Naked

When I typed the title for this entry, I was reminded of the sign on a mechanic's shop in Auburn: "Sex! (Now that we've got your attention...)". But I promise my title is not a ploy.

NAKED by David Sedaris is a collection of memoirs, arranged a bit sporadically, each peppered with raw wit. I wish that I could say that it was a fabulous book. A student in Read For Yourself recommended it and insisted that I read one of Sedaris' books, so I did. Maybe it is telling that I started the book in the fall and have just closed the cover for the last time. It took me forever to read!

The beginning of the book was a great introduction to Sedaris' voice, to his humor, to his family (the center of all things for him, it seems). I was drawn in by the laughter I could hear through words printed on a page. But he lost me in the middle. While I plowed through the first three chapters, I stalled unceremoniously in the interim, coming back only at the end, when I saw the light at the end of the tunnel. Sadly, this is not a tunnel I plan to traverse again.

The writing was not particularly illuminating. He rarely shed light on issues in a way that appealed to me. And, as I write that, I think, "This book is not written for me." And I know that I am right.

That said, I did like this bit:

"My hands tend to be full enough dealing with people who hate me for who I am. Concentrate too hard on the millions who hate you for what you are and you're likely to turn into one of those unkempt, sloppy dressers who sag beneath the weight of the two hundred political buttons they wear pinned to their coats and knapsacks. I haven't got the slightest idea how to change people, but still I keep a long list of prospective candidates just in case I should ever figure it out.

I would recommend Sedaris because I know he has reached a lot of readers. He may not be the right fit for you, but I'm glad I gave him a shot.

Happy reading!

Too Long

It has truly been far too long since my last post! And, as I am sure you can imagine, I have been reading (and listening) in the interim.

On my drives to and from Massachusetts, I have listened to several (have not been counting) audio books. The ones that come to mind are "The Collectors" and "The Camel Club" by David Baldacci, a couple by Robert Parker, and a couple by James Patterson. Baldacci is my favorite, by far. He writes about interesting topics, and I love the setting. Besides that, he has some "serial" characters (the Camel Club lead by the old-but-intrepid Oliver Stone and Michelle Maxwell/Sean King). One of the things that is most troubling about good literature, to me, is that when the book is finished, so are the people we meet on the pages. It might be sappy, but when I finish a Billie Letts book, for example, I feel like I am losing friends. To have a series featuring the same dynamic and complex characters solving a continuing mystery is a treat. I think that is one of the reasons why science fiction and fantasy books are reaching a new height of popularity; people want their stories to continue. How many of use are STILL wishing for and eighth Harry Potter or a fifth Twilight? My guess: too many of us to count!

As far as novels I have picked up to read, I finished "Beach House" by Jane Green a couple weeks ago. I love Jane Green's earlier works, which feature twenty- and thirty-somethings who are struggling to balance their personal and professional lives. In a way, her characters used to represent the same or similar existential struggles, and I could relate to their tales. "Beach House", however, features more mature characters, and I think it represents a shift in Jane Green's inspiration. The central character in "Beach House" is an older woman, in her sixties, who owns a large home on Nantucket. The house is in disrepair, and she just discovers that her late husband had swindled all of their money, and she has run out. Rather than sell the home, she decides to rent out rooms. Meanwhile, Green introduces three other families, disparate (at first), but struggling with demons of their own. One family has divorced parents and a very unruly teenage daughter. Another has a husband who has just come out of the closet and whose marriage, his wife is chagrined to learn, was a total sham. As I am sure you can deduce, these people are brought together by circumstances and a collective need for simplicity and distance. Ironically, as they run from their previous lives, they find each other and start rebuilding.

Normally, I would say that when I read, I see the passages as a movie in my head. In this case, I see this entire book as a movie. The screenplay would be simple, the characters warm and familiar. The setting-- oh, my. The setting would make all movie-goers wistful. It would easily feature an ensemble cast of understated actors and draw in crowds of key demographics: house wives, gay men, and elderly women. Okay. Maybe those aren't key demographics-- but they're nothing to sneeze at!

I have started reading "Naked" by David Sedaris. He is a funny man. In addition, I am scouring "The Book Thief" to prepare for the third quarter novel unit. My mom brought home "Kingdom Keepers II", a piece of juvenile literature in which kids (whose holograms serve as tour guides at Disney World) are able to infiltrate the Magic Kingdom at night in order to protect it from the characters who come to life each night. Yeah, I know it sounds pretty juvenile, but it fulfills a need in my life to be in Disney World overnight. God, how I would love that.

Anyway, that concludes my current recap of the last two months of my reading life. I will update with more regularity, I promise. Though, at this point, I'm not sure anyone is reading this. Ah, well. Writing for writing's sake retains purpose and benefit.

Happy reading!

Stone Cold

I should also mention that I finished listening to "Stone Cold" by David Baldacci. These audiobooks, for the record, are wonderful brain candy for a person with a long commute (a couple times a week).

"Stone Cold" left me feeling like I needed a character web to follow along, but once I grew accustomed to the characters and to their relationships with one another, I was able to just relax, drive, and enjoy the story.

Happy listening!

Interpreter of Maladies

I finished the last available Jhumpa Lahiri book Wednesday. It is a short story collection titled "Interpreter of Maladies." Like her other short story collection, An Unaccustomed Earth, and her novel, The Namesake, Interpreter of Maladies focuses on the lives of Bengalis, primarily, as well as Indians. Every story centers on a single relationship: man and wife, man and landlady, impoverished old woman and her community (x2). The stories are short and well-written, in Lahiri's typical laid-back, easy style, but the storylines seemed tired and overdone. Two stories about old, unmarried women neglected by their communities? Seems a little redundant.

Unlike "An Unaccustomed Earth", which featured a variety of stories in a variety of locations, "Interpreter of Maladies" seemed to spend copious amounts of time in dirty hallways or on lonely benches. The stories lacked the spark of culture clashes, and it failed to deliver a certain amount of modernity. The stories felt old, I think.

Still, this read, though, for me, a bit banal, comparatively speaking, is a light and pleasurable read. I did not devour it voraciously, as I did the first two books, but I enjoyed it nonetheless (just over time).

On tap: I really do not know. I have a small pile of books gathering beside my bed. Perhaps I will read "And Then There Were None" by Agatha Christie. This would fulfill a promise I made to a student, and I do love a good mystery.

Happy reading!

First Family

I have also been listening to audiobooks on my drives to Massachusetts and back. I listened to First Family, a novel written by David Baldacci. The story unfolds as the President's niece is abducted and brought to a farm/mine in Alabama, the mother of one of the investigators is murdered, and the First Lady plots to hide dangerous family secrets.

The mystery unravels over twelve CDs, and, I have to say, listening to the rendition really makes a drive go more quickly. In fact, with First Family, I found myself looking forward to getting into my car, grateful for trips to the grocery store because they meant twenty more minutes of story time.

I think this goes to show that humans are never too old to be read to. Since First Family, I began my second foray into Baldacci, and I am now listening to Stone Cold. It is a little more confusing (characters abound!), but now that I am five CDs in, the story is becoming clearer.

Happy reading-- and listening!

Identical

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.

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!