Hypothermia is Intriguing, Meteorology is Not.

In three minutes the front subtracted 18 degrees [Fahrenheit] from the air's temperature.   Before midnight, windchills were down to 40 below zero.  That's when the killing happened.

The Children's Blizzard is the foreboding title that came to rest upon the blizzard that raged through the American Dakotas on the evening of January 12, 1888.  The next morning, Friday the 13th as luck would have it, brought terrible news to many families.  Scores of children across the prairies had not been able to make it home from school, nor to safety anywhere.  The storm had caught them unaware and unprepared.

This book was a fascinating look into harsh pioneer winters.  From the background on why immigration was so high (hello, propoganda) to the living conditions and weather conditions, Laskin provides a clear look at the 1880s prairie.  As somehow who grew up reading Laura Ingalls Wilder, and finding The Long Winter (1881) so very, very long, I enjoyed the trip back to those days, gaining a deeper and more thorough appreciation for the trials they faced.

History is not the only topic discussed,  meteorology and hypothermia are also addressed.  My eyes glazed over during the chapters about barometers, isobars, cyclostyles, and whaaa????  {blink}  But I found the stages of hypothermia quite interesting—how the body fights for life without one's conscious thought or effort is fascinating to me.

Of course, this book is full of sad stories...but I think the title is enough to make you expect that.  Any time innocent people die it is a tragedy.  But topic aside, I did have a few issues with the construction of the book.  The writing is inconsistent:  at times poignant, at others overly complicated or vague.  Also, organization—vital in nonfiction—was not strong.  There were in-depth portions about people or things that mattered little, and fascinating points only touched upon, which resulted in an unbalanced feel.  The good news is that the 270-odd pages go by pretty quickly, even if you do read the boring parts.  If you have a passing fancy in immigrant or prairie life, this book is worth a passing glance.

Virago, you say?

"Yes, we'll have to put a stop to this bookworming.  No future in that."

Every once in a while I stumble across a treasure: a book written in fairly recent years that holds all the style and charm of a book written long ago.  This happened recently when I inadvertently came across Good Behaviour by Molly Keane (a Virago Modern Classic) while shopping at Book Depository.

It was short, sweet, and brilliant in many ways.  Published in 1981, but set in the decaying aristocracy of an Anglo-Irish family in the 1920s[ish], this book had that perfect combination of melancholy and wit that I've come to appreciate in Irish literature.

It was a wonderfully vivid story.  Plus, the cover art is terrific, am I right?  Our main character, Aroon St. Charles, doesn't know half of what you, as the reader, will catch on to, which is both terribly intriguing and terribly sad.  You see, Aroon isn't the most attractive or astute character you'll meet, though through her you will discover a vivid, distinguished world that she wishes she belongs in...and there is humor to boot (what more could I ask for?)

So, you veterans of Virago, tell me:

• what you love about Virago
• why I should read more
• whether this book is characteristic of what I can hope to expect
• where I go next!

Not much happened in October

What can I say about October?  There certainly isn't much to record, though I am starting to feel as if I'm finally on the rebound somewhat.  Not a terribly wonderful time of year to rebound properly, but I'll take what I can get.  Maybe I'll start dreaming about 2013 goals - that should get me going!  I am getting antsy to talk about the few books I have read, and unpack my boxes of books & get myself in focus.  For now, here's the deal:

2 Books Read in October: (85 year-to-date)
1 for Book Club:
  - The Kitchen House, Kathleen Grissom (3.5)
1 Just Because:
  - Good Behaviour, Molly Keane (4)

  

1 DNF:
Definitely a case of bad timing, and possibly a style clash as well, but I completely failed to meet my obligation of reading Redemption Falls for the discussion I was supposed to have in October.  I simply couldn't do it.  I'm not the only one, apparently, to compare this work to James Joyce (with whose writing I'm not exactly enamoured).

What I said

What the Guardian said

1 Current Reads:
  - Last Night at the Lobster, Stewart O'Nan.  Because it is tiny and therefore approachable right now, and because Ti @ Book Chatter loves O'Nan (& she has great taste in books.)



On My Nightstand:
My current plan of attack?  Find all the miniscule books I own, put those on my nightstand.  Perhaps I'll be able to finish something if it is only 150 pages.  I do need to finish Annie Dunne, but it is a quiet, lyrical book that takes a wee bit of attention.  Other possibilities?  A Lost Lady by Willa Cather, and possibly some of those Indiespensable reads.
  

Another Challenging Irish Author

The first being James Joyce, of course, and the second being Joseph O'Connor.  I know it's a terribly political thing to compare an author to James Joyce, but I don't really care because:

1. I'm only doing it only on the basis that they're both Irish, and they both require a smidgen of brain power to read...and
2. the similarities end there, perhaps, since I've only read Dubliners, and have enjoyed O'Connor more than Joyce (largely due to a perceived arrogance I pick up from Joyce).

Oh Joyce, may I someday be able to look past my
irritations and appreciate your literary genius. (credit)

Although, I'd guess that my current distractibility level in my reading life has something to do with it also.  I miss reading dreadfully, and though I am getting back into it, it has been a slow process.  I need to be reading something fairly light and engaging, and yet I can barely keep up with my obligatory book-group selections.

Joseph O'Connor (photo credit)

Currently I'm reading Joseph O'Connor's Redemption Falls for a discussion this coming weekend.  Having read (and looooved) Star of the Sea, my friend and myself decided to join the city of Dublin in 2011 for their One City, One Book event, and read his book Ghost Light.  I never wrote about that book in depth, not because of a lack of enjoyment, but because there was so much to digest.  Loosely based on the love affair between the great Irish playwright John Millington Synge and the Abbey Theatre actress Molly Allgood, Ghost Light not only told an amazingly captivating story, but told it in a unique, almost experimental, way.  A reading experience to be certain.

Redemption Falls is about Irish Americans in the aftermath of the American Civil War, and at page 77 I have very little real idea of what is happening...not a good sign.  Like I said, my brain simply isn't up for it right now.  It's making me want to read some nonfiction (straightforward, right?) or something humorous (easily digestible, yeah?) but I must keep on reading for I have nearly 400 pages left to turn before next weekend hits.  Problem is, time crunch + not really knowing who any of the characters are = flipping pages without being invested.  I wanted to love this book, but it isn't happening so far.

  

For the Record: September 2012

I can always tell when I am not getting enough time to read by the sharp increase in the amount of books I purchase.  Book buying represents my yearnings more than it does my reality.

While September is often a light reading month (school starting and all that jazz) this one has been my lightest reading month in years.  Really, the least amount ever since I've emerged from my baby/toddler years.  I blame it on kids, and remodels, and finally moving next weekend, and having old friends move in down the street, and recently becoming addicted to knitting.  Still and all, I'm hoping October sees an increase in books read!

2 Books Read in September: (83 year-to-date)
2 for Book Club:
  - Moloka'i, Alan Brennert (3.5)
  - Into the Blue, Robert Goddard (3.5)

  

1 DNF:
Perhaps it just isn't the right timing, but I began reading this aloud to my girls, and after a magnificent intro, this one just left me bored.  Too bad it's a Newbery Medal book, because I have a sort of personal challenge to read all those.  Right now though, dropping the challenge altogether sounds more appealing than forcing my way through a boring book.



2 Current Reads:
  - Annie Dunne, Sebastian Barry.  This is what I was reading before the ultra-craziness hit.  I've picked it back up (tentatively) and am working on it bit by bit.  It's a slim novel, but takes silence for me to really appreciate it.
  - Redemption Falls, Joseph O'Connor.  I've barely ventured into this one, but I'll get there.

 

On My Nightstand:
Ugh.  I don't know where I'm going.  I really wanted to join the Les Miserables read-along, but--as you may agree--I've made the responsible choice to bow out considering my current reading situation.  Also, as I mentioned above, I've been purchasing books left and right, so I've a dearth of new reading material to choose from.  But I'm not committed to anything right now.  I'll wait and see which way the winds blow.

Huck Finn: Robotic Edition

I couldn't resist: I ordered the Robotic Edition of Huckleberry Finn.  I felt inclined to experience this culturally corrected edition, seeing as how it does the opposite of what the kerfuffle-edition did (changing every race-oriented-derogatory-term to 'slave').  Instead of making it tamer, less offensive, less about what it's about, this edition makes the point of the story that much more poignant.  By changing every offensive racial term to "robot", not only do we create some smiles, but we tell an important story in a way that has much more of the original impact for this day and age.  After all, our opinion regarding the humanity of robots is quite similar to the previously prevailing opinion about the real intelligence (etc.) of slaves.

Um...I mean...I'm of the opinion that the last version didn't go far enough in its censorship, and this version is best so that no one is uncomfortable and no point is made.

But that's just me.

An excerpt from the introduction:

'Banned from the Concord Public Library shortly after its first publication in eighteen hundred and something, "Adventures of Huckleberry Finn" was criticized in the Boston Transcript by members of the library committee for being "rough, coarse, and inelegant, dealing with a series of experiences not elevating, the whole book being more suited to the slums than to intelligent, respectable people." 

Ouch. 

While we have not taken the time to actually do the research to back up our claim, it is easy to infer that the sympathetic depiction of the African American character Jim as a human being worthy of freedom was one of the "rough, coarse, and inelegant" elements of the book to which many critics objected.  Which is ironic considering modern criticism has shifted to calling the book racist because of Twain's use of the word "n-word" more than 200 times throughout the text. 

Granted, that a lot of n-bombs—but Twain scholars (and other people who understand the book) counter it is actually an indictment of racism: the book shows a young boy's emotional growth from conforming to a racist society's values to gradually learning to think of people with higher levels of melanin production by the melanocytes in the basal layer of their epidermis as actual people.  But that argument has not stopped schools and libraries from keeping the book off shelves and out of classrooms.'

Good stuff, right?  
Robots are people too.
(Find out more here.)

A Photographic Recap of Summer

As expected, summer was crazy; and of course the advent of a new school year comes with promises of more to come. Sometimes the only proper way to combat the quick pace of life is with some time spent in reflection. Upon looking through my photos of the last few months I found many smiles, inspiring me to share.  This is what our summer looked like:

We began our summer with trips to Disneyland and Knott's Berry
Farm.  Here's my youngest varmint at Knott's.

One of those internet pics that reminds me so much of
one of my friends that I keep it on my phone.  Makes me happy. :)

My girls (the two in front) loved horse camp at the beginning of summer.
The stables are such a fun change in pace from the rest of the city.

As a precursor to viewing a failed fireworks show in San Diego for Independence Day,
we took our kiddos on a trip to the Wild Animal Park.  What a beautiful habitat
for these animals! A day to remember.

The part of Northern California where I grew up suffered from major wildfires
this summer.  Wildfires are much scarier than earthquakes, just so you all know.

My family!  Yes, we are a bunch of goofs.  This apparently seemed like
the proper way to pose whilst outside the capitol building in Sacramento.

Perspective:  this wall is 7.5 ft. high, but it looks like
so much more when your child is hanging off the edge.

In which I discover that the English language is indeed lacking.
Why don't we borrow many Japanese words?  We need this one.

I've learned how to knit this year!  Here's a shot of my foot modeling
my 5th pair of socks.  (Sweaters, here I come!)

My 11-year old made her first quilt.  Proud momma here.

My older brother got married in Australia this summer.
I was unable to attend, but did get to meet the joy of his life
when they came to California during July.  Happiness!

Decisions, decisions.  Designing our remodel absorbs brain cells
that could be put to use reading books instead.

tee-hee

Oscar Fingal O'Flahertie Wills Wilde

I don't know if I like Oscar Wilde so much simply because he writes amazingly witty lines, or because I feel so bad for him having to do prison time and want to give him hugs.  I've only read two of his plays (The Importance of Being Earnest, and most recently, Lady Windermere's Fan) but they've convinced me that I need to read more.

I've heard that The Picture of Dorian Gray (his only published novel) tends toward the dark and depressing—have you found that to be true?  I bought a copy & plan on reading it anyhow, but like to know what the general consensus is before I jump in. (Just the overview, not the details...no spoilers!)

Lady Windermere's Fan is a play about a young married couple in the upper echelons of London society that find themselves (and their marriage) being challenged by rumors and a lack of proper communication.  As you may expect, it is filled to the brim with his characteristic wit and humor.  Not only is it entirely entertaining, however, but it is thought-provoking as well: a perfect combination and definitely recommended (it's super quick to boot.)

Not only does Wilde's writing spur the imagination, but his name does as well.  In Patrick Taylor's An Irish Country Doctor, one of the main characters is named after Wilde—an homage paid to Irish literature in general, and a tribute to those Irish authors, such as Wilde, who may not have received such honors during their lifetimes.

An Irish Country Doctor is the beginning of a series, and is a cozy read for those days when you wish you were back in Ireland (or wait, is that just me?) Filled with humorous anecdotes and endearing characters, the town of Ballybucklebo will be one you'll love visiting (especially with the audio version read by John Keating—love that accent!)

Wouldn't it be fantastic to see one of Oscar Wilde's plays performed live?  I've decided that's one of my goals in life.  :)  How have your Wilde experiences been?  Any other works (of his or about/inspired by him) that I should put on my list?  (As an aside, did you see these 10 interesting facts about Wilde?)

For the Record: August 2012

It's been three weeks since I've finished reading a book.  Unfortunately that's not because I'm busy throwing back some impressive chunksters, but because I'm busy running around doing a billion other things. (pout)  Still and all, I did read 6 books (which, all things considered, isn't half bad.)

6 Books Read in August: (81 year-to-date)
1 for Book Club:
  - A Thousand Acres, Jane Smiley (3.5)

5 for Fun/Challenges:
  - One of Ours, Willa Cather (4)
  - Lady Windermere's Fan, Oscar Wilde (4)
  - Hell and Ohio, Chris Holbrook (4.5) [highly recommended short stories]
  - Quiet, Susan Cain (4) [read-along, reviewed here]
  - The End of the Affair, Graham Greene (4)

          

Challenges:
This month I read 4 books of 51 (33 year-to-date) for my various year-long challenges.
   - Willa Cather: One of Ours (done!)
   - Pulitzer: A Thousand Acres (1 more to go)
   - TBR Shelf: Hell and Ohio (6 more to go)
   - Back to Classics: Lady Windermere's Fan (2 more to go)


2 Current Reads:
  - Moloka'i, Alan Brennert.  I'm behind in my book club selections, this one is first up.
  - Into the Blue, Robert Goddard.  This book club meets soon too, so this book is next.

 

On My Nightstand:
 If you saw my recent post, you wouldn't ask.  ;)  Seriously though, I'm looking at Redemption Falls and Les Miserables, both for read-alongs that are starting soon.

 

Book-Lag

I bought Les Miserables with full intentions of joining a read-along, only to place it on my nightstand and discover what 2+ weeks of being too busy to read has done to my perception of realistic reading goals.

This is ridiculous. (she says as she recalls another read-along book needing to be started that isn't even in these stacks.)  That stack on the left contains books I'm currently "reading" (a very theoretical phrase, seeing as how I haven't read a drop in the last two weeks.)  The other stacks are ARCs, loaners, book club books (due soon) as well as an Indiespensable book, some new arrivals from PaperbackSwap, and some classics I was craving.

Where do I start?  By putting some of these books away!  One book club is discussing Moloka'i in 7 days, the other book club is discussing Into the Blue a week later.  I certainly have work to do.  ;)