Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Rise and Shine by Anna Quindlen

Still in Rochester, still have the library! So, I was delighted to find a book by Anna Quindlen that I hadn't already read. This book is a delight. While much of Quindlen's humor is cynical, all of it is smart. And the dialogue between the interesting characters is bright, witty, and carbonated! The story fizzes right along with two contrasting views of New York City represented by two sisters. The sister who works as a social worker is also the narrator, and the story evolves around her sister, a TV star. In between is a deeply contrasting way of living and of viewing the world. Quindlen's descriptions of people and NYC life are illuminating, often funny, often tragic, and insightful. I found myself alternately fascinated and appalled by the lifestyles she describes. The glamorous aspects of the rich life is contrasted perfectly with its pain. The absurdity of the welfare system is contrasted sympathetically with the poor who receive it. Interesting characters inhabiting an interesting milieu...with a lot of heart thrown in for good measure.

Keeping Faith by Jodi Picoult

My friend Karen recommended this author, who is frequently up high on the best seller charts. I'm not big on best sellers, but I was curious about Karen's taste in fiction. While holed up in Rochester with a library at my disposal, I picked out this book as a way to enjoy some quiet time. Picoult's story was fascinating, and also added a little to my knowledge about some Jewish traditions. She is a competent story weaver, and she certainly held my interest. But some of the plot twists and turns were not even remotely realistic or believable. But somehow that didn't matter too much, because the story and characters were fairly interesting. The central question, whether Faith sees God and performs miracles or not, is never answered, and I knew from the beginning that it wouldn't be. I was hoping for compelling characters and perhaps some uplifting exchanges or plot twists. I would say that the characters were not particularly believable, but the plot was interesting. It was a good summer read that held my interest. Would I choose this author again? Probably not.

Friday, May 4, 2012

Home by Marilynne Robinson

This was an interesting read...Melissa lent this book to me...it is the sequel to Gilead which I read several years ago. Both books are lyrical and beautiful; almost poetic in places. The depth with which Robinson describes people and feelings and their interactions is astonishing! And yet...it's also sad and depressing. There's a very dark element to her characters, I would say. I know I didn't understand all of the Biblical and historical allusions... I felt so sad about the main character, Glory, and her brother, Jack, and their father. It was very, very sad the way they kept hurting each  other. There didn't seem to be any way out of it. Jack's lifetime of pain and never "fitting in" to his loving family was painful to read about. And it went on and on and on. I need to talk to Melissa and find out what she thinks about it. The ending was especially sad, and yet all the liner notes say it's a story of redemption. I missed that somehow! I don't think I will tackle this one again...even though there are many subtleties that I know I missed. Just don't want to go down that road again.

And now...about a month later, I think it's beginning to dawn on me what this author is trying to say. That until we truly let go of our expectations, we can't really understand or appreciate people for who they are. Yes, Jack's father loves him. But he cannot let go of his expectations for him. If he could, then maybe Jack would be free to embrace whatever. I think the author believes that others can read our intentions. When our hearts aren't "right," then our motives and interactions with others become deeply suspect. We can't let them be who they need to be. I believe this is true. When we hold the assumption that someone is deficient in some way, and that we have the answer to fill their void, we are in dangerous territory. It's that territory that I think this book is really about. Can we ever love someone unconditionally? I think this father really thought that he wanted his son to be happy. Doesn't every parent want that? But the father only understood one way to be happy. That forced his son to chafe under the relationship. This struggle mirrors my life in so many ways! I am trying to let go of expectations and of viewing others as deficient. Or of thinking that I have answers for them! How absurd! I know the Holy Spirit prompts people and then they can choose to listen or not...but it's up to them. My struggle is to trust that people deserve my respect and unconditional love, not my advice or my approval or my disapproval. When I can be the kind of person I need to be, others can be too. What is amazing about this way of being is that it gives me the greatest happiness I have ever had. Letting go of judgment and fixing and advising is like laying down a very heavy burden. I am lighter in so many ways...I am so grateful for the lessons I'm learning along the way! I have had this realization multiple times and only pray that this time, it sticks.