Entertain Me...

Every once in a while, one of my students utters a thought that makes me shudder.  Today I had such a moment.

In an argumentative essay addressing the perils or perks of television, this student profoundly (or at least he thought so) proclaimed that "entertainment is what we live for in life" and that "life is incomplete without television." 

Hmmmmm....

After my first incredulous cringe, I reread the phrases--and cringed again.  Is that what we have really become--a nation of fools whose only reason for being is to be titillated, to be thrilled, to be entertained? Forgive me, but it sounds as though we are aspiring to be Jordan Belfort, of recent Wolf of Wall Street fame, reveling in as much debauchery as we can command, narcissistically thinking of only ourselves, only of what we can take.

If entertainment is what we live for, it would explain an awful  lot, though.  For example, it would explain why the entire world was enraptured with the birth of celebrity babies with bizarre names rather than the efforts of Malala Yousafzai, a young Pakistani woman shot in the head for trying to bring education to all people of her homeland.  This preoccupation with being amused would elucidate why the multitude of inane and absurd reality television shows continue to proliferate despite the fact that they serve only to show people at their worst moments.  It would also illuminate our desire to take beautiful, meaningful, life-enhancing narratives and turn them into sensory eye candy by stripping the narratives of the very parts that make them beautiful, meaningful, and life-enhancing and replacing them with explosions, blood, and gratuitous skin.


This fixation on being entertained has dulled our senses to the beauty--and real sorrows--that this world has to offer from which we can learn more about what it means to live a human existence.  Our ability to have empathy is tragically dwindling, reducing us to slavering chucklebunnies immune to the real substance of our existence--our ability to connect with one another, to learn patience, love, and compassion, to develop the qualities that bring out the best in us, not allow us to sink in the mire.

My essay's sentences would be so very different.  Yet, these are the honest thoughts of a young person who has pondered an essay topic for at least three weeks, discussing, rethinking, challenging, exploring.  Alas, this was not my essay to write.  However, if it were, I would enlist as support a wise American writer/poet/philosopher:  

“The purpose of life is not to be happy. It is to be useful, to be honorable, to be compassionate, to have it make some difference that you have lived and lived well.”

― Ralph Waldo Emerson

Where did we go so wrong?

BOOK REVIEW: Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

BOOK REVIEW:  Clockwork Prince by Cassandra Clare

This is the seventh book of Clare's work I have read so far, having read first the Mortal Instruments series (up through the fifth installment).  I am so glad I read the Mortal Instruments series first because, although I was lukewarm about Clockwork Angel, I absolutely love Clockwork Prince.  It's going to be hard to complete the "dislike" list, so I will make a slight adjustment to the lists's title.

Three Things I Love:
1.  Setting = London:  I'm an admitted Anglophile and am drawn to any novel set in London, and Victorian London is even better.  The soot and dust covered streets and buildings, the hovels and destitute of Whitechapel, the grandeur of the churches and Parliament buildings calls to me through these stories and creates in me a longing to return to London and really explore.

2.  Richly constructed characters:  I wasn't sure I was going to even like Tessa in Clockwork Angel; however, she has turned into an independent, well-rounded character with integrity and honor despite those who attempt to lure her away or trick her.  In contrast, I loved Will Herondale from the first moment he was introduced in Clockwork Angel and he does not disappoint in Clockwork Prince.  He's a tortured soul, self-sacrificing and complex, rich in irony and conflict.  Equally endearing are Jem (the demon-venom addicted co-protagonist--I can't bring myself to call him a minor character or even a sidekick--who provides a really nice foil for Will, but at the same time refuses to shrink into the shadows) and Charlotte (the independent, no-nonsense mother figure).

3.  Plot nuggets:  Clare makes excellent use of the plot development of planting seeds that promise to germinate, grow, and blossom throughout the Infernal Devices series.  Despite the fact that some of these seem a bit obvious (i.e., ascendancy and demon pox--haha!), I have an inkling that some of the more subtle (and not-so-subtle) plot elements will also take root and flower into amazing creations.  Tessa's origins, for example, is intriguing, keeping not only the reader, but the characters guessing.  It makes for not only entertaining but fascinating reading.  More, please...

Three Things I Loved Less:
1.  Will's "trick":  I don't want to give too much away, but this "trick" was really obvious.  This plot point was frustrating because of being so obvious and took so long to resolve.  That being said, it was also a necessary part of the story, so I don't "dislike" it...I just loved it less.

2.  Cecily:  I have an icky feeling that Cecily is going to turn out to be an evil character, somewhat akin to Nate.  I'm hoping I'm wrong, but her introduction into the story struck me as ominous and her appearance at the end caused my hackles to rise.  I'd hate to see Will further tortured...

3.  Jessamine:  Okay, part of me likes Jessamine and understands where she is coming from.  She doesn't want the life her parents ran away from...she wants a "simpler" life...but honestly, she's a dingbat!  She doesn't trust, she doesn't think, and she's an entitled, self-righteous brat.  She has elements that make her less annoying, too, though, like when she bought Tessa new clothing in Clockwork Angel and when she...no...she's just annoying!

Overall, Clare has won me over with Clockwork Prince.  I'm going to get Clockwork Princess today!  I need to see how Jem and Tessa and Will and Charlotte and Henry continue.

"I Didn't Mean It Like That..."

Browsing interesting articles is a primary benefit of having Internet access.  Even better is when, instead of browsing myself (often due to a lack of "free time" to do so), I have friends and colleagues who come across worthwhile texts and then share them on Facebook, where I happily can quickly find them at a convenient moment.

Twice in the past month (or so), I have come across articles about microaggressions, a term coined in the 1970s to describe intentionally or unintentionally inflicted phrases, behaviors, or other insults or humiliations directed usually toward people of color.  This definition has grown over the last several decades to include insults aimed at gender and sexual orientation and has garnered increasing attention lately because of the subtleties of the offenses.   However, the effects of this behavior exhibit ignorance at best and blatant -isms at worst.

The most  recent article showcases the experiences of students at Oxford University.  Although I cannot recall the first article I read about this current cultural phenomenon, I am struck by the audacity exhibited in these similar articles, which consist of numerous students of color holding dry erase boards exhibiting messages they have been the recipients of during their educational experiences at top-notch universities.

At first glance, the messages may seem benign, harmless little verbal indiscretions.  However, comments like "But...what is your African name?" and "Is that your real hair?" or "You do know they accepted you because you're black" say more about the speaker than about the recipient.  Such comments exhibit something truly more derisive, divisive, and harmful than a complete disregard for and lack of awareness of the dignity of the person. These comments, often uttered under the guise of feigned innocence, exhibit the thoughtlessness with which many people go through their lives, a shallowness all too often excused by caveats like "I didn't mean it like that" or "It was just a joke."

The term microaggression is telling, too.  Those on the receiving end of these acts of stupidity (for that is what they truly are) feel attacked, belittled, insulted.  And, they have started and joined campaigns to increase awareness of these behaviors arising from ignorant attitudes in forums like The Microaggressions Project.

So, if it isn't already obvious, what do I make of this?  Mostly, I am disappointed and even angered that there still exists an incredible amount of stupidity mascarading as ignorance, which in turn breeds intolerance and excuses.  Are people really still so naive as to think that what they say to others isn't important anymore? (A rhetorical question, but I guess the answer is apparently "yes.")  Although actions speak louder than words, it is also true that what we say is in itself an action.  Additionally, our actions (and words) DO have implications and consequences. What ever happened to the Golden Rule?  What ever happened to "speaking the truth in love"?  Thoughtlessness ought not be tolerated any more than stupidity should...and my closest friends and family know how I feel about stupidity.

SOURCE:

Edds, Robin. "65 Students of Color Share Their Experiences of Life at Oxford University."BuzzFeed. BuzzFeed, n.d. Web. 12 Mar. 2014.

Book Review: The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde

Book Review:  The Big Over Easy by Jasper Fforde

I have read two other Jasper Fforde novels, both from his Thursday Next series. Although I liked those books and found Fforde's wit endearing and unique, I honestly think I prefer the Nursery Crime series better.  Fforde has a wonderful wickedness in how he uses nursery rhymes in this series, and his main character, Jack Spratt, is both endearing and principled in contrast to other characters who are cynical and power-hungry as he attempts to solve the apparent murder of Humpty Dumpty.  With lots of unanticipated plot twists and complications, the story was enjoyable, silly and inane at times, but clever and exceptional.

Three Things I Liked:
1.  Absurdity:  I heard Fforde's writing described as absurd and even more than in the Thursday Next series, this is true of this Nursery Crime novel.  In fact, toward the end, as the various plot complications resolve, I found myself giggling at his absurd sense of humor and crazy logic.  The logic of the story is in itself remarkable at times, and downright bizarre, but actually works in a way one could only expect of a nursery rhyme crime drama.

2.  Chapter epigraphs in the form of press releases:  The epigraphs that introduce each chapter actually provide interesting back stories for the events transpiring in the course of the novel.  This is an interesting narrative technique as it doesn't make the story run away on a tangent, but provides important insights.  They add to the absurdity of the story at times and most importantly provide interesting commentary on society's infatuation with the drama of the famous and infamous.

3.  Transformation of flat, stock characters into round, multidimensional characters:  Mary Mary (of the Quite Contrary rhyme) and Jack Spratt are transformed from one-dimensional characters in this novel, which includes other unlikely characters as Prometheus of Greek myth fame, the depressed, womanizing Humpty Dumpty, the insomniac Wee Willie Winkie, and the murderous Tom Thomm (the piper's son). Although some of these characters don't undergo dramatic transformation, most have a seedier side in Fforde's imagination and they become more than they appear in their nursery rhymes (and myths).

Three Things I Liked Less:
1.  Incredulity of some plot complications:  Some of Fforde's plot complications seemed unnecessary and even inane at times, but I think this might be in keeping with the absurdity he was striving for.  Without any spoilers, did that really need to happen to Humpty?  Couldn't it just have been a bullet???

2.  Aliens??:  Yes, one of the minor characters is an alien from another planet.   Seemed gratuitous and unnecessary to me, but what do I know?

3.  Backhanded charges against Jack Spratt of "racism":  Jack Spratt is constantly accused of racism by his peers and the media jury who keeps trying to hang him out to dry.  It seemed at times the newspaper media were as duplicitous as the antagonist, but I'm hoping to retain an open mind for when I delve into the next Nursery Crime novel in the series.

Overall, I enjoyed The Big Over Easy and as I was looking for a quick read at the time, this one fit the bill for me.  I am really interested in the next novels as I'm genuinely interested in what happens to Mary Mary and Jack Spratt as they continue to fight Nursery Rhyme Crime and the corrupt police force that is beholden to the media (yes, complete social commentary here) for their "success."  Despite the absurd approach, Fforde seems to have something scathing to say about the criminal justice system and society's infatuation with the infamous.

SOURCE:
Fforde, Jasper.  The Big Over Easy:  A Nursery Crime.  New York:  Viking, 2005.  Print.

Perfection

I've been inundated lately with my composition students asking me how to do some writing task or some aspect of the general process of writing to perfection:

"How do I write the perfect thesis?" 

"How can I write a perfect essay?"

"How do I read with perfect understanding?"

Part of me is amused by these questions, while another part of me is perplexed, and yet another part of me is saddened that they believe any human endeavor can result in perfection.

My amusement stems from the naïve impression many have that they MUST be perfect, that they MUST achieve perfection, that their participation in one class is going to cause them to no longer have any flaws in their thinking or writing.  This part of me chuckles each time I hear the questions they ask with frustrated desperation.  I once had an instructor tell our art history class that because Michaelangelo himself was not perfect (as she invoked the example of the "out-of-proportion" hands on his David sculpture), no one in the class could earn an A, which implied perfection.  Sheesh!  I'm not that looney!  To me, an A does not signify perfection; it signifies a level of excellence has been achieved--excellence, not perfection--and that is to be commended.

“Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it.”  ― Salvador Dalí

Another part of me is mystified that young people think that perfection is even possible.  I try to explain to them that perfection is nonexistent, especially in writing, because our thought process is not perfect, i.e., "entirely without any flaws, defects or shortcomings" as per Dictionary.com.  The key word here is entirely, and while we can strive for perfection in our thoughts and in our writing, it is not an achievable goal.  Realistically, we can hope to lay claim to a spectrum of effectiveness in our thinking and writing.  This is in part because we often don't have all of the possible information; we are not all-knowing.  It is also in part because we tend to be ego-centered, happily planted in our own little sphere of knowledge and experiences. 

“If you look for perfection, you'll never be content.”  ― Leo Tolstoy, Anna Karenina

Then there is the other part of me that is saddened.  I am dismayed that as a society we have somehow told a generation of young people that they must achieve perfection or that they are not worthy of our notice.  I am troubled that we have a generation of young people who clearly believe that our humanness is capable of perfection.  I am even frustrated that, somehow, we forgot to tell our youth that humans are a constant work-in-progress, which implies imperfection.  This all doesn't mean that we can't reach for that pinnacle; it just means we shouldn't set ourselves up for so lofty a goal that it stifles our ability to even TRY.

“I am careful not to confuse excellence with perfection. Excellence, I can reach for; perfection is God's business.”   ― Michael J. Fox

Not coincidentally, a young lady this evening approached me and said she was on the verge of a panic attack because she had an assignment due and had been unable to complete it because she was anxious that it wouldn't be perfect...after some coaching, I believe she is rethinking her position about perfection.  At least, I hope so.

SOURCES:
"Perfect." Dictionary.com Unabridged. Random House, Inc. n.d.  Web.  12 Feb. 2014.

"Quotes about Perfection." Goodreads. Goodreads, Inc., n.d. Web. 12 Feb. 2014.

Keeping the Plates Spinning

Some time late last year, I came across a pin in Pinterest that got my attention in a way that made me truly pause and reflect on what I am up to on a daily basis.

Often, people ask me "How are you?" and I reply "Really busy, but good."  The truth is that I am really busy, and I believe the things I am busy with are worthwhile, empowering, and for the greater good--or I wouldn't bother with them.  But, on reflecting on the Pinterest pin, I realized that busy for busyness's sake may not doing anybody any good.  

The pin arose from a blog written by Melissa Ramos, an acupuncturist and nutritionist, published in The Huffington Post on November 19, 2013.  The post was titled, "Let's Stop the Glorification of Busy" and this was, not coincidentally, the verbiage of the Pinterest pin I encountered.  Ramos's point is that we cannot continue to lead truly fulfilling lives if we are so busy with incessant minutiae that we fail to live our lives in significant and important ways.  

The Pinterest pin also reminded me of a tongue-in-cheek comment my mother made several years ago about ensuring she had so many projects to do so that she couldn't die until she had completed them all.  I laughed at the time mom made the comment, but have found myself adopting this philosophy (again, somewhat tongue-in-cheek) to justify the myriad projects I embroil myself in. 

I often lament that I need about 36 hours in each day to accomplish all that I need to do.  I remember, somewhat awestruck, the period of my life when I survived for six months on three hours of sleep every night due to an over-committed schedule while I finished my student teaching and credential.  I chastise myself for missing appointments I "forgot" that I really ended up missing because I couldn't make my schedule mesh the way I needed it to.

The truth is that I feel the need to be busy so much that I find myself feeling a bit lost and confused when I don't have "enough" to do.  I almost crave a hectic schedule.  When I'm all "caught up," I wander around wondering which of my remaining projects I should start on and find it difficult to make a decision about which project to tackle next.  So, I find myself over-scheduling yet again so I can have the pressure of the impending deadline to comfort me.  And, I do really good work under that pressure.  

Is this over-scheduling exhausting?  Yes.  Do I sometimes wish I could unwind?  Of course.  Are parts of my life suffering from my busyness?  Maybe...  Do I really need to change anything?  Um...not sure.  Do I find fulfillment in the projects I engage?  ABSOLUTELY--why else would I do this to myself?  

I'm not really sure that being busy is a bad thing, but the Pinterest pin nags at the back of my mind anyway. This is good because that nagging has allowed me to begin to do some things just to recharge my spirit and reconnect with the reasons I commit myself to the projects I do.  The truth is that I have become, like many 21st century moms, a really good plate spinner.  

An Old Dog Learning New Tricks

Nothing makes me feel more like that "old dog" trying to learn new tricks than trying to learn to play the guitar.

Don't misunderstand me:  I LOVE music and LOVE trying new things and LOVE my patient, wonderfully understanding and talented teacher.  And, learning to play the guitar has always been on my list of things I want to accomplish.  However, I don't pick things up as easily as I once used to and I lack the free time learning to play properly requires.

As a former violinist (12 years classical training and one season with the San Diego Youth Symphony) and as a writing instructor, I appreciate the discipline required to achieve proficiency in any complex skill.  And I appreciate the dedication to practice this endeavor also requires.  I cringe when I come to the end of each week realizing that I was only able to practice one time for 30 minutes.  Or, even worse, not at all.

With that being said, I have been learning to play Kansas's "Dust in the Wind" for over a year now.  It's coming along, but I fear that it will never sound as good as the original one does--I'm too slow and not as agile as I'd like to think I should be.  However, at the slower tempo I play it, it doesn't sound bad and is even recognizable.  I'm elated at my ability to muddle through the entire song and have actually memorized it.  (It's a really long song, especially played at my slower speed!)  I've even managed to learn how to play a simple version of Carrie Underwood's "Two Black Cadillacs" with some level of proficiency.

With all of this said, I'm astounded at the rapid learning rate my two youngest children have in learning to play bass and guitar.  My daughter has mastered more songs much more quickly than I have and is even attempting some crazy bar chords that I don't think I could ever get the hang of.  And, my son has blasted through learning about seven songs on his bass guitar--he's getting good!  I love their fearlessness and that they embrace the learning curve.  Even when things get tough, they don't quit.  And, even though I have to nag them to remember to practice, they are getting better and running circles around my learning curve.

I'm not jealous of their successes...but I do think I'm a bit envious of their youth and agility and the attitude that they can conquer anything, things that seem to have been beaten down in me lately.  I do still believe in myself, but with middle age creeping up on me, I'm sometimes more aware of the time behind me than the time ahead of me.  I believe in being a lifelong learner and--darn it--if it takes the rest of my life, I promise to myself I will learn to play proficiently songs that make me happy and provide a level of peace to my harried life.

Maybe I need someone to nag me...

Moving from Consumer to Producer

I've been contemplating a lot lately how much of a consumer I am, especially a consumer of books, TV and movie media.  In truth, some of this introspection renders me a happy, happy mama as I dread what my state of mind would be without my books!  However, I am also concerned and disappointed at times in my own “need to be entertained.”   

I don’t just want to talk a good game about what good writing looks like; I desperately want to be a producer, not just a consumer, a desire that has become more pressing over roughly the last five years.  But, I want what I produce to be “quality,” something worth the time others will spend consuming and perhaps something that will inspire the next consumer-turned-producer. 

With this in mind, I am thrilled that my best friend and I are finally embarking on a project we have talked about doing for some years now. We have finally scheduled—in pen—time once a week to get together to write.  We will be focusing on writing songs for the time being, but I imagine this will branch out—as creative projects often do—into other genres.  Our first meeting was a wonderfully messy attempt to focus our creative energies and come up with a plan.  This all strikes me as laughably ironic:  planning a creative endeavor seems akin to choreographing a tornado. 

In any event, we not only planned some, we created some, too, and it is through the simple result—that we penned at least ¾ of a halfway promising song—that I find contentment.  As we find our rhythm, as we find and blend our voices and visions, beautiful and messy things will happen.  

Making Lemonade

It's not always easy to put on a smile when life becomes sour.

A recent situation my eldest son faced this week made this lesson very clear to us.  It's difficult, even under the best of circumstances, to remain consistently optimistic, and when you're 22 and trying to take huge steps into the uncharted waters of adulthood, it's natural to become apprehensive.  However, when life just kicks you straight in the teeth, what then?

The first, most natural response, of course, is to become angry.  He's angry, my husband is angry, I'm angry. But anger doesn't get you very far.  In fact, anger is often counterproductive.  But, it's a real, visceral response to betrayal, especially when you've been wronged and can do nothing about the situation except let it happen. The result is a feeling of powerlessness.

Letting go of the anger, now that's powerful.  In letting go of the anger, you actually take control of the situation because, while you can't control the situation itself, you can control how you respond to the situation. You cease being acted upon and become the agent of action.  You are no longer the victim, but emerge from the situation wiser, perhaps a little more cautious, and certainly better prepared to make lemonade the next time life hands you a bushel of lemons.

But, try telling that to a 22-year-old.

Book Review: Intermezzo by Melinda Morgan

Book Review:  Intermezzo by Melinda Morgan

Intermezzo, the second installment of the Birthright Legacy, picks up where Etude left off, with Beth Arrington inhabiting the body of Eleanor Hastings during the Civil War period.  Without giving too much away, as Beth awaits her return to her own time period and body, we learn some of the backstory about the Intruders and Bailey, as well as Jonathan and Grace.

This book is interesting also in that while it is a YA novel, there is an element of sophistication that was less present in Etude.  This is, of course, not to say that YA novels cannot be and are not sophisticated.  In fact, most of the better YA novels carry a level of sophistication that allows them to appeal to a much wider audience than those intended, and it is in this realm that I would also place Intermezzo.

Three Things I Like:
1.  Two characters in one:  One of the things I found hugely interesting is the juxtaposition of Beth's 21st century voice against the expectations of Eleanor's 19th century cultural refinement.  Beth is constantly aware that she is interfering with Eleanor's life, and the fact that these two women coexist in the same body is an interesting feature of the story.  How they communicate with one another and with those around them provides some intense and often comical moments.

2.  Reinterpretation of story:  As with Etude, I enjoy the reinvention and reinterpretation of story, specifically the Biblical Adam and Eve story.  I don't want to give too much away.  Although it takes a while to get there, Intermezzo picks up where Etude left off with this reinterpretation and it is one of the more attractive features (for me) of the story.

3.  Complex relationships:  The relationships between Eleanor and her father, Eleanor and her mother, and  Eleanor and Beth are real.  They exhibit the intensity and muddiness of all relationships that are real.  Father's drawings and "secret" past and Mother's reticence were beautifully handled and crafted parts of the story.

Three Things I Liked Less:
1.  Beth seems a bit whiny:  In Intermezzo Beth comes across as a bit whiny about not being able to be with Jonathan.  True, she is stuck in a seemingly impossible and implausible situation and has little hope of being able to right it all by herself.  However, I would have liked more "conversations" with Eleanor and fewer pouts.

2.  Delay of Bailey's entrance:  Bailey is hinted at a few times throughout most of the book, but when he finally makes his grand entrance, I was thoroughly excited.  This part of the novel was dark and murky and sinister; I loved every minute of it and wanted more.  Is Bailey the Grey Ghost?  Is Bailey more of a factor in the war itself?  What happened to the people from the camp?  I felt like this was such a rich part of the book and truly was anxiety-provoking--in a really wonderful way--and I wanted more of it and I wanted it earlier.

3.  The third book is not yet finished!  There were so many nuggets dropped for the last novel that I feel like I'm clawing at the end of the rope--What's the deal with Jonathan's brother?  What happens when Beth returns to the 21st century?  What's Bailey's ultimate goal?  When's the next one coming???

All in all, I recommend Intermezzo to YA readers young and old. I'm anxiously awaiting the third installment, wondering what's in store for Beth and Jonathan.  Come on, Mindy:  I need the finale!

Source:
Morgan, Melinda.  Intermezzo.  Ogden:  WindRiver Publishing, 2013.  Print.

Who Needs New Year's Resolutions?

“For last year's words belong to last year's language And next year's words await another voice.” ― T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets 

As 2013 came to an altogether-too-rapid end, I blinked...and it became 2014.  Customary or not, I am not in the habit of setting resolutions for myself, although I all too well recognize the need to redouble my efforts at health and fitness goals (among many other goals) that have escaped me.

I do, however, really like the idea of long-range planning, and so it was with a lot of optimism that three years ago I met the 101 in 1001 list.  

This project is known as the Day Zero Project.  Here is a blurb copied from their website:

The Challenge:  Complete 101 preset tasks in a period of 1001 days [2 years and eight-ish months].

The Criteria:  Tasks must be specific (i.e., no ambiguity in the wording) with a result that is either measurable or clearly defined.  Tasks must also be realistic and stretching (i.e., represent some amount of work on your part).

Source:  Green, Michael.  Day Zero Project.  1 Aug. 2012.  Web.  2 January 2014. Day Zero Project

I admired my friend/colleague Colette’s list three years ago; this year, I revisit my mediocre first attempt and rise to the challenge renewed and refocused.  I started with the same baseline of Colette’s initial list from three years ago and adjusted/revised/edited according to my life and goals.  Colette had a great list on which to build.  

In reviewing my initial list, I was disheartened to realize I let so many good, solid goals slip away from me; or rather, I let the three years slip away from me without accomplishing the things I wanted to do.  This year, I am reviewing that list and thinking, "So, are these things I really, truly want to accomplish?  Or, are they just things that sound nice, in-a-perfect-world type things to think about?"  I want my list to be meaningful to me.  I want my list to be a challenge, but a reachable one.  I want my list to help me develop in the directions I truly want to grow in.  

But, despite my optimism, some part of me is also a realist.  I don't for even one minute think that a simple list is going to really help me grow.  I know that growth and development is going to have to come from me, from the seed of desire, the moment of realizing I have not become what I know I can become.  I feel that seed trying to sprout; in truth, I have always felt that seed trying to sprout, and I want to pull the weeds that are preventing it from sprouting like I know it can and will.  

So, who needs New Year's Resolutions?  Well, apparently I do.  I'm just going to approach it from a "lifestyle-change" point of view.  

Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

Book Review:  Divergent by Veronica Roth

After much prodding by my 16-year-old, I relented and read this YA dystopian fantasy thriller.  I'm glad I did, though this novel initially strikes me as a cross between the sorting hat scene in the Harry Potter series and The Hunger Games--equal parts segregation and survivalist brutality.

Amid the typical teen identity crisis of much YA reading fare, there is a simplicity in this story that is hard to discredit.  And, it is this simplicity that commanded my attention.

Three Things I Like:
1.  Faction Manifestos:  The inclusion of the five factions' manifestos at the end of the novel was quite a treat.  In content and in form, these manifestos attempt to showcase the best of each faction's ideologies, containing a lot of virtue even as we have read of that virtue falling apart within the novel's narrative.

2.  Narrative use of setting:  Roth's use of the city's trains, the buildings, and landscape is compelling and dynamic.

3.  Rise of the Underdog:  Tris's empowerment through sheer determination, well and of course her "divergence," is part of the American desire for the underdog to triumph.

Three Things I Dislike:
1.  Things that feel "forgotten":  Although there are adequate explanations about why Tris's family disintegrates and what divergence is, I can't help but want to know more.  I feel like these are integral parts of the overall story and I sure hope they resurface in the following two installments of this trilogy.

2.  Fast pace:  I was going to list this as something I like, and the truth is I do like the fast pace of the novel. However, I cannot help but feel that part of the quick pace is due to the several times I skipped through narrative parts that weren't as compelling as other parts.

3.  Tunnel-visioned narrative:   Although we get hints of what is going on in at least three of the five factions, two are fairly well left out of the narrative.  I suppose I could have placed this comment in #1 above, but I felt that this was due to the fact that we really only see what is going on through Tris's eyes and engagements. Hints of what Amity and Candor are doing would have made for a richer sidestory, perhaps through a similar means as the Erudite newspaper Molly and Peter rub Tris with.

Overall, I am caught up in the Divergent fervor, although to a lesser degree than my son and his friends.  I've already stolen away from him the next installment, Insurgent, and am looking forward to reading time later in the day.  I'm not sure I will want to see the movie due out early next year, but I'm certainly going to read the entire trilogy.

Source:
Roth, Veronica.  Divergent.  New York:  Katherine Tegen Books, 2011.  Print.

Book Review: Bitterblue by Kristin Cashore

Book Review:  Bitterblue by Kristin Cashsore

I stepped ahead of my daughter by reading this book and finished it before she has even had a chance to take a peek.  An interesting text, I'm not sure she's going to like this novel as much as she enjoyed Graecling or Incarceron and Sapphique.  Although there is intrique galore in this novel, this is a much more introspective text than Cashore's Fire or Graceling.  As a sequel to Cashore's Fire and  Graceling, this novel is  much more esoteric than the two other texts in the series, and it is in large part due to this fact that I enjoyed Bitterblue more than its predecessors..

Three Things I Liked:
1.  Language:  So many ideas about language and communication abound in this text, from ciphers, the importance literacy, and (dis)possession of one's own thoughts.  As a lover of language, the attention Cashore pays to the delights and limitations of language is quite a treat.

2.  Memories and Trauma;  If ever there were a text exploring memories and trauma, and the trauma of memory, this would be "it." The pain most of the characters endure and their efforts to suppress the pain of those memories depicts internal crisis in a profound and bittersweet way.

3.  Forgiveness:  A major theme in this text from beginning to end, by exploring forgiveness, Cashore also intimately explores the implications of failing to forgive others and oneself for transgressions and failings. Above all, the concept of forgiveness leading to new beginnings imparts in the novel a sense of refreshment.

Three Things I Disliked:
1.  Delay:  I expected, and was not disappointed, the tie-in with Fire and Graceling to be completed in Bitterblue.  However, it took far too long for that tie-in to manifest and then when it did manifest, Cashsore deals with it almost cursorily.  Perhaps exploring the budded relationship between Fire and Bitterblue is too much to ask without adding another sequel.  (I also note this was one of my issues with Fire.)

2.  Sudden eruption of awareness:  It is difficult for me to believe that "all of a sudden" Bitterblue has an awakening to the myriad deceptions her closest advisers have perpetrated until she turns 18.  This awareness that "something isn't right" develops over the course of the novel, but it's difficult for me to believe that an inquisitive, intelligent, articulate young woman would not have inklings of problems before she did.

3.  Confusion surrounding antagonists' actions:  It is incredibly implausible that Bitterblue's closest advisors who profess to love her despite their deceptions would attempt to have her murdered, not once, but several times.  It is further implausible that when she confronts them and "lays down the law" literally and figuratively by commanding them not to do it again, they acquiesce.  Really?  The motivations seem terribly flimsy in this respect.

Overall, I remain intrigued by some of the original story elements of this triad of novels.  The mind-rape Cashore narrates in these texts is a terribly and terrifying interesting focus for all three stories.  Further, the concept of monsters and Gracelings is surprisingly human and rich, reminiscent of all of the gifts, talents, and mystery of the human condition.  I recommend the Graceling trilogy for YA readers and would be interested in reading more of Cashore's stories in the future.

Source:
Cashore, Kristin.  Bitterblue.  New York:  Dial Books, 2012.  Print.

Book Review: Fire by Kristin Cashore

Book Review:  Fire by Kristin Cashore


Continuing the tradition of reading books my kids are interested in is paying off in some interesting ways.

This is the second novel in a YA trilogy by Kristin Cashore, although it is actually a prequel to the novel Graceling. 

Three Things I Like About Fire:
1.  Monsters:  The monsters are counterparts to the "natural" creatures in the world, and this concept is both wonderful and imaginative.  The idea of creatures that are amped up in terms of their beauty, ferocity, giftedness, danger and intrigue is captivating and drives much of the story. The concept also begs the question what makes a monster monstrous?  Such an idea kept me interested in how this characterization would play out.

2.  Morality:  Morality plays a large role in this novel.  When is it moral to murder?  What is the moral thing to do about an unplanned pregnancy?  Is it moral to co-opt someone's free will under dire circumstances?  Is morality even relevant?  Heavy thoughts for YA readers, but important conversations to be had.

3.  Agency:  I absolutely love the agency Fire commands in the story.  Although she concedes that it is her father who grants her that agency initially, there are numerous moments in the story when Fire presumes and demands agency.  Her strength and determination are commendable.

Three Things I Liked Less about Fire:
1.  Blending of Storylines:  As a prequel to Graceling, I was hoping for a more meaningful and seamless blending of the storylines of Fire and Graceling.  The glints offered about Leck's role in both stories left me with a lot of unanswered questions.  Perhaps Bitterblue will fill in those gaps...

2.  Final Battle Scene:  Without spoiling anything, the final battle scene was confusing:  Was it Leck's interference that turned the scene?  Was it simply espionage and treachery?  Too many unanswered questions that were not addressed left me wanting more clarity.

3.  Ending:  I like an ambiguous ending sometimes, but since this is a prequel, I expected a less "sterile" ending.  There is a touch of happily-ever-after at work here, and it is unsettling because, having read Graceling first, I know that is an illusion.  This illusion leaves too many questions.

I'm hoping that Bitterblue will fill in the gaps that Fire widened in the story arcs...

Source:
Cashore, Kristin.  Fire.  New York:  Dial Books, 2009.  Print.