The Power of One by Bryce Courtenay

 Somehow I missed writing about this book when I first read it, back in our Rapid City days, It was suggested to me by a young mother who said this was her favorite book of all time. That caught my attention, because she was a very accomplished mother and musician and I respected her. I got the book then and read it and was very surprised -- it's very violent -- and has rough language too, but it is a fantastic read! It impressed me so much then, and now I'm shocked that I have no entry about it in this blog. I know it was Rapid City days, because I remember saying frequently to either Gabe, Henry, or John, when they wanted something, "Absoloodle!" I was copying the persona of Doc who is a central character and mentor to the main character in this amazing story.

I'm hesitant to recommend this book to people because of the cruelty, graphic violence, and occasional rough language. However, to me, it's all worth it. Especially when Peekay is abused as a child in a cold boarding school, it's tough to read about. But the way he processes that and future cruelty is instructive and inspiring. 

I also never realized how much thinking and skill is required in boxing. Peekay's commitment to learn the sport is unstoppable, as is his quest to become independent and to use the power of ONE, himself. He learns all sorts of things from his various mentors, and it's amazing to watch these relationships grow and flourish.

Sad to see his mother's religiosity and ridgidity as a recurring obstacle in his life. Loved seeing the good people step in as mentors and encouragers. I also enjoyed Morrie and their betting schemes, although I have to say I didn't understand those parts well at all.

The cruelty to the black Africans is very hard to read, but was interesting and probably true. The end of the story kind of leaves one hanging, so I have ordered the sequel. We get the sense that Peekay is successful over time, but now I'm ready to read exactly how it unfolds. 

Horse by Geraldine Brooks

 I had read many reviews of the books of this author, but hadn't read any. When I read the cover notes of this one, in the one dollar shelf at the Santa Clara Library, I was intrigued. 

I'm so glad I took a chance on this one. It was SO GOOD and SO ENGAGING! I'm excited to read more from this author. She is an excellent writer and developer of interesting characters. She uses vocabulary that I need to look up. She obviously understands her subjects of race horses and art and anatomy. It is stunning the amount of research that must have gone into this story.

But beyond that, it's a very telling story of racism, both pre-Civil War and in our day. The parallels are thoughtfully and authentically brought out... The thinking and perspective of a young slave is illustrative of what must have been going on in many young slaves' minds. And the difficult racist issues that surface in the modern parts of the story are revealing and sensitively handled. So impressive! It mirrors much of my own limited understanding of today's issues regarding race. They are still thorny and we are still enslaved by our thinking and our prejudice. 

The story of Jarret and his love for his horse, Lexington, is compelling, too. The way they respond to each other is wonderful to behold. I know there is special connections between some horses and some people, and it was lovely to see how that devotion played out. I loved both Jarret and the horse so much that I would sometimes tense up when it looked like there was going to be danger for either one of them or both... I just didn't want anything bad to happen to either one! I mean really tense.

I also enjoyed the character of the artist who painted the portraits of Lexington, and how he moved in and out of the story. Actually, the way all of the characters and the paintings were interwoven in the story was beautifully and masterfully done. Just a treasure of a story!

The tragic ending of the art student in D.C. was jarring, but a painful reminder that racism is alive and still very sick in this country. There is an allusion to the current Trump administration and its tacit encouragement of racism that would anger any Trump supporter, but I felt it was RIGHT ON. 

I'm excited to read more from this author!

Small Great Things by Jodi Picoult; 16 hours on Libby Audio

 My sister Ann told me they are reading this book next in her book club. I have been to several of their meetings, and I like these women, and I value their choices. And I thought it would be fun to talk to Ann about it when she reads it. When I found it on Libby, I thought I would give it a try.

I have read other Jodi Picoult books, but wasn't that impressed. Still, I thought this might be worth a try. It was! Sixteen hours flew by as I cleaned the house, walked, walked the mall, and mopped floors. At the end, I listened for almost four hours straight.

It's a compelling story of a nurse who is accused of murdering the baby of a white supremicist. The medical terminology and the legalese were both more than I could handle, but showed the author's rigorous research. Still, I could follow it in general terms. The way the characters took over the telling of the story, especially the trial, was riveting. 

I found the background information about the white supremicist fascinating. I thought the way Ruth, the black nurse, experienced racism was very realistic and not unknown to me. It was a good and poignant reminder, though, of my white privilege. The thorny issues are really well-developed in this no-win situation...especially the agony that ensues when Ruth is thrown into jail, and her son Edison is left on his own. It was a startling reality check to imagine being in jail like that...

There was harsh language and very harsh and violent scenes that were hard to listen to... Several times I wondered if I should continue. But by then I was pretty invested in Ruth and her life and her beautiful conflicted character. I especially valued the contrast between her and her darker-skinned sister. And the way Ruth had strived to live by the rules, to work harder, and to succeed despite rampant racism. And then to have "the system" attack her anyway was so heart-breaking, one could understand her sister's more militant anti-racist stance.

I liked how many stereotypes were addressed and explained. For one, how it is not black people's job to educate whites on their injustices and the systemic injustices. It is white advocates' job to do that for each other, to defend and become advocates for blacks in all situations. I don't have many opportunities to do that, except occasionally I will hear someone say "woke" in a disparaging way, and I can address that better after reading this book. None of this was new to me, but it was set inside a compelling story which really held my interest. Bravo to this white author for taking on a hard topic and researching and presenting it well. 

The River We Remember by William Kent Krueger

 I have enjoyed this author, so I thought I'd try another one of his. It was in the library, so I took it home and savored it. It has been awhile since I got so engrossed in a story that I shut down all systems to read through to the end. This one did it for me.

I really liked the characters and the way their stories unfolded, one by one. I loved the small town interactions, the way the sheriff handled the jail, the way everyone knew everyone, yet there were still a lot of surprises. I especially liked how the main character finally grew out of his affair with his sister in law, though it took too long!

The racial prejudice of this small town reminded me of South Dakota life in many ways. Lots of good people, and a few who can't get over their narrow thinking. 

I like the way the farming and country life is described and it felt true to me. The last part of the book got darker as the story of how the central murder happened...The despicable victim's life was difficult to contemplate and read about. Up until the ending, though, there were a lot of sympathetic and interesting characters. I enjoyed it... A Lot. 

Tiger Daughter by Rebecca Kim

 Another audio book, a captivating one. I was driving to Sacramento, and enjoying the Bicycling with Butterflies nonfiction story, but it was rather boring once I got to Sacramento, and decided to try out this one instead. I'm so happy I did! It was fun to listen to on my walks and on my drives to and from Napa and Sacramento from Vacaville. Ann did a lot of the driving, but when I was alone, I really enjoyed this story.

The characters were fascinating. The Chinese girl, Wen, tried to crack open the friendship of her taciturn and brilliant friend Henry. Their relationship unfolded as Wen gradually broke through. Wen's relationship with her parents formed the backbone of the story, mainly because they were so unbelievably strict. When tragedy struck Henry's family, the two families become friends, and the outlook is brighter. In the course of the story, though, Wen's struggle with her parents is hard to listen to. That her father could be that broken was tough. Her mother's softening, though, was sweet. And a good, but unknown ending.

One aspect of this story that was particularly fun for me was that it was set in Australia. So the racism against the Chinese was of Aussies, not Americans, for a change. I also really enjoyed the accent of the reader--very well done!

This Library app, Libby, is so much fun! Easy to use and free! I can see myself really enjoying lots more stories! 

Imposter Syndrome by Patricia Park

 This audio book that I downloaded last night came "librarian recommended" from the best books of the year. It looked interesting, and I'll tell you, it captivated me from St. George clear to Fresno as I drove today, It made the trip fly by. I left at 7 AM and didn't even turn it on until almost to Mesquite. I realized several times, that I was watching the road, but remembered nothing about it. Maybe it's unsafe to be so caught up in a story, but I was grateful I could focus on that and not, for example, on the somewhat scary fog I encountered around Tehacipi. I didn't want to stop for bathroom or lunch breaks. I drove through McDonald's for a frozen coke so I could keep listening. So good!

The main character, Alejandra Kim, descends from Korean Argentinians, and we suffer and relate with her as she attends her private high school on scholarship and meets racism at almost every turn. This theme is thoughtfully handled with many nuances and nothing ahem, black and white. Ale's ambivalence about being a person who fits in vs. someone who calls out blatant racism is instructive to watch. I really enjoyed the journey of her growth through her interactions with her friends and family. 

The New York City milieu plays a significant role in the story as well, as Ale travels to friends and to work and to school. Her description of her barrio and feeling at home is poignant. Her insistence on going to an expensive college and her blindness to her mother's poverty reminded me of my own selfishness thiat that period in MY life. It's just really well done, and I didn't like the somewhat frequent F-bombs, I know that's probably authentic...

The Heart is a Lovely Hunter by Carson McCullers

Why do I keep finding stories set in such dismal environments? I'm not sure why, but here's another depressing time and place. However, the characters are fascinating, and the story portrays life in the 1930s as very hard and hungry. These are people who struggle and work and still don't get ahead. I almost gave up multiple times, but then there would be some eloquent speech by one of the characters, primarily the maid Portia's father, the black doctor in this small mill town. And then I would try to follow the thinking and the pain that this man was living. Fascinating.

The other fascinating character was Mister Singer, a deaf mute, who was completely embraced and revered by the other characters. He listened so sympathetically and meaningfully...It was perhaps intended irony that this character couldn't respond, and the ones who revered him projected his responses. At any rate, that was interesting. Also, the 13-year-old Mick was a girl with great musical power and memory...another interesting character. But these characters were in a story and setting so bleak and without any visible hope, that I almost stopped reading several times. The story ends without any hopeful rays apparent, or any resolve.

I did marvel at the sophisticated thinking and speaking of the characters since McCullers was only 23 when she wrote this. I picked this up at the used bookstore, thinking it was a classic. Maybe it is, or maybe it isn't...but I won't be picking it up again. It will go into one of the Little Library boxes around Bismarck.

The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd

This was sitting in the Bismarck used bookstore, and I recalled having read it before, but I couldn't remember when. I had a positive vibe about the cover, so I thought, I'll give this one another try. It seemed the perfect summer read. And it is!

I love coming of age stories, and this one is particularly poignant and painful and hopeful. It is beautifully written. I could relate to Lily (the 14-year old whose point of view this book is written from) and her fascination with the women in the house she moves to, with their worship, and with the young man who also works at the house.  The time period, 1964, against the backdrop of emerging civil rights struggles in the South, is also very appealing to me. I lived this period, but was isolated from most of the pain in California.

The characters are wonderful, real, and complex. I want to be like the patient mentor August, who gently guides Lily through her confusion and loneliness. I want to be as trusting and pure as Rosaleen and May whose hearts are good and joyful. T.Ray, Lily's abusive father is hate-worthy, but his pain is almost palpable, so I'm less inclined to judge him harshly. This story is subtle and nuanced, with wonderful analogies about bees, honey, and life. And despite the painful and tragic circumstances, the story shows that courage and goodness and humanity are abundant in this world. And of course I loved the happy ending. I would enjoy reading a sequel that lets us see Lily navigate college and the civil rights movement...

Go Set a Watchman by Harper Lee

This sequel to To Kill a Mockingbird is a delight to read because of the well-loved characters of Scout and Atticus. It was bittersweet returning to the South and Jean Louise's world... She saw how her life in New York had influenced her thinking...and how differently her father sees the world than she thought. Their conflict is heart breaking, and I didn't understand all of the nuances... My friend Mary lent me this book, and wants to discuss it. I think talking about it with her and with others like Christy will definitely help my understanding.

To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee

When this book was announced for our reading group, I thought, "Wow...it's been a long time. I read that in high school. I believe I thought it was really good. Okay...I'll read it again." Well, I didn't get to it before our group met, but I went to listen in to the discussion anyway. As usual, it was lively and enlightening. And at the end of the evening, I had snagged a copy to borrow and read. It was surprisingly engaging and wonderful. And...true test of a book I love...I began it all over again as soon as I finished it.

Here's what I notice about my reading of fiction. I get so engrossed in the story that I read fast and miss a lot. So, my second time through, I can slow down and enjoy it and catch many of the subtleties that I missed first time through. This book was very rewarding the second time through...many aspects of what was going on around Scout, the main character, caught my attention. It was just a wonderful story of wonderful people. Scout and her brother, Jem, and their friend Dill captured so much of the wonder of childhood that it was good for this adult to feel a little younger.

I have a friend here in Rapid City who named her son Atticus after Scout and Jem's father. I remember wondering at the time if this was really a character I would want to pin that on. Well, after reading the book again, I totally understand her inclination. Here's a father who treats his children with respect and talks to them expecting them to understand difficult issues. Their family relationships are rich and deep.

I also really enjoyed the part where Scout and Jem go to church with their black cook, Calpurnia. Wonderful scenes that are told with pathos. Calpurnia turns out to be a most worthy and interesting character.

I vaguely recall being amazed in high school that blacks were treated like that in the South. This work was published about the same time I was becoming aware of civil rights. Our country has gone through so much since then, yet this struggle and this story feel very current. Because I enjoyed this author so much, I was anxious to read her other books. But she didn't write any others! This is amazing to me...she said that she had written what she wanted to say and didn't want to say it again. She didn't enjoy the publicity or the spotlight that her success brought her, so she wasn't about to do it again. I think there must be a lot of the plucky Scout in her! This is definitely a classic and a joy and would be worthwhile to read and discuss again and again. Both the courage and the innocence of Scout speak to me.

Maniac Magee by Jerry Spinelli

This Newbery Award-winner is a GREAT book! It's that rare combination of great writing, great characters, great plot, good message, and high engagement. This book deserves my highest rating and any adult would enjoy this too. I read one chapter out loud to Leonard, and he commented on how well-written it was as well as how original and funny. That's a lot for one chapter! I read it to him because there were some baseball terms in it that I didn't understand. It was fun to tell him about the story.

Maniac's love for books and learning and helping people is great role modeling for kids as well. He's so capable and unassuming. 

Ann recommended this book to me to get for Gabriel. I always like to read them before giving them to him. I think this is one that he will really enjoy. There's a lot in this book for a fourth grader to connect with. I think I will give him this one at Easter. Maybe he'll have plowed through his birthday books by then!

I especially liked the growing understanding that Maniac has about people, about families, about racism, about himself. There are many humorous subtleties that would make this book equally enticing and enjoyable for an adult. It's not kiddie lit...it's deep, rich, and wise. I will read this one again.

The Help

I had a day of traveling through airports and my sister Jane gave me the perfect traveling companion: The Help. It was a delightful blend of humor, history, very interesting and real characters, and poignant story. We're reading it in our book club, and I can't wait to hear what others thought of it. Two things I noticed...the author began and ended the book in the same house. I thought that was kind of cool, considering how the story spans several homes and years. The other thing I noticed is that it's a very feminine book. I know many women who have read it, but haven't heard of any man reading it. There is only one main male character, and we never learn what he's thinking. The story is told from three different women's point of view, and there is only one mail character that comes up much. So that was interesting...it describes a primarily woman's world from women's points of view.
When I really like a book a LOT, I tend to want to be in it til I'm done, despite what other things might be going on. I call this the addiction factor. I would rate this book as having an addiction factor of 9 on a 10-point scale. It's also a measure of the engagement of my brain in the story and this one was high. I also appreciated all of the wonderful philosophy and love and forgiveness that were shown by the characters. The courage was astounding. It was amazing to think, too, that all of this hatred and racism existed without question in Mississippi as recently as the 70's. I know it still exists, but this was very overt and violent without the benefit of protection of the law or system. Amazing...