"True Prep"

"True Prep" (Knopf, 2010), by Lisa Birnbach with Chip Kidd, is a sort of sequel or update to Birnbach's 1980 bestseller, "The Official Preppy Handbook." It, like the earlier book, is a half serious, half tongue-in-cheek compendium of information and advice about the lives of the upper class in the U.S. Topics include schools, colleges, jobs, wardrobes, travels, houses, second houses, food, drink, etiquette, and more. The book is rather non-linear, and is profusely sprinkled with pictures, drawings, diagrams, and lists. Although presented in a "fun," self-deprecating tone, it is clear the authors are describing a social class that does still exist and that they believe is admirable for its history, tradition, and -- to them -- endearing traits. It is also clear that they hope to have it both ways in gaining readers: they hope for readers who will enjoy the book in an ironic, satirical, humorous way, as well as readers who may take it as a useful guide to acting more like members of a class they aspire to. As someone who writes about social class and its effects, I find the U.S.'s ambivalent relationship to class matters interesting and telling. Americans both deny social class differences and are fascinated by those differences, whether in a yearning or a condemnatory manner. "True Prep" captures a bit of this ambivalence, although in a light and indirect way.

The Ever-Fascinating Bloomsbury Group

As many readers know, the Bloomsbury Group of writers, artists, and critics lived, met, wrote, and painted in and around the Bloomsbury area of London (as well as outside of London) before, during, and after World War II. Many of them met through the Stephen family, whose most famous member is Virginia Woolf (about whom I posted on 2/26/10). The other main point of connection was Cambridge University, where most of the male members of the group studied. Besides Virginia Woolf, the most prominent members of the group were her husband Leonard Woolf, the publisher and writer; E.M. Forster, the great novelist; Virginia's sister Vanessa Bell, an artist; Vanessa's husband, Clive Bell, an art critic; Vanessa's lover, Duncan Grant, a painter; John Maynard Keynes, the famous economist; Lytton Strachey, a great and very witty writer; Roger Fry, a painter; and Desmond McCarthy, a critic. There were others on the periphery of the group as well. Many of the members were related professionally, familially, maritally, and sexually. They were known not only for their literary and artistic work, but for being progressive in their ideas about art, literature, politics, economics, and social issues, as well as in their own lifestyles. There have been hundreds, perhaps thousands of books and articles written about this group and its members; it has always had a fascination, even a sort of magic, for those of us who care about literature and art. During their time, and even now, their talent, their dedication to the arts, their flouting of many of society's "rules" and norms, and their intricate and often shifting relationships with each other over time seemed and seem both enviable and the source of much gossip and sometimes disapproval. Over the years, I have read many books by and about this group, their work, and their entanglements, and never grow tired of learning more about them. I also visited (from the outside only) some of their former homes in London. Although I acknowledge that they had their faults, they were and are enormously influential, and -- still -- fascinating!

But What If I Run Out?

We visited my mother, brothers, and families this weekend, a three hour trip each way by car. For two days and one night, most of which was of course filled with visiting with family, I took one substantial novel I had just started reading ("My Hollywood," which I am sure I will be posting on in a few days), six magazines, and that day's newspaper. I came back tonight having read that day's newspaper and a few pages of one magazine. What was I thinking? I knew I would never read more than a very small portion of what I took, yet I was impelled to take it all anyway. I think the key is a fear of running out of things to read, a fate too awful to contemplate. This is one case when I never learn from experience, and keep doing the same thing over and over again. Fortunately there are no serious negative consequences of hauling reading material back and forth in one's suitcase.

International Novels by Women

When I wrote on 10/4/10 about world literature I had read in my 20s, I mentioned that much later – in the mid-1990s - I designed and taught several times a class called Contemporary Fiction by Nonwestern Women. Today I want to briefly write about three of the novels I taught in that class. Duong Thu Huong is a well-known Vietnamese writer and political dissident; her novel “Paradise of the Blind” (Penguin, 1993, originally published 1988) describes Vietnam from the 1950s to the 1980s, focusing on how land reform destroyed many families and their connection to the land. It is a sad novel, but also glows with the light of family and food. Yes, food. The descriptions of family meals, markets, and food in general are detailed, sensuous, and practically leap off the page. Nigerian author Buchi Emecheta’s title “The Joys of Motherhood” (Heinemann, 1994; originally published 1979) is somewhat ironic, as the main character constantly struggles with poverty and other problems (moving from her village to the big city where she feels disconnected from her community, dealing with her husband’s taking new wives, and much more) in order to raise her children. But there is joy as well, as she takes pride in her children, and is respected by others. Nahid Rachlin is an Iranian-American writer whose novel “Married to a Stranger” (City Lights, 1983) tells the story of the marriage of a young couple who, although they chose each other, are unprepared for marriage, especially in the changing Iran of the Revolution. All three of these powerful novels feature strong women characters and glimpses into women’s lives in the three countries where the novels are set.

"After This"

I just finished listening to the audio version of "After This," (Farrar, Straus, & Giroux, 2006; Audiobooks America, 2006), by Alice McDermott. This lovely novel tells the story of an Irish American Catholic family in Long Island. Early in the novel, Mary meets John; they then marry and have a family, and their kids grow up and begin their own lives and families. That is pretty much it. There are no pyrotechnics, just good writing. Although nothing amazing or strange happens, the usual family events -- romances, marriages, births, schooling, jobs, deaths -- are told with dignity and with a quiet lyricism. The novel is in effect a series of set pieces; the author gives great, detailed, loving attention to some scenes, and then skips over years to other scenes. The scenes described at length are almost tableaux; the reader keeps thinking they are leading up to dramatic events, yet in most of the scenes they do not. One scene in which John and a pregnant Mary take their three young children to the beach reminded me of a painting, or of one of those leisurely European films which dwells lovingly on the simple details of everyday life. In contrast, the dramatic events in "After This" are often sprung upon us suddenly. There are even a few disconcerting fast forwards, almost asides, to tell us the eventual fate of some of the characters. Another lovely aspect of this novel is the quiet, modest goodness of the main characters. I recommend this novel to your attention.

The Joys of Reading Jack Kerouac in Youth

In the third of what has turned out to be a trio of recent posts on Beat literary heroes (Allen Ginsberg’s “Howl” on 10/3/10; Lawrence Ferlinghetti on 10/5/10), today I am remembering the liberating influence of the novels of Jack Kerouac. Of course the iconic novel is "On the Road," but in my teens and twenties I read many of his other novels as well: "The Subterraneans," "The Dharma Bums," and "Desolation Angels," among others. For a young person especially, these novels were intoxicating, with their evocation of feelings of freedom, Bohemianism, thumbing one’s nose at the establishment, and living authentically. At the time I read them, my generation was creating its own version of all that in the excitement of the late 60s and early 70s: the “hippie” era, with its proverbial “sex, drugs, and rock ‘n roll,” along with the era of political protests, the Civil Rights movement, the beginnings of the women’s movement and the gay rights movement, and more. Other signs of the more liberated times included our colorful clothing and long hair, our willingness to “take off” on trips to various places with only a backpack (although perhaps with our parents’ financial support…), and the increasing acceptance of couples living together without marriage. Although I now have trouble re-reading Kerouac – partly because of my age, partly because of knowing about his later descent into alcoholism and a sad end – I honor and remember with joy his contribution to opening up the world for many young people. And on a quick personal note: it still makes me happy to remember being young in the sixties/seventies; one representative memory (among many!) is my first big trip on my own, my trip “out west” (from Michigan to British Columbia) on my own, wearing jeans, a fringed vest, and a floppy hippie hat, feeling like the ultimate free spirit. Although it was actually quite a tame adventure, for me it felt liberating and joyous!

Who Will Win the Nobel Prize in Literature?

The Nobel Prize in Literature will likely be announced tomorrow (although there is no set date for this announcement, unlike for the other Nobel Prizes). Who will the winner be? There has been much speculation, as there is every year. A look at the various articles and blogs, as well as the odds set by the UK-based bookmaker Ladbrookes, produces the following summary of good possibilities. Near the top of many lists are: Sweden's Tomas Transtromer, Kenya's Ngugi wa Thiong'o, the U.S.'s Cormac McCarthy, Japan's Haruki Murakami, the U.K.'s A. S. Byatt, and Canada's Alice Munro and Margaret Atwood. Other strong contenders include the U.S.'s Don DeLillo, E. L. Doctorow, Joyce Carol Oates, Thomas Pynchon, and Philip Roth. There are others on various lists who are far less well-known. In fact, the Nobel Committee is famous for choosing lesser-known (beyond the borders of their own countries or continents, or the knowledge of literary experts), unexpected winners, so we may all be completely surprised at the announcement. My own hope is that either Alice Munro or Margaret Atwood wins. But no matter who wins, I am grateful that for at least one news cycle, the focus of many stories and of much conversation will be on literature.