Africa. Because of colonialism much of Africa mimics the western world, and in there lies the disappointment. He tells this amazing story about his grandfather and how he conformed to the ways of the white man when they first entered his village. It reminded me of Achebe's Things Fall Apart. His grandmother tells him about the wars that were fought with the white men. How at first no one thought they would stay. They thought they'd leave like the Arabs did. But soon white men were forcing taxes on the people, and forcing the people to use the white man's money instead of their own goods for trade. They'd burn down the huts of anyone who refused to pay. It's just so sad.

While in Kenya he goes on a safari with his sister Aumua. She was reluctant at first, saying the conservations are a sign of colonialism, a sign that the white man cares more about a dead elephant than 100 black people. I found that statement really interesting. But still, his description of the animals of the grasslands made me want to go one my own African safari. Someday.

And even though it wasn't a five star book, I still hope that someday this great man is the leader of our country. I want it for his sincerity, his charism, his race, and our people. We need a man like this. We need Mr. Obama.

Authors of my 50 greatst novels

So I've been thinking a lot about how most the authors on my list of 50 greatest authors are native English speakers and it really disturbs me. So I've set out to read a lot more African novels. I looked for Asian ones but it was kind of hard. You might say it bias just cause I speak English but I figure any work of literature that is really considered great would have been translated into English. Which, about 12 of the authors are from countries where the most spoken language is not English, so I'm guessing those books were translated. Anyway, to let you know what the list looks like . . .
There are 14 British authors with 18 books
12 American authors with 14 books, two of which are African American
1 Columbian (the only S. American) with 2 books
2 Irish
1 Spanish
4 Russians, unless you count Ukraine, then there is 5, with 7 books
1 German
3 French
1 Japanese
1 Austrian

So there you have it, the many countries of my list. The list I come up with should be a lot more diverse. Keep your fingers crossed that I can finish all my reading by age 35. Maybe I'll give myself 5 years of "other country reading" and wait to publish my list at 40.

Wrapping up the series

I finished my last Nikoline book today. I'm sad it is over. They were so fun to read. I liked this one a lot. As you can tell from the title it is about Lena's career as a teacher. But what I enjoyed must was the love story. Lena battles back and forth between two men, Dick and Ray. I liked Ray a little better even though she seemed more herself around Dick. In the end they both propose (Ray early on in the book before he leaves on a five year mission to Hawaii and Dick near the books end before he leaves for Chicago). Well, when Dick proposes he mentions getting married at city hall. To which Lena realizes he doesn't really have a testimony in the gospel. She tells him she doesn't know how their marriage will work if they can't even agree on their wedding. She then realizes she'd rather be with Ray. And a couple months later he mentions his earlier proposal is still a good one. It was such a cute love story, I shouted out loud when they finally ended up together.

It's funny how different Nikoline's and my teaching careers are. She was roughly 17 when she was given a "frontier" school in what I think must be Spanish Fork whereabouts. She lived with a family that sent two children to her school. Of course it was a one roomer with grades 1 through 8 and ages about six through sixteen. How would it be!?!? But it was fun to read about her journey as a school ma'm.

It was fun to read about her little brother Peter, who I'm pretty sure is my great grandpa. He was quite the teaser when they roomed together at BYU, or the Academy. Like I said, I'm sad the series is over. They were fun to read and learn about my heritage. It was also fun to watch how women's rights were unfolding and Utah gained statehood. A real treasure

A little more ancestory

I finished another book today. Two in one day feels great! Nikoline's Academy really connected with me. I doubt I'll read it as a bed time story to my kids (see Nikoline's Choice). But I'll encourage my daughters to read it when they are teenagers. This book was all about Nikoline's journey through college. Things sure were different back then. It only took her one year to earn her teaching degree. You could get baptized every eight years. And you could get married in the temple just weeks after your baptism. They didn't bathe, horse and buggy were source of travel, to name a more obvious few. Anyway, I loved how anxious she was to become a teacher. I reminded me of myself. I guess a love of teaching has been in the family longer than I knew. Hearing of her teacher training reminded me of my own days in Cache County Schools. Those were very different from my current teaching status.

There was a literary focus on "if." Which I found interesting cause my dad always challenged us not to ask those "what if" questions. Maybe that's always been in the family too.

But the best part of course was the love story. I can't wait to read Nikoline's Career and see if she marries Ray Shumway, which I don't think she will. Cause I think his real life character is President Hinckley's Uncle or Dad or something. I'll have to research it and ask my dad. Anyway, the love story made me shrill out loud at the end of the book. And until that point I hadn't thought it was that great of a book. But me making noises out loud while I read is the sign of a good book. Well, Ray rides on his horse day and night to help Nikoline get her first job as a teacher. And he did it all without her even knowing. It was so sweet. And then when she was finally able to thank him he kissed her on the lips, twice. Which was a real big deal back then.

I love reading this series. I can dream about Mount Timpanogos while she describes its beauty. I can picture her and Ray canoeing across Lake Utah. I know what it's like to finally come home after being away for such a long time. And so much more. I love my roots!

The Shepherd of the Hills

I read this one for book club. It's a good story, not great, but good. It had a little twist at the end that tied everyone together which I enjoyed. I guess you can never know what kind of impact you may have on people, for good or bad. There was a cute little love story as well. A couple of the main characters pass on, which I always like about books. Good books always seem to have some sort of sad truth, unlike the movies which are always happily ever after. I think the sad elements make books more real and personable. It was a quick read. Worth it if you just want a simple, old fashioned story about the Ozarks.