1984

1984

by George Orwell








This post contains spoilers below the fold.

When I first heard about 1984, I assumed it was a science fiction about the physical and psychological toll inflicted on humans by an over-reaching government system, much like Animal Farm (although, I admit, I read that when I was 12 so I may not have grasped some of the deeper themes). What I didn't expect was a philosophy text, a metaphysical journey, questioning the meaning of truth and reality, and exploring how the human mind can simultaneously believe conflicting things, which Orwell calls doublethink but we know it as cognitive dissonance (although there are differences which Orwell outlines, I found cognitive dissonance the easiest avenue from which to explore the concept of doublethink).

Finding Angela Shelton

Finding Angela Shelton: The True Story of One Woman's Triumph Over Sexual Abuse

by Angela Shelton







Finding Angela Shelton is a quasi-memoir written documenting the making of the documentary Searching for Angela Shelton. The idea behind the documentary was that she would travel around the country to survey women in America by meeting those that share her name, Angela Shelton (I had originally wanted to see the documentary but had a hard time getting my hands on it, so I read the book instead; now I'm more determined than ever to find the documentary). She thought it would be a fun and quirky documentary, however the film soon took another path as she learned that over 70% of the Angela Sheltons she talked to had been sexually or physically abused/assaulted in their lifetimes. A victim of childhood sexual abuse herself, Angela is mired in flashbacks. When she learns that one of the Angela Sheltons tracks sexual predators for a living and lives in the same town as her molester - her father - she knows that she needs to confrot him. When a broken bone has not been treated, it must be rebroken and set in order for it to heal properly. Similarly, Angela must delve into her personal history of sexual abuse and confront her abuser in order to heal both herself and others.

This book really hit me in the gut. While the author's childhood sexual abuse was both similar to and different from mine, many of her feelings and thoughts on her trauma reflected mine. As I sit here, I still cannot say what happened to me and am blushing with embarrassment whenever I write about the subject. But her message is that silence only allows abuse to continue shrouded in a shame that should be felt by the perpetrators but is all to often only felt by the victims. It is a call to action for people to open their eyes to the abuse that is epidemic in our society, for victim/survivors to shout and scream and make ourselves known, because what has been seen cannot be unseen and only when we force people to believe yes we ARE HERE yes we DO EXIST and we are NUMEROUS, will real change occur. Until then, the abusers will have the power through denial, blame and shame.

The Poisonwood Bible

The Poisonwood Bible: A Novel

by Barbara Kingsolver








The Poisonwood Bible begins in 1959 when minister Nathan Price moves his family from suburban Georgia to the Belgian Congo (which we now know as Zaire) to serve as a missionary in the village of Kilanga, which can only be reached by plane or riverboat, since days of travel are required to reach any neighboring village by road. The family soon learns that everything they painstakingly packed to bring with them, including their ideas and prejudices, are utterly useless: Nathan Price is fond of exclaiming "Tata Jesus is bangala!" which is supposed to mean "Father Jesus is Precious!", however in his deliberate ignorance of pronunciation and nuance of the Kikongo language, actually means "Father Jesus is Poisonwood!" His ministry further alienates the local people when he insists that their children must be baptized in a river that is rife with crocodiles, or they will suffer hell. How will the Price children survive when their father has alienated the entire town, the only people who can help them learn how and what to eat?

The story of the Price family is told mostly by the children of the family- Rachel, twins Leah and Adah, and Ruth May (in order of age)- with introductions to each section narrated by the mother, Orleanna. Each narrator has her own unique voice: Orleanna is unobtrusive and bittersweet; Rachel is self-centered, terrified, and humorous; Leah is the moral voice who moves from a child unquestioning of God and her Father to a native African; Adah, who is hemiplegic, writes riddles that pierce the heart of the truth; and Ruth May, who states poignant facts in a way only little pitchers with big ears can. The Poisonwood Bible is an apt interpretation of the old adage that one must bend, or one will break. Some members of the Price family will be broken by Africa, and some will learn to bend to it, as they live through the revolution of the forming of the Republic of Congo, when it flings off the rule of Belgium.

I found The Poisonwood Bible a very enjoyable read. Kingsolver researched her subject well, and is able to write with such nuance that she is able to tell a story that is not only an amazing adventure, but is also philosophical and speaks to modern thought and prejudice regarding Africa. The reader can both enjoy a story and learn something both about themself and the world around them through this novel.

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly: A Memoir of Life in Death

by Jean-Dominique Bauby







The Diving Bell and the Butterfly was a delightful, quick read that I would reccommend to anyone. It is an autobiography, but it's more than just an autobiography. French Elle editor Jean-Dominique Bauby suffered a stroke at the age of 43, leaving him with locked-in syndrome, in which he was paralyzed everywhere except for his eyelids. He likens this to being trapped under a diving bell. He learns, however, to escape his prison by letting his mind travel wherever he chooses to go: "My diving bell becomes less oppressive, and my mind takes flight like a butterfly." Bauby weaves his daydreams and memories together with his day-to-day therapy, visits from friends and family, and the process of writing his memoir, often giving a bitersweet contrast of joy and frustration, of companionship and isolation. Bauby tells each tale, mundane or extrordionary, with rich imagery and wit that draws you in to his every word. Take, for example, this passage where he explains how he communicates:

ESARINTULOMDPCFB
VHGJQZYXKW

The jumbled appearence of my chorus line stems not from chance but from cunning calculation. More than an alphabet, it is a hit parade in which each letter is placed according to the frequency of its use in the French language. That is why E dances proudly out in front, while E labors to hold on to last place. B resents being pushed back next to V, and haughty J-which begins so many sentences in French-is amazed to find itself so near the rear of the pack. Roly-poly G is annoyed to have to trade places with H, while T and U, the tender components of tu, rejoice that they have not ben separated. All this reshuffling has a purpose: to make it easier for those who wish to communicate with me.

It is with this voice that Bauby draws us into his life: into his memories, into the hospital where there are those who are kind and those who wish to forget him, and into his effusive imagination. His story ends as frankly as it begins, and left me with the same bittersweetness that peppers this memoir, knowing that its author died just two days after his book was published in France.

Meeting Mr. Wrong

Meeting Mr. Wrong: The Romantic Misadventures of a Southern Belle

by Stephanie Snowe







Very special books do not cross my desk very often, but I am delighted to have read Meeting Mr. Wrong: The Romantic Misadventures of a Southern Belle. I am fortunate to read this book because the author, Stephanie Snowe, is a good friend of mine who has wanted to be a writer for decades and finally got the courage to not only publish a book, but to make her debut with an autobiographical account of her horrifying and horrifyingly hilarious experiences as a 22-year-old single mom of twins in the internet dating world. You can buy it here. Buy it. Read it. Love it. Also: Read her blog Jason. For the love of God. She is hilarious, y'all.

Left high and dry, pregnant with twins, just off the altar, Snowe plunges head-first into the internet dating world, despite being told that if she did so an axe murderer would hunt her down and kill her. After weeks of wading through emails from men who clearly were not paying attention to, you know, anything, Snowe ventures onto her first date with Denny and, apparently, all of his coworkers. Thus start the Romantic Misadventures of Ms. Snowe. Between big fat married liars, mama's boys, men with killer attack birds and even a suitor named Big Pimpin' Willie, Snowe bravely plunges through the hell of the dating world with humor and as much dignity as humanly possible while being asked by a client to help with his urges. It reminds me of the time I was asked by some random man - at a gas station - whether I wanted to be his "special friend for the day" wink wink nudge nudge.

You'll have to read the book to find out whether Snowe ever finds love in the series of tubes internet dating world or whether she gives up forever, how fun a date during a hurricane is, and exactly what is so distracting about Big Pimpin' Willie's tattoo.

Meeting Mr. Wrong is a quick read, both because it's easy to understand and because you're itching to flip the page to find out what dating disaster happens next. Snowe writes with such conversational wit that you could imagine laughing with disbelief as she told you her tales over coffee (or a good stiff drink!) I enjoyed Meeting Mr. Wrong so much I finished it the evening it arrived on my doorstep. I very much look forward to her next installment.

Lies My Teacher Told Me

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong

by James W. Loewen











I found the first 10 chapters of this book absolutely riveting, and I am one of those kids who hated history. American history has traditionally been taught in a bland, rose-colored manner, and now I know why. I also learned many of the facts of American history that have been left unsaid, things that might be unpleasant or controversial, but things which make history real. I always knew the happy shiny version of what was taught me was B.S. and to find out what was actively hidden was interesting and engaging. In the last two chapters the author delves more specifically into his thesis of why American history is taught the way it is, and what can be done about it, although as someone who is neither a teacher nor a parent, I got a little bored because there was really nothing for ME to do but note that someday in the distant future when I have school-aged kids I should remember this.

A Separate Peace

A Separate Peace

by John Knowles












To me, A Separate Peace is not a tale of friendship gone awry, but a story about regret and living with oneself after doing something terrible. What I liked most about this book the most was the author's ability to describe a scene so well it's like watching a movie.

The Kite Runner

The Kite Runner

by Khaled Hosseini












Hosseini has a very straightforward writing style that allows the reader to identify with the narrator, as horrible as some of his thoughts and (in)actions are. It makes you think: Would I do the same were I in that situation? This story travels through post-soviet Afghanistan, through the reign of the Taliban, and ultimately to America. It is heart-wrenching and I appreciated that, although there was a small sliver of hope, it did not end on a contrived happy note. The narrator has to work for his redemption. One of the few books that made me cry, although I could not put it down. The book also helped me to understand some of the recent history in Afghanistan as well as the ethnic and religious struggles the people of the country live through. I would highly recommend it to everyone, although I would warn that it is a very sad book and has a lot of violence, including rape.

Middlesex

Middlesex: A Novel

by Jeffrey Eugenides











My other favorite book of all time. Jeoffery Eugenides is a masterful story teller whose prose flows naturally and in an easy-to-realate-to way. His imagery and subtle foreshadowing make the plot unfold as if you're right there in it. This story is told in the style of an epic Greek poem, although without the rhymes ;) It follows the journey of a single allele through a family from Mount Olympous to Detroit over three generations, as narrated by the owner of a rare double-hit of this allele resulting in a type of hermaphroditism. After the story of the allele is told, the author shares his own struggle growing from a little girl to a teenage girl to a man. In this unique twist of a coming-of-age story, I was astounded how closely the narrator's experiences, thoughts and feelings as a pubescent girl mirrored my own. Eugenides definately is able to climb into the minds of his characters, which makes for a much more engaging and believable read.

The Virgin Suicides

The Virgin Suicides

by Jeffrey Eugenides













Jeffrey Eugenides is a masterful story teller whose prose flows naturally and in an easy-to-realate-to way. His imagery and subtle foreshadowing make the plot unfold like it is happening to you right now. This story tells about the suicides of four sisters from the point of view of the neighbor boy. Another reviewer said the girls from the book will stay with you long after you've finished it. I have to say I wholeheartedly agree. A great book for those who love to think, but don't need answers.

The Little Prince/Le Petit Prince

The Little Prince/Le Petit Prince

by Antoine De Saint-Exupéry












This is one of my favorite books. Traditionally thought of as a children's book, Le Petit Prince delves deeply into the human soul and psyche through the interaction between a boy and a lost pilot, which, having read other Saint-Exupery works I see as ultimately a conversation between the author and his heart. A very symbolic book that will make you laugh, cry, and leave you wanting to love unconditionally.