Sunday, January 31, 2010

How the Blog Works

If some of you, like me, are not completely comfortable with the tech aspects of blogs, I summarize below how you can participate, as I understand it.

1. The easiest way, if you don't want to be able to comment on blog entries, is simply to bookmark this site, or jot down the web address, and read it daily or weekly or occasionally, as you prefer.

2. If you want to be able to comment, you can do one of the actions below:

a. Sign up for a Google account (this does NOT mean signing up for gmail); this is easy and free.

b. Sign up to "follow" this blog, either "publicly" (a little icon will show up under "followers") or "privately" (no icon will show). In either case, you do not have to post a photo or give your full name. This is also easy and free.

Thanks very much for your interest in my blog! And thanks, Mary V., for your suggestion that I do the blog!

Saturday, January 30, 2010

In Praise of Public Libraries

Public libraries are a great institution, for which I am very thankful. They are (generally) accessible, free, and community-oriented. Walk into your local library and notice all the people browsing, reading, and studying. Peek into the children's section and see the little ones' delight at being read to by their parents or by librarians. And while we are praising the library, let's praise too the librarians who share their love of books and their expertise with us.

Sometimes, of course, I buy books (and I will write about bookstores in a future post), but sometimes I can't or don't want to purchase a certain book (I may not be sure I will like it, I may not have room for it on my shelves, or I may not want to spend the money), but I do want to read it or at least look through it; that's when I go to the library. I am also grateful for electronic access to the library's catalog, and to my library records. I often read a review of a book that sounds intriguing, then log into my library account from my home computer and request the book; soon after, I receive an email telling me the library is holding the book for me. The next time I visit the library, the book is waiting on a holdshelf with my name on it. What a great system!

I am especially fortunate to have a local library that is physically beautiful. It is constructed of lovely wood and has soaring windows looking out onto the redwood grove in which it is nestled, a sort of cathedral for books. The indoors and outdoors blend seamlessly, and we library patrons are surrounded by beauty, reinforcing the pleasure of being surrounded by books.
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On a different note: R.I.P. three great writers who have just died: Louis Auchincloss, J. D. Salinger, and Howard Zinn.

Friday, January 29, 2010

Iconic books of our childhood

For many of us, certain childhood books have iconic status. It is not that they were necessarily the "best" or most literary children's books, nor just that we liked or even loved the books, but that they had and have an almost mystic meaning and status for us. We have never forgotten them, nor the feelings they engendered. For my brother Paul, for example, the book was "Shadow the Sheepdog," by Enid Blyton. His devotion to this book was part of our family lore; we teased him about it, but also recognized its seriousness. His copy of the book somehow got lost during our many family moves, and he mourned it. As an adult, he sporadically, for many years, tried to find a copy, without success; finally, the Internet allowed him to track down and purchase a copy. I recently asked him about his feelings about the book; below I quote an excerpt from his reply. (Thanks, Paul!)

"'Shadow the Sheepdog' was definitely iconic to me. I can't say all the reasons why I read and reread it so many times, but I suspect that it had to do with the fact that the book dealt with themes that children find fascinating - unconditional love, separation and reunion, unblemished heroism. I know that no one could have known how important that book was to me at the time; later I came to jokingly call it my 'Rosebud.' But there was an element of truth to the joke. I never did forget Shadow. When I finally obtained a copy of it so many years later, it gave me a satisfied feeling. I read a few chapters and realized that re-reading it wasn't really the point. Just knowing that I could re-read it was what made me happy. I plan to re-read it at some point, but I am very happy to be reunited with my beloved Shadow even if I never get around to it."

Readers: What were your iconic childhood books, your "Rosebuds"?

Thursday, January 28, 2010

Two Novels by Irish Writers: Trevor and Toibin

Two Irish authors writing powerful and subtle novels and stories are William Trevor, now in his early 80s, and Colm Toibin, in his mid-50s. Both write deceptively simple novels and stories, and both draw readers into complex emotional territory. Here I write about each author's most recent novel.

William Trevor's "Love and Summer" (Viking, 2009) centers on the doomed, adulterous love story of the charming but unreliable photographer Florian and the gentle farm wife Ellie. The novel is set in a small Irish village, and there are several compelling characters. Despite an air of gloom and darkness, somehow a sense of generosity, optimism, and happiness cannot be completely repressed. The beauty of Trevor's writing seems to increase with each novel and story he has written over his long career.

Colm Toibin (author of the wonderful earlier novel "The Master," about the great writer Henry James) published the novel "Brooklyn" (Scribner) in 2009. It tells the story of Eilis Lacey, a young woman in another small Irish town, who is encouraged by her family to find a better life emigrating to Brooklyn, New York. She is content where she is, but moves to please her family. Her new life in the United States is hard and confusing at first, but gradually she creates a good life there, complete with satisfying work and a romance. A family event draws her back to Ireland, where she feels both connected and alienated. She is caught between two places, two cultures, two romances, and two lives.

Both novels are gorgeously written and a joy to read. Both provide a strong sense of place, and of how humans are tied to certain places. Both remind readers of the forces beyond our control that influence our lives. And both, despite the seemingly trapped nature of their characters' lives, offer glimpses of hope, possibility, and grace.

Wednesday, January 27, 2010

On Mysteries

My favorite genre fiction is mysteries; although they are generally not considered "serious fiction," some of them are thoughtful and well written, transcending the genre, and provide great reading pleasure. I have enjoyed mysteries since I was a child, bingeing on Nancy Drew, the Hardy Boys (when I ran out of Nancys), and the British Enid Blyton mysteries ("The Mystery of the Secret Room" is a typical title), as you may have seen in my childhood book list in an earlier post. As an adult, I have gone through phases of reading armloads of mysteries, then tiring of them for months or even years, but always (so far) returning to them eventually. I only like a particular type of mysteries: usually by British authors, or at least taking place in the UK, and usually by women writers. No thrillers, no hardboiled detective fiction. No cats, no cutesy writing, no chatty conversations with the reader. As I am an Anglophile -- perhaps imprinted early by being born a Canadian and raised in barely postcolonial India -- it is probably no surprise that I am drawn to mysteries by authors such as Dorothy Sayers, P. D. James, Elizabeth George, Charles Todd, Deborah Crombie, and Jacqueline Winspear. My most-treasured fictional detectives are either women, or British men who are clever, sensitive, and a bit melancholy; the men are "manly" but treat women as respected equals. They drive their Bentleys through the English countryside, or stride through lonely Scottish moors, thinking deeply and abstractedly. Gradually, gradually, they get closer to the truth, leading up to moments of illumination, when all is resolved, the world is made right again, and readers can close their books and go away satisfied.

Tuesday, January 26, 2010

The Reading Group

For many, many years, I have been a member of a wonderful reading group, composed of six friends: Helen, Janet, Kathy, Marcy, Martha and me. We meet several times a year to discuss books, mostly novels, mostly by women. We have read and discussed over 200 books in the group. Sometimes we meet in each others' homes, sometimes in cafes or restaurants, sharing food, wine, and coffee. We talk about the assigned book, as well as other books we are reading individually. The books we have read in the past provide context for the books we are reading now, allowing comparisons and connections. Often we relate the books to our lives as well. And yes, we talk about our lives. We have seen and talked each other through marriages, divorces, children, job changes, moves to new houses, loss of parents, and many other life events; throughout the years, we have congratulated, commiserated with, advised, and encouraged each other. This kind of continuity is rare, and we treasure it. Our ongoing conversation has been a constant through the years, weaving an ever-changing web of connections among us and the books we have read. The group's long history together is a joy, and I am very grateful for it.

Monday, January 25, 2010

50 + 50 books from my list

Some readers/friends were intrigued by my having kept a list of books I have read ever since I was ten years old. One asked me if I had a link to that list. Alas, no...the list only exists in handwritten form in three battered notebooks. But I thought it might be fun to list here the first 50 books on the list (from when I was ten) and then the most recent 50, these many years later. Here goes:

50 books I read when I was ten years old:

(For some reason that I cannot remember now, I only wrote down the last name of authors.)

1. Nancy Drew and the Mystery of the Hidden Staircase, by Keene
2. Mary Poppins, by Travers
3. Ghost Parade, by Sutton
4. Sorority Girl, by Emery
5. The Hardy Boys and the Mystery of the Flying Express, by Dixon
6. Petronella
7. Anne Thorne in America, by Bertram
8. Ginny Gordon and the Broadcasting Mystery, by Campbell
9. The Children at Primrose Lane, by Cutter
10. Little Women, by Alcott
11. The Emperor's Bracelet, by Cole
12. Margaret, by Lawrey
13. Carol Goes on Stage, by Boylston
14. Florence Nightingale, by Leighton
15. The Mystery of the Strange Messages, by Blyton
16. The Hardy Boys and the Yellow Feather Mystery, by Dixon
17. The Mystery of the Missing Necklace, by Blyton
18. Master of Maryknoll, by Saville
19. Stranger Within the Gates, by Hill
20. Will Shakespeare and the Globe Theatre, by White
21. Beacon Lights of Literature, by Shattuck
22. Stars for Sylvia, by Haskin
23. Relax, Chum, by Rose
24. The Rockingdown Mystery, by Blyton
25. Rupert
26. The Mystery of the Secret Room, by Blyton
27. Fifth Formers at St. Claire's, by Blyton
28. Judy's Perfect Year, by Bennet
29. Susan's Helping Hand, by Shaw
30. The Hardy Boys and the Mystery of the Melted Coins, by Dixon
31. Black Beauty, by Sewell
32. Cherry Ames, Student Nurse, by Wells
33. Danny Orlis Makes the Team, by Palmer
34. Danny Orlis Plays Hockey, by Palmer
35. Scotch, by MacTavish
36. The Ring-O-Bell Mystery, by Blyton
37. Little Men, by Alcott
38. The Hardy Boys and the Mystery of the Missing Chums, by Dixon
39. Felicia Cartwright and the Mystery of the Missing Sideboard
40. Quin, by Rice
41. David's Victory, by Pearce
42. Sixth Reader, by VanSickle
43. The Wonderland of India, by Hunting
44. Cherry Ames,Senior Nurse, by Wells
45. The Hardy Boys and the Mystery of the Broken Blade, by Dixon
46. Jack and Jill, by Alcott
47. Helen's Babies, by Habberton
48, My Diary, by O'Brien
49. The Little Colonel, by Johnston
50. Nancy Drew and the Mystery of the Missing Jewelbox, by Keene

(What can I say? I was big on mysteries, on series, and on Enid Blyton...)

50 Books that I have most recently read:

(I have starred the ones I most highly recommend)

1. *Yesterday Morning: A Very English Childhood, by Diana Athill
2. *The Uncommon Reader, by Alan Bennett
3. *Stet: An Editor's Life
4. A Short History of Women: A Novel, by Kate Walbert
5. Nellie Without Hugo, by Janet Hobhouse
6. Strong Poison, by Dorothy Sayers
7. The Art of Mending, by Elizabeth Berg
8. *Somewhere Toward the End, by Diana Athill
9. We Used to Own the Bronx: Memoirs of a Former Debutante, by Eve Pell
10. *Both Ways is the Only Way I Want It: Stories, by Maile Meloy
11. 101 Things You Didn't Know about Jane Austen, by Patrice Hannon
12. The Sharp Teeth of Love, by Doris Betts
13. The Writing Class, by Jincy Willett
14. *A Gate at the Stairs, by Lorrie Moore
15. *That Old Cape Magic, by Richard Russo
16. Girl Trouble: Stories, by Holly Goddard Jones
17. *Love and Summer, by William Trevor
18. *Brooklyn, by Colm Toibin
19. Goodbye and Amen, by Beth Gutcheon
20. *All That Work and Still No Boys, by Kathryn Ma
21. The Slippery Year: A Meditation on Happily Ever After, by Melanie Gideon
22. The Prayer Room, by Shanthi Sekaran
23. *Too Much Happiness: Stories, by Alice Munro
24. *The Man in the Wooden Hat, by Jane Gardam
25. *A Good Fall: Stories, by Ha Jin
26. Knives at Dawn: America's Quest for Culinary Glory at the Legendary Bocuse d'Or Competition, by Andrew Friedman
27. *Family Album, by Penelope Lively
28. Only Child: Writers on the Singular Joys and Solitary Sorrows of Growing up Solo, edited by Deborah Siegel
29. *Changing My Mind: Occasional Essays, by Zadie Smith
30. Becoming Jane Eyre, by Sheila Kohler
31. *Manhood for Amateurs: The Pleasures and Regrets of a Husband, Father, and Son,by Michael Chabon
32. The Gatekeeper: A Memoir, by Terry Eagleton
33. Lies My Mother Never Told Me: A Memoir, by Kaylie Jones
34. *Yesterday Morning: A Very English Childhood, by Diana Athill
35. In the Driver's Seat: Stories, by Helen Simpson
35. The Favorites, by Mary Yukari Waters
36. *Do Not Deny Me: Stories, by Jean Thompson
37. *Lark and Termite, by Jayne Anne Phillips
38. White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son, by Tim Wise
39. When Madeline Was Young, by Jane Hamilton
40. Spoiled: Stories, by Caitlin Macy
41. MotherKind, by Jayne Anne Phillips
42. Imaginary Men, by Anjali Banerjee
43. The Fatigue Artist, by Lynne Sharon Schwartz
44. The Fundamentals of Play, by Caitlin Macy
45. *Blame, by Michelle Huneven
46. Jane Fairfax, by Joan Aiken
47. Arkansas: Three Novellas, by David Leavitt
48. *Nothing Right: Short Stories, by Antonya Nelson
49. Best Food Writing 2008, edited by Holly Hughes
50. *Mentors, Muses, and Monsters, edited by Elizabeth Benedict

Penelope Lively

Penelope Lively is, in my opinion, one of the best contemporary writers. I discovered her work a few years ago, and immediately went to the library and checked out all her novels. Although some are better than others, all are of interest and provide great reading pleasure. I recently read her newest novel, "Family Album," and thought it one of her best. Other favorites are "Moon Tiger" (probably her most famous book) and "Heat Wave." Lively's writing has a quality that is extremely important to me: like Jane Austen, about whom I wrote earlier, she understands human nature very well, and writes perceptively about it. She also has a gift for describing and portraying relationships among people, especially family members. Oh, those family dynamics! Her style, her precision, and her control of her material are all exemplary.

On Jane Austen

My favorite author is Jane Austen. Not very original, I know; I realize I am one among many, many devoted Austen readers; I am glad that her work continues to flourish and to be loved by so many.

I have read the six finished novels at least 7-10 times each; every time I read them, I notice something new. I have also read the unfinished novels, the juvenalia, some letters and other scraps of her writing, and books about her life and work. I even read the novels by other writers in which they imagine sequels or prequels, or imagine Austen's stories from the perspectives of minor characters in the novels; these are generally only passably well written, but are fun to read. (However, I will not go so far as to read any titles with the words vampire or zombie in them!). I enjoy the various film and television versions as well. (Last night I watched the first of a PBS three-part version of Emma; although I didn't like some of the casting, including that of Emma's part, I couldn't help but sink into and thoroughly enjoy the story.)

What is it about Austen's work that draws me back to it again and again? I can't contribute much that hasn't been said by a host of others, both critics and lay readers, but I will try to add a few words. Her writing is so beautiful, so precise, so "right" in every way, that it is almost a miracle. What always strikes me is her deep and exact knowledge of human nature, motivation, and behavior; her perceptiveness is unparalleled. In particular, she understands and gently (and sometimes not so gently) pokes fun at human foibles, self-deceptions, and prejudices; I often laugh out loud with recognition. She also sheds much light on the situation of women at that time (and to some extent, still). I am also drawn to her portrayals of sisterhood and friendship. These are just a few of the reasons I keep reading and re-reading Austen. Finally, reading her is always a joyous experience!

Sunday, January 24, 2010

"Mentors, Muses, and Monsters"

I just finished reading Mentors, Muses & Monsters: 30 Writers on the People Who Changed Their Lives, edited by Elizabeth Benedict (Free Press, 2009). What a wonderful, compelling collection of essays this is! It is a great discovery for those of us who not only love books, but also are hungry for behind-the-scenes information about writers, their lives, and their feelings. Some of the contributors are well-known (e.g., Mary Gordon, Joyce Carol Oates, Jane Smiley, Jonathan Safran Foer), some less so. All rise to the editor's challenge and describe people, experiences, places, and books that influenced them and their writing.

To give you a taste: Alexander Chee writes gratefully about Annie Dillard; Julia Glass praises her editor, Deborah Garrison; Sigrid Nunez writes of her ambivalent feelings about her once-mother-in-law, Susan Sontag; Elizabeth Benedict writes with similar ambivalence about Elizabeth Hardwick; Joyce Carol Oates writes about the early formative influence of the book Alice in Wonderland; Cheryl Strayed tells of her intense connection (from afar) to Alice Munro and her short stories; Edmund White presents a devastating portrait of the wasted talent and difficult personality of Harold Brodkey; and Michael Cunningham writes of the lifelong influence of Virginia Woolf on his work. One common theme is the authors' (mostly positive but sometimes very negative) experiences in MFA Programs. And throughout, the strongest influence on all the writers is the intense, mysterious, sustaining power of the books they themselves read as children and as adults. The message is obvious but bears repeating: one cannot be a good writer without being a voracious reader.

My book list

I was a bookish child. At the age of ten, I started keeping a list of the books I read, and I have continued to do so ever since. The list includes everything: children's books, textbooks, serious fiction, biographies, political and other nonfiction titles, mysteries, "beach reads," and all. These many years later, I see that I have read an average of a hundred books a year. Books, clearly, play a huge role in my life.

The list is often useful for reminding myself of a forgotten title or author. Perusing the list elicits many memories, and provides a picture of my evolving interests and passions over the years. The list is, in a sense, a compact personal history.

Nourished by Reading

All my life I have been a passionate, addicted reader. In this blog I will comment on books I have read and am reading, share some anecdotes about my reading life, and reflect on the place and role of reading.
 
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