LIGHT IN AUGUST

by William Faulkner



Light in August cannot be summarized in a sentence or two. Taking place in Faulkner's Yoknapatawpha County, there are three inter-connected stories that delve into topics such as morals, alienation and Christianity as well as the racial tensions that I've come to expect in Southern literature of this time period.

I wanted to read this book in particular, because I heard somewhere that it was the most accessible of all of his novels. I don't remember where. But if you're looking for a Faulkner novel that you don't have to be afraid of, this would fit the bill. It's not an easy read, but it's not nearly as confusing as, for example, The Sound and the Fury.

As I was reading, I did feel there was a lot of religious imagery surrounding one main character in particular, Joe Christmas. In one scene, there were very strong crucifixion overtones. I was happy to discover via my personal literature tutor, Wikipedia, that I was not imagining things. The expansion on this thought, with Lena seen as a Mary-figure and Byron as a Joseph-figure, was an eye-opener. I would have never thought of that on my own. This was a beautiful, disturbing book that has added much fuel to my new fixation with Faulkner.

This finishes my 2008 TBR Challenge!

THE POWER & THE GLORY

by Graham Greene



"In a poor, remote section of southern Mexico, the Red Shirts have taken control. God has been outlawed, and the priests have been systematically hunted down and killed. Now, the last priest is on the run." -- From the back cover of the Penguin Classics edition of The Power and the Glory.

I have an issue when I read classics that I know nothing about other than the book is considered a classic and it looks really good. Do I read some background information first and get a handle on what the book is about and the themes to look for? Or do I go in cold and just see what I get out of it all on my own? I go back and forth with this decision, because the resulting experiences are very different and you can read a book for the first time only once.

I chose to go cold into The Power and the Glory. I had a hard time with it. I didn't get it, but I kept at it. And I'm glad I did. While I can't say I was blown away, there were moments that gave me pause, captured my thoughts. I'm glad I hadn't read previously about the scene in the overcrowded jail, because I was able to let it move me without thinking, "Oh, this is the part that's supposed to be so fantastic". I found out after I finished the book that, yay! I got it!

Graham Greene's writing got to me even when I wasn't exactly following the point, and that has fed my curiosity for more. Looking over a list of descriptions of his other books, I have a lot of exploring of human nature to do. Excellent! The next one I pick up by him I will faithfully read while I am fully conscious, not nodding off after a Timberwolves game.

CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY

by Alan Paton



Description from Books On Tape CD: An old Zulu parson from the hills above Ixopo sets out for Johannesburg, the "city of evil", looking for his son. He finds his boy in prison, charged with the murder of a white man who had devoted his life to justice for the black race.

Need a good book for your reading group? There is more to discuss in Cry, the Beloved Country than a single short review could ever touch. There was one particular theme, though, that deeply resonated with me. I'm a true believer in "there is a reason for everything that happens, we just don't always see it", and this book delves into that belief at nearly every level. The definitions of "good" and "bad" are questioned. The uneasy friendship that develops between the father of the murdered man and the father of his killer transcends mere forgiveness and comes to benefit an entire town. Actually, it's not even "friendship" they develop. It is more of a respect and a desire to understand. It is one of those books that makes me want to be a better person. And that is never a bad thing.

CARDS ON THE TABLE

by Agatha Christie



Mr. Shaitana invites Hercule Poirot, Ariadne Oliver, Superintendent Battle and Colonel race to a party at which the other four guests all have committed murders in the past and have gotten away with it. When Mr. Shaitana is killed during the party, the four sleuths band together to figure out who of the other four is guilty of the newest crime.

I'm certain no one needs me to tell them Agatha Christie is the master of her genre. Cards on the Table is a great example of her ability to twist an ending so many times it leaves the reader dizzy. I've read probably a couple dozen of Christie's mysteries, and this is one I would recommend for newbies to her work.

I, CLAUDIUS

by Robert Graves



All the splendor and corruption of ancient Rome come to life in Robert Graves' masterpiece, I, Claudius : From the Autobiography of Tiberius Claudius. From the pomp and paranoia of the Emperor Augustus to the excesses and depravity of Caligula, secrets are spilled from behind the walls of palaces and prisons alike as Claudius writes his history of the Roman Empire as he lived it. And what a life it was!

What I loved most about this book was the way the narrative came off as almost chatty, like Claudius was your pal filling you in on all the scandalous gossip. I, Claudius completely lacks the pretentious air about it that often surrounds books of this sort. Though the reviews I'm reading say it doesn't measure up to it's predecessor, I'm off to order Claudius the God right now. I don't think I'm quite ready to say goodbye to him.

CATCH-22

by Joseph Heller



Catch-22 is a M*A*S*H-like look at the atrocities and absurdities of war, the people who conduct them and the people who actually fight them, whether they want to or not.

This book is worth the time you spend during the first 1/3 or so of it wondering what on earth is going on. Stick with it! Once the back stories start getting filled in, it gets a lot easier to just sit back and enjoy the ride. In here are some of the funniest conversations I have ever read (such as when Major Major gives orders that no one is to see him in his office unless he's not in there). And, just like M*A*S*H, you can go from hysterical laughter to wide-eyed unbelief at what is happening so quickly that you'll wonder if you should have yourself checked for whiplash. Like all good books, you'll find yourself thinking about all the messages these characters have to pass on to us. It's no mystery to me why this book is studied, read and loved.

Lezlie

Just FYI -- There is a great article on Wikipedia that talks about concepts, themes, and has links to descriptions of who all the characters are to help you keep track of everyone. Also, for those interested in the continuing story, Heller did write a sequel entitled Closing Time: The Sequel to Catch-22.


Other reviews of Catch 22:

Lost In A Good Story
Trish's Reading Nook

THINGS FALL APART

by Chinua Achebe



I was about ten chapters into Things Fall Apart when it occurred to me. I was enjoying the book, but I felt like I was missing some serious points. The sparse writing had temporarily lulled me into skimming the surface. I hopped on Google and found myself a fabulous study guide that supplied questions to ponder as I continued reading and a resource website that explored Post-Colonial Literature from various parts of the world. Suddenly I was reading a book that went from "quaint" to "powerful".

On the off chance that it’s not completely obvious, I lack a college education in literature. While I often am tempted to remedy that, I am also acutely aware that years of required reading being laid out for me would probably not produce the desired effect, because, quite frankly, I want to read what I want to read when I want to read it. Therefore, I am doing my best to educate myself while indulging in my wide-ranging tastes. Hence, the occasional forays into the world of online study tools. In this case, I was extremely pleased that I did. I think that I would have picked up on more of the themes once I had gotten into the coming of the missionaries, but I’m not sure I would have fully appreciated the entire first section of the book where Achebe describes many of the intricacies of tribal life. I ended up becoming so engrossed that I immediately went out and purchased the two books about the main character’s descendants, Arrow of God and No Longer at Ease, which I plan on reading right away.

Ultimately, I had a hard time drumming up a lot of sympathy for Okonkwo, the main character. Even in the light of his own culture he was a jerk. But I did understand his feelings at the end. And I felt terrible for the Ibo people as their world began changing before their eyes. While the Ibo traditions look harsh and primitive to Western sensibilities, it worked for them and had beauty and nobility despite its flaws. While I have no desire to live in a tribal culture, I find myself envying certain aspects of a simpler life. And every time I read about things like this coming of the missionaries or the displacement of the Native Americans and the like, I always think to myself, “And what makes our way of life so much better? Why do we think we are so superior?” Granted, leaving babies out in the woods to die because of superstitious beliefs is abhorrent on every level, but why do we feel the need to wipe out every aspect of life that doesn’t look like ours? And as I sit in my mid-western suburban home pondering these questions, American troops sit in Iraq. I’m not getting political here. This is a book blog. I’m just saying there’s a lot to think about.

Lezlie

THE QUEEN'S SECRET

by Jean Plaidy



When it comes to Jean Plaidy, there are times I think I could write just two all-purpose reviews with blanks to fill in for names and places – one for her books that focus more on history and one for her books that focus more on relationships – for that is how the books feel sometimes. One or the other, mostly the same, change the details. But that would be greatly disrespecting the enormous corpus this gifted and prolific author has produced, and it would definitely rob the books of their due. The truth of the matter is while few of them are works that I would deem outstanding, I can always count on Jean Plaidy for a fast, informative and pleasing read. In short, she is a writer I turn to when I want a book I know I will enjoy.

If one is reading the "Queens of England" series in historical order, The Queen’s Secret is the second of twelve volumes. (The first is The Courts of Love.) It is the story of Katherine of Valois, mother of the Tudor dynasty. This is one of the Plaidy books that is more relationship-focused than history-focused. The history you learn is mostly via conversations between characters rather than any actions that Katherine is involved in personally. Her direct story is of her marriage to Henry V and her later secret marriage to Owen Tudor. Therefore, when Joan of Arc makes her mark in France, we only get to see it from a great distance. I had hoped there would be a little more about that, but, on the other hand, it piqued my interest enough that I will most likely be scouting out more books about Joan in the future.

One thing I found very interesting in reading the first two volumes of this series was the marked difference in the feelings regarding family in the two queens, Eleanor of Aquitaine (in The Courts of Love) and Katherine of Valois. Katherine cares only for her children and family, and admires the lifestyle of the common people that allows them to raise their own children. Eleanor barely knew her children and didn’t care. Governing the country came first for her. While Eleanor’s attitude was considered normal for nobility in general and royalty in particular, I think many readers will relate more to Katherine’s pain at surrendering her child to the state and her need to have a real family.

Lezlie

More to come in the Queens of England series:

IN THE COMPANY OF THE COURTESAN by Sarah Dunant

In the Company of the Courtesan follows celebrated Roman courtesan Fiammetta Bianchini from her escape of the sack of Rome in 1527 through her struggles and reemergence in the city of Vienna. Told from the point of view of her dwarf companion, Bucino, more sensitive readers may want to shy away from this one, as Fiammetta makes no apologies for what she is and the story is often told using the coarse language of her trade. Beautiful pictures are painted, highlighted with a generous sprinkling of vulgarity.

If that is not an issue for you, then you are in for an enchanting read! The book does not focus on her work as a courtesan. There are no detailed boudoir scenes. But we see her life around her profession, how she overcomes tragedy and physical disfigurements that would have ended the careers of the less stoic and how she and Bucino handle the frailties of success when it ultimately comes to them.

While most of the novel focuses on Fiammetta and Bucino and their trials and tribulations, it is an unexpected swerve toward the end that takes the book from "good read" to a higher level. Characters who until then have been interesting become extraordinary indeed, and a story that would have been fascinating but forgettable becomes one that you will not want to end.

Lezlie

By the same author:

THE ORCHARD KEEPER by Cormac McCarthy

I told J.C. the other day that my initial reaction to this book was, "Huh?" But that I had read 2 previous Cormac McCarthy books and was used to this feeling. I was sure it would all come together in the end. Well, I've finished the book and here is my review: Huh?

I like to think I am a relatively intelligent reader. But when I get to the end of a book and couldn't even begin to tell anyone what it was about, what happened or how it ended, I can't help but wonder if it was the book or was it just me. I can't honestly say I didn't like it at all. McCarthy's writing has a magic all its own that keeps you turning pages even as you think to yourself, "I'm not getting this at all . . ." But for some reason, this one left me completely blank.

I like Cormac McCarthy. The Road is still seared into my memory, and Child of God, involving one of the most disturbing characters I've ever encountered in my reading (a necrophiliac), was one of my oddest, creepiest literary experiences. I wouldn't run around recommending Child of God, but images of it stay with me like an accidental trip through a nightmarish circus freak show. I will read others by him in the future, and I will probably revisit this one someday to see if I can figure out what I missed. Or if I missed anything at all. And maybe that in itself is the point.

Lezlie

THE COURTS OF LOVE

by Jean Plaidy

The Courts of Love is the story of Eleanor of Aquitaine. It is written as if these are her memoirs, so the story is also of her husbands, King Louis of France and Henry II of England, their children, including King Richard and King John, and England's long rivalry with France.

I love Jean Plaidy's books. I'm not so much enamored of the writing itself. While it's engaging, many of the characters seem little more than paper dolls moved around to illustrate the actions of historical personages. And in this case, I didn't find Eleanor to be a particularly likeable person. However, my personal reason for reading her novels is that I love learning about history via fictionalizations of real people and events. For some reason, I find it easier to remember who's who when it's attached to fiction. Plaidy's books are more interesting than a straight non-fiction history book (with exceptions, of course!), but usually not so dramatic that it's annoying. She pretty much tells things in a straight forward manner with a little intrigue for good measure. (Did the two kings really . . .?? Nah! Did they?? Hmmmmm . . .) And there is just enough detail to get the big picture and decide if you would like to dig deeper in the future or if that's enough to satisfy your curiosity. I knew little to nothing about the reign on Henry II or Eleanor herself when I read this, and I finally have a few more blanks filled in regarding my knowledge of medieval England. Mission accomplished. But I am going out to Wikipedia right now to see if I can find out if that story line about the two kings is true or just an intriguing use of literary license!

Lezlie

MRS. DALLOWAY by Virginia Woolf

Mrs. Dalloway is one of those books that make me wish I had gone to college, studied literature, and had the intellectual tools to truly analyze what I’m reading. Peter said that my realization that I was missing something was a good start to my personal independent studies. (That’s what I get for being married to a college professor.)

I discovered quite quickly that I had to slow down and read very carefully, that this was not your average story. My understanding is that Mrs. Dalloway is, in a manner of speaking, Virginia Woolf’s response to James Joyce’s Ulysses, which I have not yet read and she apparently hated. (If anyone knows this to be true or not, please set me straight. I’m just repeating what I read somewhere.) Upon reflection, I liked the “stream-of-consciousness” writing style. I was thoroughly confused at first, but once I began taking my time and just let the words flow in their own time and manner, I found myself caught up in the moments of the lives and private, scattered thoughts of the characters. The whole story takes place over the course of a single day and moves seamlessly from character to character as their paths cross during their daily activities. Pasts are revealed during snippets of conversations and meandering personal musings that occasionally became hard for me to follow. However, I was deeply intrigued by the book as a whole. I can’t say I loved it, but as my understanding of literature matures (assuming that it does), Mrs. Dalloway is a book I will come back to.

Lezlie

2008 TBR Challenge

I promised myself (and Peter) that if I decided to commit to these reading challenges, I would use the opportunity to clean off some of my "to be read" shelves rather than just to create reasons to go to the bookstore. I hesitated on the actual TBR Challenge only because I was so focused on the 1001 Books Project. But there are more books in the world! (And on my shelves . . .) Therefore, here we go:

** FINISHED **
Completed: List 7/12, Alternates: 5/12 as of Dec. 23, 2008

The List:

The Orchard Keeper -- Cormac McCarthy
Mrs. Dalloway -- Virginia Woolf
Catch-22 -- Joseph Heller
The Power & The Glory -- Graham Greene
Beowulf -- Anonymous
Things Fall Apart -- Chinua Achebe
The Courts of Love -- Jean Plaidy
The Historian -- Elizabeth Kostova
The Borgia Bride -- Jeanne Kalogridis
The Praise Singer -- Mary Renault
I, Claudius -- Robert Graves
Tides of War -- Steven Pressfield

Alternates:

Light In August -- William Faulkner
Outer Dark --Cormac McCarthy
Shindler's List -- Thomas Keneally
Petals of Blood -- Ngugi Wa Thiong'o
Siddhartha -- Herman Hesse
Cry, The Beloved Country -- Alan Paton
The Queen's Secret -- Jean Plaidy
In The Company Of The Courtesan -- Sarah Dunant
The Queen of Subtleties -- Suzannah Dunn
Practical Demonkeeping -- Christopher Moore
Another Roadside Attraction -- Tom Robbins
Cards On The Table -- Agatha Christie

Some apply to the 1001, some I've had sitting around forever and it's time to make room for a new batch. :-) I'm also considering the 888 Challenge to help clear my backlog. Hmmmmm. . .

I'm in!
Lezlie