Surfacing

Surfacing

by Margaret Atwood

Margaret Atwood’s second novel, Surfacing, is clearly a book that was supposed to be read on Halloween.  First, the protagonist is unnamed, an element of writing you don’t often find.  Second, we learn that our protagonist, a female in her twenties (I think), travels back to her summertime family cabin in the Canadian wilderness to find her missing father…. Has he disappeared to get away from something, did someone kill him, or did he kill himself?  Our protagonist brings three friends with her on the journey for her father.  The group is embedded in the 1970's culture of free love, where sex with each other, across lovers, has no boundaries.  We learn of our protagonist’s past: an abusive husband; losing her child to her ex-husband; a brother who drowned in the lake where they are now searching for her father; and some other family tragedies.  As the search continues, the protagonist learns of her father’s death (he too has drowned) and is challenged to find sanity having lived an insane life.  This journey is one worth reading.  Atwood’s ‘line crossing’ from real and imagined, finding sanity through devastating life experiences, makes for a great psychological downward spin.  No wonder I enjoy Atwood’s books so much...   

Far From the Madding Crowd

Far From the Madding Crowd

by Thomas Hardy

Listened to a classic love story, one for the ages, in Thomas Hardy’s Far From the Madding Crowd.  The title confused me, but, after looking it up, I understood that it referred to a “frenzied” crowd, and what a crowd it is when it relates to the heroine, Bathsheba Everdene.  The story is set in rural England, where the protagonist, Gabriel Oak, a young farmer, begins his travels with a group of sheep and sets eyes upon the lovely Bathsheba, with whom he immediately falls in love but also realizes that she may be out of his league.  Still, he garners the courage to ask for her hand in marriage after spending numerous hours with her.  He is rebuffed and she leaves to live with her aunt.  After he loses his own sheep due to some bad luck, he, by chance, while looking for jobs, helps to put out a fire on a farm in a nearby town. He asks for a job but shortly discovers that the owner is…Bathsheba!  She reluctantly hires him.  Bathsheba discovers that she has a new admirer, whom she decides to play a trick on by sending the older, well-off farmer, William Boldwood, a Valentine’s Day card with no signature.  This blows up on her when she finds out Boldwood is serious about marrying her. She, once again, also spurns Gabriel, who learns of her ‘mischievous’ ways towards Boldwood, by firing him.  There is a third man who comes into Bathsheba’s life, the young and handsome Frank Troy, whom she eventually marries, even though he had promised to marry another woman prior. What he is unaware of, though, is that he impregnated his former lover.  And guess who this woman is…Bathsheba’s former servant, Fanny.  All the while, Bathsheba has rehired Gabriel to oversee the sheep and the farm, as things went badly without him.  Things get worse for Bathsheba as Boldwood has never forgotten about his love for her and awaits any opportunity to have her as his wife.  That opportunity comes when Frank Troy, also a bad gambler, learns of Fanny’s death and the death of his unborn child, which leads him to pronounce to Bathsheba that he loved Fanny more than he could ever love her.  He leaves and is presumed dead when his clothes are found near the ocean.  Boldwood offers to marry Bathsheba after a six-year period during which Frank’s death is accepted as reality.  As the years progressed, Boldwood pressures her more and more to marry him.  But before the ceremony is to occur, guess who returns?  Frank Troy!  What ensues is a twist for all times…Boldwood shoots him dead and is arrested.  Bathsheba, who still loved Frank through it all, is devastated, but who comes to save the day?  And yes this is how a love story ends…the guy gets his woman…. Gabriel, through his consistency and never-ending love for Bathsheba, finally has her realize love was in front of her all along.  In many ways, this story is a precursor for all of the drama serials that are on TV today.  It’s nice when the “good guy” finally is recognized for his undying love.  Melodramatic?  Sure, but the power of love wins out. 

The History of Vartan

The History of Vartan

by Elisacus

A really hard book to find from the RA Favorite list – the ancient tale of the Persians vs. the Armenians in Elisacus’ book The History of Vartan, And Of The Battle of the Armenians. Religion is inextricably linked to early civilizations in the world.  Welcome to the story of the Armenian faith, tested by bloodshed and power struggles, but rooted in faith.  The Christian traditions are present throughout and explained in chapters one and two, from Adam and Eve, the birth of Jesus, his days as a prophet and then to his death.  Vartan, the leader of the Armenians, wins a huge battle against the Persians, only to be set up by the leader of the Persians - Vagas - who lies, cheats, and eventually defeats Vartan, killing him.  But the religious leaders of Armenia appeal to some of their counterparts and Vagas is found to be a fraud, giving back Armenia’s rightful place as a republic.  A quick but comprehensive overview of the Christian ideology and history as well as how religion played such an influential role in the past, and still does today….  

The Shock Doctrine

The Shock Doctrine

by Naomi Klein

Some text books aren’t as bad as others for me to read, and this one helped provide perspective on economic life within our society and what drives it down – “capitalism at its worst”, as described by Naomi Klein in The Shock Doctrine.  The term ‘shock therapy’ refers to a series of actions taken with the sudden release of price and currency controls, withdrawal of state subsidies, and immediate trade liberalization within a country. This is done in conjunction with high utilization of the private sector to do work rather than reliance on government under the theory that the private sector can ‘save’ the economy.  Klein provides clear examples in the book that suggest this is not an effective way to solve the problems of the country in question, at least not on its own.   Klein points to countries all over the world where the ‘neoliberal free market’ policies, which were crafted in-part by economist Milton Freidman (noted U Chicago faculty member), created disaster over the past 50+ years.  Klein’s examples are well studied with credible sources to back up her claims.  Examples include: the beginning of Chile’s demise through Milton Friedman and his University of Chicago outpost in that country; the transformation of South American countries to embrace capitalist markets, which led to 365% inflation rate; the rise of Boris Yeltsin as the first President of Russia (and the consequent collapse of the Russian markets); the Middle East’s demise after relying on the private sector to solve its problems;  the United States’ downfall after 9/11 with former politicians who now sell their services to the government; and a flurry of other countries from South Africa to Israel.   If you don’t have knowledge on how economics are influenced by strategy, read this book. It is thoughtful and shows how, in this age of focus on security and safety, the investment markets have changed.  Powerful and a must read for anyone studying the economics of civilizations.

Seveneves

Seveneves

by Neal Stephenson

Listening to a 33-hour book is not always easy, but, in this case, I found a book that I can recommend to others.  The book Seveneves by Neil Stephenson was published in 2015 and has lots of references to recent technological advances (Snapchat, Twitter, etc.), so it’s relatable to many readers.  It is a pre- and post-apocalyptic story that relates to the end of Earth when the moon breaks into 7 pieces and heads to Earth in two years, which is expected to destroy everyone on the planet.  What I liked about the story is that the author took three stories and put it into one book, rather than book 1, 2 and 3.  The first part of the story revolves around the characters located in the space station, who are watching the situation unfold on earth while working to expand the space station. On the ground, scientists/astronomers along with political leaders are trying to plan for the end of Earth in just over 700 days.  Part two revolves around what happens when earth is destroyed and the space station is the only salvation for the human race (yes, there is a collection of egg and sperm in the space station to help with rebuilding civilization).  And part three looks 5,000 years into the future when earth becomes inhabitable again and details the story of the seven races (taken from the remaining seven women who made it on the space station and their descendants).  Parts one and two were great, full of fast-paced action, but part three dragged on with too many references to the various communities within earth and the Seveneves’ offspring.  The author did a great job scaring me with the reality he created…a phenomenal concept for how the world might end.  High marks for compelling characters and storyline, though, again, part three didn’t work for me too much.  You need to have a lot of time to read this one.  Harder to listen with so many characters being introduced throughout.  

The Analects of Confucius

The Analects of Confucius

One of the most popular phrases in advice giving in civilization (albeit less today) is “Confucius says….” Enter the world of the book The Analects of Confucius.  While I don’t remember many of them, there was a familiarity of this ancient Chinese philosopher’s words as I listened to the audiobook this past weekend.  Confucius was a moralist, a believer in a higher being, and expressed love towards parents (and those in authority).  Virtue was a thing to be harnessed and shared.  He wanted people to be educated, live an ethical life, and carry oneself with dignity, respect, and speak with integrity.  The book is broken into a series of ‘books’ which focus on ritual, discipline, governance, politics and history.   Here are a few of the statements that follow his philosophy:

The Master said: When the father is alive, observe the son’s intent. When the father dies, observe the son’s conduct.

Do not be concerned that no one recognizes your merits. Be concerned that you may not recognize others’.

When I was fifteen, I set my heart on learning. At thirty, I took my stand. At forty, I was without confusion. At fifty, I knew the command of Tian. At sixty, I heard it with a compliant ear. At seventy, I follow the desires of my heart and do not overstep the bounds.

When you see a worthy, think of becoming equal to him; when you see an unworthy person, survey yourself within.

That I have not cultivated virtue, that I have learned but not explained, that I have heard what is right but failed to align with it, that what is not good in me I have been unable to change – these are my worries.

When walking in a group of three, my teachers are always present. I draw out what is good in them so as to emulate it myself, and what is not good in them so as to alter it in myself.

What I like about the book is the repeated simplistic ideas on improving oneself.  Especially prevalent is the concept of reflection and working to ‘self-actualization’ as a person.  What better thing than trying to be better and better, yet never getting there.  This is a rather short read but highly influential in its time for the ruling class.  High marks as it pertains to us today, especially with this political world we live in.  Maybe we can send a copy to some of our leading politicians….

The Once and Future King

The Once and Future King

by T.H. White

33 hours of listening on audible and I’m finished with a thrilling classic novel called The Once and Future King by T. H. White.  It is the story of King Arthur and the Knights of the round table.  Many of you have heard of King Arthur, Merlyn (the wizard), Queen Guenever and Sir Lancelot, but have you read their entire story, from origin to conclusion?  I can now say I have.  This book is broken into five parts (in this edition):

1.) The Sword in the Stone: Arthur’s early life with his uncle, Sir Ector and how Merlyn trained him through his wizardry, turning Arthur (known as Wart at the time) into animals and insects to teach him lessons needed for his reign as King.
2.) The Queen of Air and Darkness: Arthur’s life with his relatives in the Orkney Clan.  Arthur coming into his own as a very young ruler, establishing his close relationship with Lancelot, and the creation of the round table of knights.  It is the beginning of how he will rule as the King.
3.) The Ill-Made Knight: Lancelot falls in love with Queen Guenever, and they attempt to hide their relationship from the King.  We are also introduced to Elaine, who has an affair with Lancelot (though he is tricked to think it is Guenever), and this one-night affair produces a son, Galahad.
4.) The Candle in the Wind:  the house of Agravaine reveals itself to Arthur and the secret of Guenever and Lancelot are brought to light, affecting all three characters.
5.) The Book of Merlyn: Merlyn’s lessons are revealed to Arthur as his life is coming to an end.  All of the insects and animals appear to reflect each of the lessons.

While I have watched movies & read a short synopsis of this classic tale, this was my first time taking it all in.  The third and fourth parts were my favorite as it brought much of what I remember together.  It is a rich, complicated history with some twists and turns.  The relationship between Lancelot and Arthur from childhood is remarkable as is the story of betrayal.  Even Guenever has to endure Elaine’s production of an offspring, something she herself could never do.  This might be a good read for a long break…perhaps between semesters?  Glad I added it to my collection of books finished!

Electric Sound

Electric Sound

by Joel Chadabe

I will say it was hard to read a “text book” even if it is an RA Favorite Book.  For some industries, it makes sense, especially when one has so much passion for the topic.  In this case, the book is a history of how “electric music” was added to the world of music.  The book, appropriately named Electric Sound, was written by Joel Chadabe.  Chadabe has composed music and is recognized as one of the pioneers in the creation and advancement of interactive music systems.  The book details how music was enhanced by adding systems of electronics to the sound, how it was created, how it sold, and who influenced whom in the industry.  It is a “who did what and when” and how that influenced the next generation.  Chadabe presents the early instruments that changed the entire music scene.  His book stems from the early 1900s and how the sound worked in concert with the early days of the telephone and even got mixed up in the same wires.  He later discusses the evolution of taped sound, which led to the creation of ‘sound studios’ and even outside studios to record this new music.  He profiles synthesizers, computer generated sound and then how sound is now invented.  His last chapter reflects on the next generation and what music will look like going forward.  Overall, if you aren’t into sound creation and this movement of computer/studio-created sounds, you will be bored -for much of the book, I was.  I never played an instrument (I’ll refrain from arguing that my 4^th grade violin experiment as making music), though I enjoy listening to music, so the history of the electronics influencing today’s music was simply a topic I have no interest in reading about further.  I did finish it but clearly not a fan of this type of book.  A very niched read for sure.

The Inheritance

The Inheritance

by Sahar Khalifa

Finished The Inheritance by Sahar Khalifa, a Palestinian author who shares the moving story of a young woman, Zayna, born in America from the union of a Palestinian father and American mother.  Her mother leaves the family after her birth and she lives with her father in Brooklyn.  At age 15, she violates his honor by getting pregnant.  His rage includes an attempt to kill Zayna, but he is stopped by her maternal grandmother.  Her father leaves her to go back to his homeland in the West Bank, and she remains with her grandmother.  After a successful academic trajectory, which included receiving her doctorate and being hired as a professor, Zayna longs to be reconnected to her father, which leads to a search of his homeland.  The second part of the book focuses on Zayna’s unhappiness in life, and a letter from an uncle informing her of father’s impending death.  Zayna decides to face whatever she will find in the West Bank and a family she didn't know existed.  What she finds is a new “stepmother”, who recently wed her father, who has done well financially.  Her uncle and his family believe that Zayna should inherit all of his land and money, but his new wife informs all that she is pregnant, even as a woman in her 40s, 30 years his junior (she was inseminated just a few months prior to her husband’s illness.)  The rest of the story goes into great detail of the issues related to family, the role of women in the Middle East during the 1990s, and who should get the inheritance of a large financial windfall.  The story reveals the restricted role women have in Palestine through the lens of a woman.  Father against children, daughters against brother, and raw horror of sexual abuse are all detailed in a very moving story.  (Note: it is translated into English so the glossary in the back is helpful for Arabic idioms and language nuances.)  Another book hard to put down.

  

Moments Captured

Moments Captured

by Robert Seidman

An interesting story by Robert Seidman in Moments Captured, which uses the real-life photographer, Edward Muybridge, and some stories from his life in conjunction with some divergent storylines.  It is a unique approach to utilize one of the “father figures” of photography to create a story.  Muybridge had two patents and is best known for his work in capturing animals in still and moving pictures.  In the novel, Muybridge, who hails from the UK, moves to the US in the 1860s at the time of the gold rush and migration of the east coast residents to the great west.  Muybridge assists in capturing a ‘gunslinging’ robber by taking a still picture of him, well before cameras were known by most people.  The picture helps capture and eventually is used to find the man guilty of the crime, for which he is later executed.  During the incident, Muybridge meets Holly Hughes, and they immediately become lovers.  The author goes into great detail describing the sexual exploits of the couple, and we learn that Hughes is a self-made woman who believes in “free-love”, being comfortable in numerous relationships at once (though her feelings for Edward make her think otherwise).  Hughes is a renowned French dancer and feminist and she pushes her agenda to the aristocracy of the San Francisco Bay area.  Muybridge gets hired by Leland Stanford (the man after which Stanford University is named) to help capture the movement of his horses on film.  Stanford later hires him to take stills of the building of the Pacific rim railroad tracks.  Hughes’ old lover, Jacques Fauconier, arrives during her opening night show, which she ends by spouting why “corsets are damaging to women” while the rich, white audience is aghast.  Fauconier tries to seduce Hughes, but she reneges his advances because of her attachment to Muybridge.  Muybridge becomes so enthralled with getting a large salary from Stanford, coupled with his desire to enhance his standing as a great photographer, that he leaves Hughes for a few months and forgets to contact her.  While he is away, Fauconier is finally able to convince Holly to spend an evening together.  It is an “over the top” sexual escapade that ends with him returning to her home.  That same evening, Muybridge returns after abruptly leaving the winter mountain site of the Pacific railroad buildout.  He finds Fauconier and Holly nude, asleep in each other’s arms.  He becomes so angry that he kills Fauconier with a gun that was given to him by a friend to escape from the mountain.  A trial ensues and Muybridge is found not guilty of manslaughter because of temporary insanity.  Holly can’t forgive him for killing Fauconier and leaves town for good.  Muybridge’s life is never complete now that he has lost Holly.  Will they ever get back together?  How will Muybridge ever move forward with his life having lost his work for Stanford?  What further contributions will he make to the field of photography?  It’s a really interesting story with some further twists related to the feminist movement, photography, and the story of the man who helped create Stanford University.  This was one of those books I couldn’t put down.  Interesting plot line with lots of twists, and a surprising plot from the very first part of the book comes into play at the end.  Again, like the device of using real-life people but changing many aspects of their life.       

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

20,000 Leagues Under the Sea

by Jules Verne

Finished what some believe should be on the greatest 100 classic novels of all time, Jules Verne’s 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.  It isn’t a short read, so be prepared as it has a great deal of detail throughout (I’d argue too much at times).  The story takes place in the year 1866, and some believe there is a sea monster in the ocean that needs to be captured.  Professor Aronnax, a French marine biologist who serves as the narrator of the story, accepts an invitation to join the expedition along with two other interested parties – a harpoonist (Ned Land) and Aronnax’s faithful companion, Conseil.  They leave from New York’s harbor and get to the Pacific Ocean where they face the monster!  They are knocked into the ocean and captured by the “monster”, which, in reality, is a submarine.  Submarines were not recognized at that time, and as the three men are brought aboard, the captain, Captain Nemo, welcomes them to the vessel - the Nautilus - which was built in secrecy.  Nemo also shares that the state-of-the-art boat is used for scientific experiments and is not to be revealed to anyone – hence they are now his captives forever.  The three captives endure 20,000 miles of travels throughout Earth’s oceans.  They see fish species they had never seen before, all types of organisms, and shipwrecked boats under the sea.  They endure being trapped under icebergs in the South Pole and they see landscapes from one continent to another.  The men become depressed as the months move on, realizing the Nemo has no intention of ever letting them free.  The men plan an escape, but, before they can act, the submarine enters the Norwegian “Maelstrom”, one of the most turbulent seas in all the world.  Will they escape? Will they be stuck on the Nautilus with Nemo forever?  You will need to pick this one up to learn what happens to Aronnax and his two shipmates.  While it is a classic, it does tend to roam a bit.  The story picks up a bit in the last ¼ of the novel.  I can take one more of the “greatest written” off my list to read.

  

A is for Activist

A is for Activist

by Innosanto Nagana

Lessons can be learned from all books, ranging from large volume books to 16 page children's books. The latter is the case in Innosanto Nagana’s A is for Activist.  Nagana’s book goes through the alphabet, educating young children (and adults, I’m sure) on aspects of civil engagement.  The illustrations that accompany the lessons for each letter are a plus.  I won’t go through all 26, but below is a sampling of some of the best:

            “C”: Co-op meaning cooperating cultures

            “D”: Democracy is more than voting

            "H": Healthy food

“M”: Megaphones making noise

“P”: Peace, power to the people

“Q”: Question

 “R”: Radical reds, (w/pictures of key advocates of peace: MLK, Nelson Mandela, Rosa                        Parks)

 “S”: Sun, fuels all life

“W”: Wondrous world, we cannot be whole unless we delight in diversity

Nagana chooses just the right words to help one think through the importance of voice, participation, and being active in all that is around us.  The book brings me to the letter “Q” for question: am I doing enough myself in these turbulent days we face? 

Endurance

Endurance

by Alfred Lansing

Alfred Lansing, renowned author, penned a historical novel titled Endurance, which combines portions of the journals of several shipmates on Sir Ernest Shackleton’s Trans-Antarctic expedition to the South Pole in 1914.  The twenty-eight-member crew began their journey from England to head to South America before trying to be the first to circle the area and return home.  The book outlines the harrowing journey in which the ship gets caught in ice and has to set a new course, using small life boats to finish the trip.  The intricacies of the crew’s survival and hopes to be saved after it escapes in the smaller boats is one of the most amazing tales I’ve read.  Lansing does a terrific job of taking separate crew members’ journals to piece together the daily struggles which lasted over two years!  Shackleton and his crew are faced with many minute-to-minute decisions that challenge their survival from being on the seas, stuck on an iceberg, or when they are on the last leg of the journey, having to descend a thousand feet down a cliff.  The book keeps you at the edge of your seat thinking there is no way they will live, yet they do!  Unbelievable that men can live in subzero temperatures, wet, with limited food, no water for 2-3 days and no way to get dry.  It makes one ask, why are we as a society so weak today?  Great story of courage, passion and perseverance.  Lansing’s work is top notch and an inspiration to read how it all unfolded.  Read it!

Centre of My World

Centre of My World

by Andreas Steinhofel

It was hard book to find, since it was written in German and recently translated into English, but I found a copy of it, and I’m glad I did.  Centre of My World by Andreas Steinhofel is a really good book that I could not put down.  Glass, a seventeen-year-old who is 8 ½ months pregnant, abruptly leaves America and goes to a remote part of Europe to move in with her older sister, who owns an old mansion.  As she approaches the mansion, she falls down and begins experiencing contractions, delivering a set of twins (Phil and Dianne) in the midst of the winter eve.  She is found by a woman, a lawyer assigned to find the mansion’s owner as the sister has died.  Now the story begins….The mystery surrounding Glass and her children coming to the new town, the strange people who inhabit the area, the people who befriend Glass, and the stories of Phil and Dianne growing up.  The author’s device of returning to earlier aspects of the story to fill in what we don’t know works well.  The family dynamics between Glass and her children and learning who their father is becomes an ongoing issue that plays a role in Phil’s development.  Phil is the protagonist of the story and his friendships, need for a father figure, and understanding his sexuality, and learning to love are all beautifully presented.  Phil’s relationship with a mysterious classmate, Nicholas, and what happens when his best friend, Katja, learns of his budding sexual relationship turns into jealousy and an unexpected outcome.  So much in this book, great character development, real family drama and love, jealousy, envy, and secrets.  This is one of the books you pick up with low expectations and end up changed a bit because of what you experienced.  Growing up is never easy, but unanswered questions about your history make it all the more difficult.  Glad they decided to translate this one to English.  I see this as a new AP English book for high schoolers!  Very good book that keeps you guessing throughout.  It never is as you think it will be.