September Reviews- Bastard Alert

I have seventeen billion excuses as to why I only read one book this month.

One.

Damn.

Crap.

Pathetic.

And it was a kid's book.

I am so, so very ashamed.

[source]

And now I'm over it. At least it was a good one:

Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick
630 Pages

Many of you may be familiar with Selznick's first children's novel, The Invention of Hugo Cabret- this one was almost as good in respect to story, but better in regards to artwork. Two parallel stories run between the expressive, intricate sketches and the text, eventually merging at the end. The main character Ben, is a young boy whose mom has recently passed away and doesn't know who his dad is (bastard!). Already hard of hearing in one ear, the poor kid becomes fully deaf after a freak accident. He decides to venture to New York City to find his dad, based on a few clues he's managed to rummage up in his mom's old belongings. And thus, adventure ensues. A quick read (don't be put off by the 600+ page count, it's almost half art) that is really what kids should be reading. Even if the main character is a bastard.

If I was a good blogger I'd mention the book was free as an advanced copy through Amazon Vine.

So next month I'll be making up for this and reading ten books. Yup. Sure.

Books on Your Back- Better Late Than Never

Tardiness is one of my biggest pet peeves, more so when I'm the one that's behind. While this is rare, it's happened for the third time in my life- in the craziness/goodness that is life right now, I totally dropped the ball on Banned Books Week. I knew it was going on, mentioned it to my students, but I failed to put on my party hat and write a corresponding post. Oopsies. Here's last year's, and a shirt to commemorate 2011's from Cafe Press:

Hate the Player, Not the Game

I think, as humans, our need to shy away from things we don't "like" is a result of both nature and nurture. We don't like the feel of a 500 degree broiler pan on our forearm, so we move away (and yell enough expletives to make a sailor blush). We don't like feeling embarrassed, so we stay away from thing we're bad at (like dancing or mini golf). Often, people feel the same way about the main characters in novels- if they don't like he or she, they're more inclined to have adverse feelings about the book as a whole.

Case and point- Solar by Ian McEwan. I have to preface this by saying that this novel definitely wasn't his best, but it definitely had things to appreciate. After reading many of the reviews on Amazon, I noticed that a common complaint was that the protagonist wasn't likable. Yup, he was a chauvinistic, lazy, abrasive opportunist, but he was also a fascinating character in a novel that uniquely combined environmentalism and fiction. Who cares if he wasn't warm and fuzzy?

Another character that I didn't love was Marina Singh in Ann Patchett's newest novel State of Wonder. I can't pinpoint where exactly my dislike stems, but something about her just didn't resonate. Patchett's crafting of her character wasn't to blame, though; she was interesting, intelligent and independent (the three Is all women should be). And while I had a few issues, I enjoyed the story and would strongly recommend it; I just didn't fall in love with Marina.

There are plenty of great novels with less than likable characters; A Confederacy of Dunces, Crime and Punishment, In Cold Blood, and Super Sad True Love Story, to name a few. What makes these novels great is the writing, both as far as plot and prose. And there's a difference between not liking a character because they're assholes/whiners/murderers and not liking them because they're flat, poorly developed or just plain "off." Talented writers can immerse unlikable characters in good books, while mediocre writers simply lack the skill to develop their characters or the rest of the their novels.

I think it's important to note that often authors make characters unlikable on purpose. Why do we hate them so much? How does it change our perspective on the rest of the novel? What does it make us realize about ourselves?

As much as I don't watch many movies, I suppose they're relevant examples. Take Star Wars. Love the movies, but hate Luke Skywalker for being such a whiny little bitch ("waaaa, my aunt and uncle are dead," "waaaaa my dad wants kill me," "waaaaa the girl I want to bone is my sister"). Dirty Dancing is another example; not particularly fond of Baby (speaking of whiners...), but like the movie as a whole. You get the gist. I hate whiners, but sometimes I like the movies they're in.

If/when I ever write a book I'm fairly confident that the main character will be somewhat unlikable, as there will probably some of myself ingrained into her (honesty is the best policy). I think it can be fun to dislike characters; my students are currently having a fabulous time hating Mildred in Fahrenheit 451, but as long as they can explain why I encourage the hating. Sometimes complaining and hating can be cathartic- and so much less painful or dramatic when it's a fictional character.

So next time you're reading something and you start hating on the main character, remember that it may be intentional and that you need to look at the bigger picture. We're not always there to cheerlead for the home team, but to serve instead as an objective observer who can scout out both sides.

Flavor of the Month

I'm shopping for a new hobby. Actually, that's probably a bit too generous- I'm shopping for a new phase, a flavor of the month. It happens occasionally. I'm sure not bored; between work, the house, my attempt at a social life, and getting ready to start training again I have more to do than hours in the day! But, I need something new, a break from everything else. And, like any good bibliophile, I turn to books for assistance.

1. Cycling: This is an exception from the whole "flavor of the month" concept- I really want to add this to me fitness regimen permanently. I'm having a treadmill delivered tomorrow, so I think a bike is a bit in the future, but it's going to happen. I must also overcome my dislike for helmets, falling, getting hit by cars and changing flat tires.


2. Cake Pops: I've recently become obsessed with them. I loved them back a few years ago when they were just "cake balls" made at Christmas, but I need to make some. I hate the fact that they're so trendy (cake pops are the new cupcake), but they're bite sizes pieces of cake covered in candy. I'll have to put my need to contradict the general population aside. And I have weird desire to make them into little animals. I am checking myself for a fever. I must be ill.


3. Quilting: Let me clarify; I want to make a quilt out of all my race t-shirts, since most of the businesses that do it for you charge a billion dollars (I'm not exaggerating. A billion). I'd also like to be able to attempt my future baby's bedding, but the main focus are my shirts. Me, me, me, me. I'm a very selfish person, sorry unconceived child.

4. Wine Drinking: I've been working really hard the last year or so to like wine. And by really hard I mean I try it when someone else buys it. I've gone from liking none to liking one (and it's a dessert wine, which is pretty pathetic). I need a book to teach me how to appreciate and choose wine. Either that or I need to drink more. And more. And more. I've said it before, and I'll say it again: it's much more socially acceptable to have a glass or two of wine with dinner on a weeknight that a shot or two of tequila. All I know is that after I read Sideways I was all about drinking wine. Unfortunately, I was like 19 or 20 at the time and it was all about the Smirnoff Ices that we could convince people with fake IDs to buy us.


5. Hiking: Normally, I really hate getting dirty, but if I've mentally prepared myself ahead of time I can cope. I really, really enjoy hiking (I hiked all the way to the top of effing Half Dome with my brother a year ago) and I know that there are a million trails in Southern California that I haven't taken advantage of simply because I'm not really sure where to look. Hence the need for a book. Preferably one with maps and pictures.

6. Yoga: I haven't had a lot of luck with yoga- I have a few videos that I'll do, but I know I'm not getting the full benefits (checking my phone for email during the cat pose or getting angry about dog hair on the floor may have something to do with it). I feel like I need to do it, though, since the running has started taking a toll on some of my joints and, according to the massage therapist last weekend, I "have way too many knots for someone so young" in my back (sorry, I have stress in my life and don't get to sit around listening to soft music and rubbing oil into people all day). A book might help convince me that I need to make more of an effort.

7. Vegetarianism: I'm definitely not going to take the full plunge into becoming a vegetarian, but I've reduced the amount of meat I cook quite a bit the last year and have tried to eliminate red meat completely (I eat it less than once a month). I would really like to read some of these books for the main purpose of getting some better ideas at how to more adequately supplement protein (and iron) into my meals.

I know, stingy, only three pictures. The right click button on my mouse is acting up [insert joke about my clicking my mouse here] and I simply do not have the patience tonight to use the ever-so complicated touch pad on my computer (after 9 months I still have failed to bond with my Apple and it's confusing finger tapping routines). And now I sound old.

How to Build a Library

After unpacking our clothes and the kitchen essentials, my next priority was of course setting up our "library." It was definitely a labor of love; we never put much time or energy into decorating the apartment during the five years living there, so I'm having a lot of fun doing it now.

Since people have actually asked me before, a quick note on organization. Fiction is first, in alphabetical order by last name, followed by the nonfiction. I'm not quite as much as a stickler for the real stuff; they're based in loose categories such as travel, history, art, biographies, etc... There are plenty of what my grandmother would refer to as "dust collectors" interspersed throughout to give personality but to also save place for later purchases.

My camera really does not like the lighting in that room at night, not to mention the fact I was in a total hurry. Now back to the rest of the house so I can finally start reading again!