A student recommended I read Identical, a collection of poems written by Ellen Hopkins. The story is told via poems written by identical twin sisters. Essentially, the collection functions as a modern-day epic poem, relating in poetry a story that would normally be told through basic prose. But the poetic form gives life to these girls and to the struggles they face. They are not typical teenagers. Instead, they are the daughters of a prominent politician mother and a renowned judge father. They endure the public facade erected by their parents, and they battle internally with demons no one should ever battle.
I was disturbed the entire time I read the book. Switching from one twin to the other and back, I felt, as a reader, that I was on a roller coaster with them. One minute a girl binges to swallow her pain, and the next another is purging to force it out. A boyfriend with sweet intentions contrasts several with the worst. Through it all, a father and mother neglect and abuse their children with truly reckless abandon. I cringe simply thinking about it.
In so many ways, I'm afraid this is reality (in some form) for many of my students, and that disturbs me in every imaginable way. It is the harsh reality of our world, the sick reality of some people in it, and the impossible reality for young people trying to survive.
Poetry was a powerful vessel to deliver the message. Feeling intimate and vulnerable and connected to these girls' words means living their terrifying experiences. A short story told from their first-person points-of-view would not have the same power. The vessel would not be fluid enough to represent the chaos of their lives. For this reason, I believe Identical's unique format gives it a structureless structure and allows the story to be told eloquently and viscerally, drawing the reader in even as it makes her want to turn away.
Tuesday, November 17, 2009
Thursday, October 22, 2009
Book Stacks
I have not blogged in over a month, but this is not for lack of reading. I am working on several pieces right now, including a couple for work and a few for fun.
I am still pushing through "Julie and Julia", but the movie is out of theaters now, so I have until the DVD release to finish it. Unfortunately, the story has not grabbed my attention in a way that compels me to read, but it is an easy book with a relaxed tone, and the experience of reading it is a good one. It is simply not high on my reading priority list.
For Read for Yourself, I am reading two books suggested by students. The first, "Identical", is, essentially, an epic poem in parts. The story is told, piece by piece, in one to two page poems. These poems take on different forms, some of which inform the reading, and they are told by twin sisters who have very different perspectives on the turmoil in their lives. The format is interesting, the content is disturbing. I feel viscerally disgusted when I read about the dynamics between the female narrators and their father. However, I can see how young adults might connect to it, particularly if they have endured abuse in the past.
The other book I am reading at a student's suggestion is "Naked" by David Sedaris. I have heard only good things about Sedaris, and it was only a matter of time before I read his work. But that time has arrived. The first chapter hooks the reader. The writing is cheeky and often sarcastic. He uses powerful imagery and detailed descriptions of his family members and experiences. It is a great read.
Naturally, I'm still fawning over "The Book Thief" and "Boy in the Striped Pajamas", endlessly brainstorming the best ways to teach these two texts. I need to find a focus for both of them. I would really like kids to journal as they are reading, so that I can have an individual dialog with them as they are reading. Still, the unit remains unfinished.
Other than that, I am reading job-specific articles and books. That said, the books I am reading for fun a far more interesting, and I am excited to keep pushing through.
Happy reading!
I am still pushing through "Julie and Julia", but the movie is out of theaters now, so I have until the DVD release to finish it. Unfortunately, the story has not grabbed my attention in a way that compels me to read, but it is an easy book with a relaxed tone, and the experience of reading it is a good one. It is simply not high on my reading priority list.
For Read for Yourself, I am reading two books suggested by students. The first, "Identical", is, essentially, an epic poem in parts. The story is told, piece by piece, in one to two page poems. These poems take on different forms, some of which inform the reading, and they are told by twin sisters who have very different perspectives on the turmoil in their lives. The format is interesting, the content is disturbing. I feel viscerally disgusted when I read about the dynamics between the female narrators and their father. However, I can see how young adults might connect to it, particularly if they have endured abuse in the past.
The other book I am reading at a student's suggestion is "Naked" by David Sedaris. I have heard only good things about Sedaris, and it was only a matter of time before I read his work. But that time has arrived. The first chapter hooks the reader. The writing is cheeky and often sarcastic. He uses powerful imagery and detailed descriptions of his family members and experiences. It is a great read.
Naturally, I'm still fawning over "The Book Thief" and "Boy in the Striped Pajamas", endlessly brainstorming the best ways to teach these two texts. I need to find a focus for both of them. I would really like kids to journal as they are reading, so that I can have an individual dialog with them as they are reading. Still, the unit remains unfinished.
Other than that, I am reading job-specific articles and books. That said, the books I am reading for fun a far more interesting, and I am excited to keep pushing through.
Happy reading!
Thursday, September 17, 2009
The Lost Symbol
Amazing. As I write this message, my mind swirls with the theories to which it has just been introduced. In some ways, I have met these theories before. In other ways, it is brand new and perplexing, unbelievable, the tip of a very large iceberg.
I just finished "The Lost Symbol", within the last two minutes running my eyes over the last words. I think I should process the book, but, instead, I will write about it. First, a quote:
"He thought about how every culture, in every country, in every time, had always shared one thing. We all had the Creator. We used different names, different faces, and different prayers, but God was the universal constant for man. God was the symbol we all shared... the symbol of all the mysteries of life that we could not understand. The ancients had praised God as a symbol of our limitless human potential, but that ancient symbol had been lost over time." (509)
Dan Brown is notoriously controversial. His books delve into worlds of religion, culture, history, and science. He appears to question and to "undermine" religion (Christianity, in particular) even as he illuminates the truth contained within. "The Lost Symbol" is classic Dan Brown in this way. The story is littered with the detritus of millenia of human existence and thought, riddled with symbols and obscure text, scaffolded with deft explanations and elaborate demonstrations. Though fiction, the book may be classified a hundred different ways. In part it is philosophy, considering the ancients in depth and making contemporary connections that can be ignored, but only if that ignorance is tempered with curiosity. In another part, it is historical fiction, painting detailed portraits of historic figures captured at their various appropriate points in history but coming together anachronistically in Brown's novel. In another part it is advanced science, drawing on humankind's most recent scientific and technological work and its seemingly odd marriage to religion and philosophy.
Truly, this, like all of his other work, is a masterpiece in and of itself, with the power to inspire readers to learn more, to seek information and to demand a clearer picture of humankind's history and present. The final word of the novel is "Hope", and in some (intended, I'm sure) way, Brown is leaving his audience with that single concept. At the end of a novel where the characters (angels and demons) are searching for The Last Word, this is his: Hope.
I am always astounded by how much I learn from Dan Brown's books. They are utterly entertaining, but they are the only books I read with my laptop as a constant accompaniment. His elaborate descriptions of locations and artwork and objects of public consumption inspire me to learn more, to seek a faithful visual representation. With Dan Brown, Wikipedia can be a reader's best friend, enhancing the experience of reading even as it removes the reader from the text itself. I re-read full chapters after conducting my Wiki-research, and my reading is brought to life by this necessary (for me) investigation. The reality of his work is not lost on me; at the beginning of his books, he includes a page titled "Fact:" as if anticipating disbelief. Because, in truth, the fiction he expertly weaves has nothing on the nonfiction into which it is woven. Without his disclaimer (and my previous experiences with his work, all of which left me with hours of additional research to conduct), I would not believe many of the things that are described on these pages.
But sometimes the truth, lightly veiled but astonishingly accessible, is more powerful than any imagining.
Happy reading.
I just finished "The Lost Symbol", within the last two minutes running my eyes over the last words. I think I should process the book, but, instead, I will write about it. First, a quote:
"He thought about how every culture, in every country, in every time, had always shared one thing. We all had the Creator. We used different names, different faces, and different prayers, but God was the universal constant for man. God was the symbol we all shared... the symbol of all the mysteries of life that we could not understand. The ancients had praised God as a symbol of our limitless human potential, but that ancient symbol had been lost over time." (509)
Dan Brown is notoriously controversial. His books delve into worlds of religion, culture, history, and science. He appears to question and to "undermine" religion (Christianity, in particular) even as he illuminates the truth contained within. "The Lost Symbol" is classic Dan Brown in this way. The story is littered with the detritus of millenia of human existence and thought, riddled with symbols and obscure text, scaffolded with deft explanations and elaborate demonstrations. Though fiction, the book may be classified a hundred different ways. In part it is philosophy, considering the ancients in depth and making contemporary connections that can be ignored, but only if that ignorance is tempered with curiosity. In another part, it is historical fiction, painting detailed portraits of historic figures captured at their various appropriate points in history but coming together anachronistically in Brown's novel. In another part it is advanced science, drawing on humankind's most recent scientific and technological work and its seemingly odd marriage to religion and philosophy.
Truly, this, like all of his other work, is a masterpiece in and of itself, with the power to inspire readers to learn more, to seek information and to demand a clearer picture of humankind's history and present. The final word of the novel is "Hope", and in some (intended, I'm sure) way, Brown is leaving his audience with that single concept. At the end of a novel where the characters (angels and demons) are searching for The Last Word, this is his: Hope.
I am always astounded by how much I learn from Dan Brown's books. They are utterly entertaining, but they are the only books I read with my laptop as a constant accompaniment. His elaborate descriptions of locations and artwork and objects of public consumption inspire me to learn more, to seek a faithful visual representation. With Dan Brown, Wikipedia can be a reader's best friend, enhancing the experience of reading even as it removes the reader from the text itself. I re-read full chapters after conducting my Wiki-research, and my reading is brought to life by this necessary (for me) investigation. The reality of his work is not lost on me; at the beginning of his books, he includes a page titled "Fact:" as if anticipating disbelief. Because, in truth, the fiction he expertly weaves has nothing on the nonfiction into which it is woven. Without his disclaimer (and my previous experiences with his work, all of which left me with hours of additional research to conduct), I would not believe many of the things that are described on these pages.
But sometimes the truth, lightly veiled but astonishingly accessible, is more powerful than any imagining.
Happy reading.
The Lost Symbol
OMG. I would like to recommend this book to everyone who knows how to read. More later today after I finish it!
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Dicotomy
I am reading two very different books at the moment, one for fun, and one for work. Incidentally, the for work book is also fun.
First, I picked up "Julie and Julia" this summer because the movie looked great, but I wanted to read the memoir first. Sadly I'm afraid the movie may leave cinemas before I have a chance to finish the book. My reading has, sadly, been lax lately.
"Julie and Julia" is a great book. I'm enjoying it. The style is fine, but it does leave a little to be desired. Fortunately, Julie, the semi-titular author, has a sense of humor, and her work is honest. She finds interesting ways to explain her experiences, and the small moments of insight about Julia Child are great touchpoints. Admittedly, I know very little about Julia Child, and I know even less about the traditional French cooking she made accessible to the average person. But Julie's description of the first dish she made-- potato and leek soup-- inspired me to make it too, so the book, at the very least, has the potential to make a delicious impression.
The for work book is "The Book Thief." My freshmen are reading it this year, and I am excited to teach it. The book has great style; the writing is fresh, and the format is cool. I think for those reasons, it will be accessible to my students, and that is half the battle most days. Stirred into the style are several literary ingredients: metaphor, imagery, and TONS of personification. The book contains limitless fodder for discussion of literary technique, but I need to get my students to that point in order to make it work. With only five or six weeks to whip them into "The Book Thief" shape, I have my work cut out for me.
Regardless, both texts are comfortable reads with distinct flavor. I will be posting updates as I make my way through the pages. Stay tuned!
Happy reading!
First, I picked up "Julie and Julia" this summer because the movie looked great, but I wanted to read the memoir first. Sadly I'm afraid the movie may leave cinemas before I have a chance to finish the book. My reading has, sadly, been lax lately.
"Julie and Julia" is a great book. I'm enjoying it. The style is fine, but it does leave a little to be desired. Fortunately, Julie, the semi-titular author, has a sense of humor, and her work is honest. She finds interesting ways to explain her experiences, and the small moments of insight about Julia Child are great touchpoints. Admittedly, I know very little about Julia Child, and I know even less about the traditional French cooking she made accessible to the average person. But Julie's description of the first dish she made-- potato and leek soup-- inspired me to make it too, so the book, at the very least, has the potential to make a delicious impression.
The for work book is "The Book Thief." My freshmen are reading it this year, and I am excited to teach it. The book has great style; the writing is fresh, and the format is cool. I think for those reasons, it will be accessible to my students, and that is half the battle most days. Stirred into the style are several literary ingredients: metaphor, imagery, and TONS of personification. The book contains limitless fodder for discussion of literary technique, but I need to get my students to that point in order to make it work. With only five or six weeks to whip them into "The Book Thief" shape, I have my work cut out for me.
Regardless, both texts are comfortable reads with distinct flavor. I will be posting updates as I make my way through the pages. Stay tuned!
Happy reading!
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Queen of Babble Gets Hitched
I feel a bit silly writing this review, particularly because the author of "Queen of Babble Gets Hitched" is the same author who wrote "The Princess Diaries." But I am setting aside my apprehension, and thus the review begins.
Meg Cabot is synonymous with Princess Mia and the juvenile literature dynasty of which she is the queen. But for those of us who have graduated from high school (and, well, who have graduated to characters who have graduated from high school), Cabot also spins tales of twenty- and thirty-somethings who try (and fail and succeed) to make sense of their often self-complicated lives. In "Queen of Babble" (the first in what is a three-story arc, so far), the reader meets Lizzie Nichols, a struggling twenty-something with no career prospects and (gasp) no love prospects either. Naturally, as she journeys to France for the wedding of a good friend, she finds love and stumbles upon something solid in the professional realm as well. But her path is fraught with self-inflicted obstacles, which predictably dissipate as the story reaches its inevitable conclusions.
"Queen of Babble Gets Hitched" does not veer off the predictable path either. From the title the reader assumes Lizzie Nichols will, indeed, get hitched, but the question becomes: to whom? From the first chapter, where the complication is dutifully described, the reader embarks on her predetermined, expected roller coaster ride. But if a reader picks up a Meg Cabot book, she is not looking to be surprised. She does not want to shocked, to be forced to drag her jaw up off the floor with every turn of the page. Readers of Meg Cabot want to consume literary empty calories, to turn off their critical thinking abilities, to indulge in something completely mindless and fun.
Basically, it's the perfect end-of-summer read. I look a stack of intellectual books, of craftily-created stories and insightful nonfiction, and this is what I choose. For today. Tomorrow I will exercise my brain, I promise. But today, I just enjoy.
Happy reading!
Meg Cabot is synonymous with Princess Mia and the juvenile literature dynasty of which she is the queen. But for those of us who have graduated from high school (and, well, who have graduated to characters who have graduated from high school), Cabot also spins tales of twenty- and thirty-somethings who try (and fail and succeed) to make sense of their often self-complicated lives. In "Queen of Babble" (the first in what is a three-story arc, so far), the reader meets Lizzie Nichols, a struggling twenty-something with no career prospects and (gasp) no love prospects either. Naturally, as she journeys to France for the wedding of a good friend, she finds love and stumbles upon something solid in the professional realm as well. But her path is fraught with self-inflicted obstacles, which predictably dissipate as the story reaches its inevitable conclusions.
"Queen of Babble Gets Hitched" does not veer off the predictable path either. From the title the reader assumes Lizzie Nichols will, indeed, get hitched, but the question becomes: to whom? From the first chapter, where the complication is dutifully described, the reader embarks on her predetermined, expected roller coaster ride. But if a reader picks up a Meg Cabot book, she is not looking to be surprised. She does not want to shocked, to be forced to drag her jaw up off the floor with every turn of the page. Readers of Meg Cabot want to consume literary empty calories, to turn off their critical thinking abilities, to indulge in something completely mindless and fun.
Basically, it's the perfect end-of-summer read. I look a stack of intellectual books, of craftily-created stories and insightful nonfiction, and this is what I choose. For today. Tomorrow I will exercise my brain, I promise. But today, I just enjoy.
Happy reading!
Tuesday, August 11, 2009
Unaccustomed Earth- The End
Jhumpa Lahiri is fabulous, and Unaccustomed Earth does not disappoint. While the first 2/3 of the book is markedly better, the last piece is also poetic in Lahiri's seemingly-signature bittersweet way.
Unaccustomed Earth is a collection of short stories, and it concludes with a slightly longer story told from two first person points-of-view and one omniscient point-of-view. From an analytical standpoint, that makes it interesting. In fact, I read on the edge of my seat, waiting to see the paths of the two narrators cross in adulthood as they do in their childhood. However, I found the meeting anticlimactic, and the use of a natural disaster to end the story felt like a cop-out. I suspect that the intensity of the event in her real life impacted Lahiri so drastically that she was moved to include it in her story, to use it as a tool, to memorialize, somehow, the event. But it read as forced after a story of utter ease.
I recently purchased Interpreter of Maladies, the collection that first brought Lahiri fame. I am excited to read it, but I am moving on to Julie & Julia first. I want to read the novel before I see the film, and I have a sense that the humor in this book will be intoxicating. I look forward to that.
Until we meet again in the blogosphere, happy reading!
Unaccustomed Earth is a collection of short stories, and it concludes with a slightly longer story told from two first person points-of-view and one omniscient point-of-view. From an analytical standpoint, that makes it interesting. In fact, I read on the edge of my seat, waiting to see the paths of the two narrators cross in adulthood as they do in their childhood. However, I found the meeting anticlimactic, and the use of a natural disaster to end the story felt like a cop-out. I suspect that the intensity of the event in her real life impacted Lahiri so drastically that she was moved to include it in her story, to use it as a tool, to memorialize, somehow, the event. But it read as forced after a story of utter ease.
I recently purchased Interpreter of Maladies, the collection that first brought Lahiri fame. I am excited to read it, but I am moving on to Julie & Julia first. I want to read the novel before I see the film, and I have a sense that the humor in this book will be intoxicating. I look forward to that.
Until we meet again in the blogosphere, happy reading!
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