The average American family has about $8,000 in credit card debt. The Pomeroy's in Gabrielle Zevin's The Hole We're In, unfortunately, are anything but average. Roger, an assistant principal at a Christian high school, leaves his job to pursue a PhD, leaving his wife George (Georgia) to take care the family financially. Roger's meager salary, only $5,000 for the year, combined with George's hourly wage at a temp. job, causes their debt to escalate to extremes. With their daughter Helen's impending wedding, George makes some drastic financial decisions.
This novel follows Roger and George and their three children: Vincent, Helen and Patricia (Patsy). Each child digs themselves into holes of their own and we're able to easily follow them through Zevin's biting commentary. From over zealous Christians to the war in Iraq we're able to see just how delicate a balance life is.
I was struck by some similarities I saw in Zevin's characters to myself. In each work I've read of hers, I am always able to find myself somewhere. I truly believe it is the ability to write such life-like characters, that makes Zevin such a fantastic author to read. She takes risks, writes in different styles and always finds a compelling story in such simple concepts.
Friday, June 25, 2010
The Year of Wonders: A Novel of the Plague
Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks is a beautifully written tale of a small village's attempt at survival. A traveling tailor has brought the Plague to a small English village. Through the eyes of the narrator, a housemaid Anna Frith, the reader follows the struggles that torment her and the rest of the village.
There is much more to this story, and at times these other plot elements seem to replace the importance of Anna's story. However, I was most distracted by the ending of the novel. While I understand where Brooks' idea developed, I think her taking the novel in the direction she did made for a much weaker ending. I was actually disappointed in the ending!
The story provided much information about the Plague and measures that were taken during the 1600s to reverse the disease. I especially enjoyed the fact that I was learning about the Plague while reading a very pleasant story about a courageous young woman.
There is much more to this story, and at times these other plot elements seem to replace the importance of Anna's story. However, I was most distracted by the ending of the novel. While I understand where Brooks' idea developed, I think her taking the novel in the direction she did made for a much weaker ending. I was actually disappointed in the ending!
The story provided much information about the Plague and measures that were taken during the 1600s to reverse the disease. I especially enjoyed the fact that I was learning about the Plague while reading a very pleasant story about a courageous young woman.
The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank: A Novel
Ellen Feldman has created an alternate universe in her novel The Boy Who Loved Anne Frank. In this universe, Peter Van Pels (Peter Van Daam in Anne's famous diary) survives the Holocaust. Keeping his identity and Judaism a secret, he emigrates to the United States. The story begins in the 1960s. Peter is married, has children and is co-owner of successful business. However, his life begins to unravel when he notices the cover of a book his wife is reading: The Diary of a Young Girl. Peter is haunted by Anne's image. He feels all the things any survivor feels: guilt, anger, anguish.
While the reader knows that Peter Van Pels died days before Mauthausen was liberated, the details Feldman includes in her novel begins to convince the reader otherwise. I especially enjoyed the inclusion of the controversy surrounding the dramatization of Anne's diary. I had only heard of the controversy after reading Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife.
I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed Feldman's novel. While I was inclined to believe the book would be sugar-coated tripe, it was actually a compelling look at what could have been.
While the reader knows that Peter Van Pels died days before Mauthausen was liberated, the details Feldman includes in her novel begins to convince the reader otherwise. I especially enjoyed the inclusion of the controversy surrounding the dramatization of Anne's diary. I had only heard of the controversy after reading Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife.
I was surprised by just how much I enjoyed Feldman's novel. While I was inclined to believe the book would be sugar-coated tripe, it was actually a compelling look at what could have been.
Surviving the Angel of Death: The Story of a Mengele Twin in Auschwitz
When I teach my students about Holocaust they are often most curious about Dr. Josef Mengele and his horrible experiments. Mengele is notorious for his quasi medical experiments on twins, dwarfs, gypsies and other people with physical abnormalities. His is referred to as the Angel of Death because while his experiments were, more often than not, deadly, being selected by him gave one a glimmer of survival.
This glimmer of survival is Eva Kor's story in Surviving the Angel of Death: The Story of a Mengele Twin in Auschwitz. Eva and her twin, Miriam were chosen by Mengele on the platform at Auschwitz. While the rest of their family was sent to their death, Eva and Miriam were subjected to inhumane living conditions and gruesome experiments. The story is told in Eva's words. She recalls events in vivid details and she makes you feel as though you were traveling along with her.
What makes this story even more poignant is that both girls survived the war. Eva lives in Terra Haute, IN and has opened a museum. She frequently speaks to adults and children across the United States.
This glimmer of survival is Eva Kor's story in Surviving the Angel of Death: The Story of a Mengele Twin in Auschwitz. Eva and her twin, Miriam were chosen by Mengele on the platform at Auschwitz. While the rest of their family was sent to their death, Eva and Miriam were subjected to inhumane living conditions and gruesome experiments. The story is told in Eva's words. She recalls events in vivid details and she makes you feel as though you were traveling along with her.
What makes this story even more poignant is that both girls survived the war. Eva lives in Terra Haute, IN and has opened a museum. She frequently speaks to adults and children across the United States.
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Josie and Jack: A Novel
Josie and Jack by Kelly Braffet is reminiscent of a car accident. You don't want to stare. You don't want to keep looking back, but somehow you can't help yourself. Josie and Jack are siblings. The usually fend for themselves living in an old house on a hill. Jack takes care of Josie. However, his methods leave a lot to be desired. The two are frequently high and drunk.
Their mother is dead and their father is a professor at a university. He is home only over vacations. When he is home, he is abusive. This abuse eventually drives the two to leave home.
The plot twists and turns and surprises. While the concept of the story is interesting, I believe it falls a bit flat. I was expecting more and Braffet rarely delivered. When she did, the surprises were over the top.
Their mother is dead and their father is a professor at a university. He is home only over vacations. When he is home, he is abusive. This abuse eventually drives the two to leave home.
The plot twists and turns and surprises. While the concept of the story is interesting, I believe it falls a bit flat. I was expecting more and Braffet rarely delivered. When she did, the surprises were over the top.
Friday, June 18, 2010
The True Story of Hansel and Gretel
Using the familiar fairy tale Hansel and Gretel, Louis Murphy weaves a Holocaust story. I found using the Grimm's fairy tale as a way to convey the horror and devastation of the Holocaust quite clever. If you have ever read Grimm's in the original German, you know that the fairy tales were actually quite terrifying and gruesome.
I will say that I thought that the comparisons in the novel were quite a stretch. The step-mother was indeed cruel. I realize that the will to live is quite powerful. But, I cannot imagine anyone, even an evil step-mother abandoning children in order to better escape the Nazis. Although the children were young (11 and 7), they were old enough to keep pace and follow directions to make escape possible. Magda, the woman with whom the children hide, was no more of a witch than I am. She was just an eccentric older woman, whose thoughts and ideas were different than the villagers she lived with. In any case, she risked her life in order to save the children, and for that she should not be vilified.
In any case, the novel presented an accurate depiction of survival of a Jewish family. While the children became "Aryans", the parents hid in the woods and joined with resistance fighters, each trying to survive and be eventually reunited.
Murphy's novel is fair. I've read other Holocaust stories that pack more of a punch. The title, The True Story of Hansel and Gretel, is what first caught my eye; however, it is somewhat misleading, as the story is definitely fiction.
I will say that I thought that the comparisons in the novel were quite a stretch. The step-mother was indeed cruel. I realize that the will to live is quite powerful. But, I cannot imagine anyone, even an evil step-mother abandoning children in order to better escape the Nazis. Although the children were young (11 and 7), they were old enough to keep pace and follow directions to make escape possible. Magda, the woman with whom the children hide, was no more of a witch than I am. She was just an eccentric older woman, whose thoughts and ideas were different than the villagers she lived with. In any case, she risked her life in order to save the children, and for that she should not be vilified.
In any case, the novel presented an accurate depiction of survival of a Jewish family. While the children became "Aryans", the parents hid in the woods and joined with resistance fighters, each trying to survive and be eventually reunited.
Murphy's novel is fair. I've read other Holocaust stories that pack more of a punch. The title, The True Story of Hansel and Gretel, is what first caught my eye; however, it is somewhat misleading, as the story is definitely fiction.
Dead Until Dark
After watching one episode of HBO's True Blood I was hooked. What could be better than the not so distant future, a time where vampires have "come out of the coffin" and are a part of society? The quirky scripts and awesome casting truly compliment the allegory for the inane laws regarding race and sexual orientation. After watching 27 episodes in 36 hours, I decided I had to read the books that the steamy (mmmmm... vampires!) television series is based.
What a disappointment! I wasn't expecting fine literature, but the writing is often extremely juvenile in nature, almost as if one of my students had written it! While I enjoy the character of Sookie Stackhouse I'm finding her dialogue in the book is far less entertaining than the on-screen adaptation. However, where my dissatisfaction with the novel is greatest is the lack of the titillating and steamy vampire sex.
However, many assure me that the series (10 novels so far) does greatly improve and to not give up! I will continue to read Harris's brain candy, but as for now, I recommend the video version over the written word!
What a disappointment! I wasn't expecting fine literature, but the writing is often extremely juvenile in nature, almost as if one of my students had written it! While I enjoy the character of Sookie Stackhouse I'm finding her dialogue in the book is far less entertaining than the on-screen adaptation. However, where my dissatisfaction with the novel is greatest is the lack of the titillating and steamy vampire sex.
However, many assure me that the series (10 novels so far) does greatly improve and to not give up! I will continue to read Harris's brain candy, but as for now, I recommend the video version over the written word!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
