Franny and Zooey

Like most Americans, I had to read The Catcher in the Rye during my high school years. It was quite forgettable to me as a teen, so I re-read it as an adult and I still could not tell you what was so great about it.  It just wasn't a memorable book or one that I could relate to personally. That was the only Salinger I ever read until now.  Franny and Zooey was originally published as two separate stories in The New Yorker back in the mid-late 1950s. The two characters are the youngest children in the Glass family.

Franny (Frances - age 20) experiences the beginning of an existential nervous breakdown in her story.  She's with her boyfriend at a restaurant and starts to tear down everything he says. She basically tells him that he's an idiot and all the people in her world are idiots as well.  She's chain-smoking while doing this and refusing to eat her food. Then she passes out while walking to the bathroom. When she comes too, her boyfriend says he'll get a cab for her.  Presumably, he gets her back to her NYC family home because then Zooey's story begins shortly after this fainting incident.

Zooey (Zachary - age 25) is in the bathroom taking a bath and reading an old letter from one of his brothers who encourages him to follow his dream of acting regardless of what their mother thinks he should do.  He finishes reading the letter and proceeds to start looking at a script for a project. Then his portion of the story really takes off. The mom comes into the bathroom and has this long, drawn-out conversation with Zooey.  The conversation is borderline abusive with Zooey calling his mother stupid and fat and things like that.  The mom just chain-smokes and berates Zooey too, telling him to go talk to Franny, who we learn is malingering on the couch in the living room chanting The Jesus Prayer to herself. Zooey says he has a million things to do that day and can't be bothered since he talked to her the previous night.

To make a long story short, Zooey does go and talk to Franny in the living room (another long conversation) and eventually walks out of the room because he's driven her to tears. Then he calls her later from a phone line within the same apartment to speak more kindly to her and she fares much better with the kinder conversation. She seems to have an epiphany or a moment of enlightenment at the end of the nicer conversation, and so the story ends.

I know I usually don't type so much detail about a plot. Even with this one, I've left out a great deal about the oldest children in the family and their role in the current situation. Since they were originally two stories, though, I wanted to give each story a little description. The book has a lot of religious references and meditations. It actually reads more like a play than a book. The dialogue is so dense that it's hard to remember you're reading two interconnected stories. If you are interested in religion or spirituality, it could be an interesting read for you.  If not, I'm afraid you may be unable to finish it.  The characters do come off as pompous, entitled brats at times, especially in the way they speak to one another.  However, by the end you get the sense that they do care about each other in some odd, abstract, philosophical, academic way.  Even with characters like that, I enjoyed this one much more than The Catcher in the Rye because it was more thought provoking for me and also more memorable.

Wise Blood

This is the second book on the syllabus for the Open Course literature class I'm taking.  I have heard critics rave about Flannery O'Connor.  I read her short story "A Good Man is Hard to Find" and enjoyed it.  It was not something I expected from a female writer because it was about a family on a road trip that goes horribly wrong in a violent way. I shouldn't have preconceived notions about female writers, and I didn't really think I did until I read her and then realized I did.

At first when I started reading this book I was bored, then it picked up a little bit and I found myself enjoying it. The most compelling section of the book, for me, was the last thirty pages. Those last pages made the book.  None of the characters are likable and as I was reading I was hoping that maybe someone would do something nice, but nobody does anything worthy even though redemption is an ongoing theme.  This story drips with religious metaphors and discussion. The main character, Hazel Motes, is a young man trying to convince himself (and others) that he doesn't believe in Jesus anymore even though religion was a large part of his upbringing. Along the way he meets several individuals who pretend they believe in Jesus, but are really just hustling people for money. Meanwhile Hazel, who is fighting his belief in Jesus, is probably the strongest believer of them all.

I don't know who should read this book. It definitely strikes me as literature and not a leisure read. I think if you are interested in Southern literature and strong female writers you should give it a go.  I realize it's not for everyone, though and may take some time to appreciate.

Unorthodox: The Scandalous Rejection of My Hasidic Roots

This is supposedly a memoir about a young Hasidic Jewish woman who leaves the Hasidic community and becomes 'secular', if you will.  There is some controversy about the book and its veracity.  I didn't realize that until after I finished it today.  I have been trying to just read books without gathering any external information that may mar my reading experience. I try not to read any reviews or press about the book until I've finished.

With that being said, frankly this book bored me.  I wanted to like it.  I wanted to cheer for the woman who felt trapped by tradition and was barred from getting a 'real' education.  I thought based on the title that maybe something crazy happened that caused her to make the break and obtain her freedom, but nothing really happens.  She is married off at age seventeen and the marriage has problems and she leaves.  I'm oversimplifying it, but that's because prior to age seventeen absolutely nothing of interest happens in this book. She goes to school, but sneaks secular books like Pride & Prejudice and Little Women home to read.  Honestly, even after she gets married, not much happens. She and her husband argue a lot and have some sexual problems, but nothing glaring that hasn't happened in other bad marriages. If the author wasn't Jewish the book would just be about a woman who vaguely divorces her husband.  She doesn't offer many details about how exactly she escaped this Hasidic world.

After finishing the book, I started to read the reviews and found out that there was controversy about the book.  There were some reports that parts of the book were fabricated and she only wrote the book so she could fund her escape from the Hasidic community.  I read these claims and since I didn't like the book, I simply didn't care if the story was true or not.  I feel like the book is so boring it has to be true because if you're going to make something up, wouldn't you make it interesting?  You can definitely skip this one.

The Devil in Pew Number Seven

I have mixed feeling about this book. The message is a good one. It is about the power of forgiveness.  Throughout the book, I would vacillate between thinking the family was crazy for staying put in that Podunk town and thinking all the townspeople were just plain crazy.

This is a true story about a family of four who is terrorized by the man who lives across the street from them. The father in the family is the pastor at the local church and the man who lives across the street from them is a mentally disturbed power hungry man of influence.  Basically when the townsfolk really start to appreciate the pastor and care less about this other crazy man, he tries to assert his authority by setting off explosives in the family's backyard and riddling their car and house with bullets on occasion.  This madness goes on for about five years before finally someone dies. In the midst of all this destruction and chaos, the pastor stays put because he believes the Lord has led him to preach in this town and he does not want to abandon his flock.  Meanwhile, the psychological damage to his wife, son and daughter is outlined in great detail by the author (who happens to be the daughter all grown up now).

I understand the power of forgiveness, however the willingness of the father to keep his family in harm's way ultimately leads to death, loss and grief.  I kept wondering if he knew that it is possible to forgive an individual from a distant location.  You can pray for your enemies while residing in another state.  I felt like so much of the sorrow in the story could have been prevented if he packed his family up and left.  I'm reminded of the parable about a farmer who was caught in a flood. He prayed to God for help or a miracle. The waters were not too high yet and a friend rode by in a boat. He offered a ride to man. The man replied that he had prayed to God and was waiting for a miracle. The friend rode on.  The waters continued to rise until finally the man was on his roof. He continued to pray to God for a miracle.  A helicopter flew by to survey the area and noticed the man on his roof. The occupants of the helicopter threw a ladder down and told the man to climb up.  The man refused, saying that God was going to save him.  The helicopter flew away.  Eventually the man was swept away by the floodwaters and drowned. When he reached Heaven, he was angry with God.  He told him he prayed and prayed but God never saved him.  He was accusatory and asked God why didn't he help him or save him. God simply said, "I sent you a boat and a helicopter".

That's what I thought about when I read this book. The signs were there.  The opportunities to leave were there.  I guess one could say that God was trying to tell them to get the hell out of that town. The pastor believed God was telling him that there was more work to be done in that community.  This was the mid-1970s and I wasn't there so who know what God put on that man's heart.  I do believe though, that I would not have allowed my young children to be terrorized with explosions and gunshots if I could help it. I would have packed my family up, thanked the Lord that we all got out alive and prayed for that crazy man to be healed. I would have been praying in a safe non-bullet riddled location though!

Overall, the book was interesting but it went on little too long.  I don't highly recommend it, but if you are interested in stories about forgiveness and mercy pick it up.

American Dervish

This is my book club pick for July, and I was excited because I voted for this book.  This is the first time I voted for a book and it was selected so even though it's April, I read it now.

It took me a little while to get through the book and I did find myself skipping some of the parts where the Quran is quoted.  This wasn't because I have a grudge against the Quran.  It's because I routinely skip passages in books that quote poems, song lyrics, scripture, etc. Literally my eyes glaze over and I move on because I want the narrative to flow and for some reason these things don't generally add anything to the narrative for me. But I digress.  Once the action picked up and we find ourselves getting to the crux of the matter in the book, I couldn't put it down.  Today I was on page 100 and told myself getting to page 200 would be my goal for today.  Well here I am several hours later having completed all 352 pages of the book.

The story centers on Hayat, an 11-year old boy, who is part of a dysfunctional Pakistani Muslim family.  A family friend comes to live with them because she is under threat of having her son taken away from her in Pakistan. When she comes to live with them, Hayat is introduced to the complicated world of religion.  Since he is a young boy he doesn't fully understand all of the intricacies and tends to believe whatever anyone tells him.  This family friend, who is faithful and beautiful, mesmerizes him.  When she begins showing interest in a Jewish man, Hayat does something hateful and changes the course for everyone involved.  I enjoyed the book once the story got going, not just for the story, but also for how the story was presented pretty objectively.  The author posits that there is no single right religion and describes how impressionable young kids can be swayed into beliefs that they are not ready to handle or understand.  After reading this book, you may find yourself thinking about the consequences of belief that occurs out of context.

7: An Experimental Mutiny Against Excess

I read this book for a Bible Study group I recently joined.  It was pretty good, but I've been reading a lot about anti-consumerism and minimalism for about 2 years now. With that being said, I didn't feel like this book necessarily added anything to the plethora of articles and books I've already read on simplifying life.  What I did appreciate was the fact that this particular author decided to pare down her life because of her desire to live more like Christ.  She includes inspirational scripture in the book and documents her own failures and triumphs.  I think once I start the discussion group this Sunday, I will probably get more from the book via talking with others about living a simple life as Christ did. If you don't care for religion, you can skip this book.  However, if you are interested in religion and its applications in life and you have never tried to simplify your life or decrease the amount of "stuff" you own, this is a solid starting point.

I Declare

I wanted to start 2013 off right.  I am a big fan of Joel Osteen because his positivity is infectious.  So I read this as my first book of 2013.  I really like the declarations he has in the book. I am a firm believer that if you speak positivity over your life you will be prosperous.  I got this book from the library, but I think I will go out and purchase it.  There are declarations for every day in the course of one month (31 declarations).  It is impossible to just read this once and think it's all memorized.  We all need daily reminders to stay above the fray and if you are a believer in Christ, this book is full of daily reminders that God intends the best for your life.  You just have to believe it and receive it.

Till We Have Faces

I've been reading this book off and on for at least two or three years.  I guess that already tells you that it took me a little while to get into it.  I also would always put it aside in favor of books I'd borrowed from the library.  I figured since I owned this book, I could get to it whenever.  Finally I just picked it back up last month, determined to finish it.  I had to start over from the beginning because it had been so long since I last tried to read it.  In the end, I liked it, but I didn't love it.  It certainly made me think and I even highlighted some passages that I found to be very moving and introspective.  With that being said, I felt like it fell off at the end.  There were two sections to the book. The first section is about 90% of the book and there there are about 40 pages in the second section. I would have been totally satisfied if the book was completed at the end of the first section or if the second section was more concise and to the point.  The book is a retelling of the story of Cupid and Psyche from the perspective of Orual, Psyche's put-upon, less attractive sister. I found the new perspective refreshing and found myself both understanding, yet feeling sorry for, Orual. The author being C.S. Lewis, one can't help but to think about theology while reading this book. There are plenty of religious themes and ideas presented as food for thought. I have to say though, when I finally finished it, I was just glad it was over.
 

What in God's Name

This is a quick, funny book.  I literally finished it in about 5 hours (give or take an hour or two).  Once again, if you are easily offended by an author taking a different perspective on religion, stay away.  If you are open-minded and enjoy the idea that maybe there is a little humor to be found in everything, then you may enjoy this.  Basically, God is done with us humans and decides that it's time to wipe us out.  Two angels intervene and strike a deal with God to stop the planned destruction if they can get two socially awkward people to hook up.  The plot somehow works and there are some pretty funny lines in the book as well.  It is definitely meant to be light. Of course the pseudo-intellectual in me did get a bit introspective. I started to think about all the times I thought something was a "coincidence".  I will never look at a gust of wind or a sneeze the same way.  So I guess there is an opening for deep discussion if you want to take it there. Enjoy!

 

Unholy Night

I am the first to admit that I go to church on a regular basis.  I am also the first to admit that I am not a zealot so I can completely appreciate a story that depicts the three wise men as petty criminals.  This story was entertaining, enjoyable, adventurous and just plain FUN.  If you are easily offended by creative re-telling of religious stories then pass this book up because you will just get worked up and hypertensive.  If, however, you can appreciate someone using the imagination to create an action-packed adventure, go for it.  I enjoyed this book so much that I would put it in my top ten for 2012.  This is by the same author who wrote Pride and Prejudice and Zombies as well as Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter (which I also enjoyed but it was early days for my blog so I didn't go into much detail).  Knowing that this is what Seth Grahame-Smith does, takes history and spins it, the reader should not be surprised that he tackled a religious story.  He does a fantastic job of doing it and if you have a creative and open mind, I highly recommend it.

                                    

I Am Nujood, Age 10 and Divorced

This story reads very quickly but it's very powerful.  I completed it in less than 3 hours.  One of the great attributes of the book is that it is written in a very accessible way.  It's not a lengthy documentary with deep political histories and dry facts.  The story is told on a personal level that it is easily visualized and understood.  Sometimes I read a book and think, "If I were an educator, I would make this required reading".  This is one of those books that I would consider to be a stepping-stone towards creating global citizens. I don't need to go into too much detail about what happens. The title tells you just about everything.  At the end of the story, the question remains:  What can we do to help these young girls escape their plight?  There is so much work to be done in this arena that it feels overwhelming because this is only one story about one girl.  The knowledge that there are so many others will hopefully propel others into action. I recently have been doing some research on organizations that help girls obtain access to education so they can escape these injustices.  After reading this, I definitely want to make a commitment to supporting a reputable organization.

Every Day a Friday

I started reading this book about two weeks ago and under normal conditions I probably would have finished it in a few days.  However, this was a "post-it note" book.  As in, I was putting post-it notes on pages and taking notes as I went along.  The main reason I enjoyed this book is because I enjoy Joel Osteen and his motivational message.  He never gets so submerged in the dogma of religion that it's unintelligible.  It's practical and enjoyable. Yes there are references to scriptures and to biblical parables, but the message is universal.  I think everyone can benefit from learning to be a little more positive in general.  If you're unfamiliar with Joel Osteen, this may be good way to ease into his work.  Here, he focuses mainly on happiness as a conscious choice.  This choice, combined with the understanding that God is continually blessing us, can help us be happy no matter the day of the week. It's a matter of changing perspective and being open to working on changing that perspective daily.  I would say that anyone could give this book a try.  You will know within the first few chapters if it speaks to your soul or not. 

Habibi

The book cover and the heft of this book (650+ pages) captivated me in the bookstore, but I did not want to spend the money at the time.  So I submitted my request for the book to my library and was placed somewhere around #40 on the list to receive it.  It was worth the wait. The story has way too many sub-plots to get into here on my little piece of the Internet. However, they all weave together to tell a solid story that is ultimately about love and redemption. Zam and Dodola are two orphans who have a lifetime of hardship both together and apart. The story spans the years from childhood to adulthood and intertwines their story with stories from the Bible and the Qur'an. What I loved about the story is that because the author intertwines all these stories you truly start to see the similarities between Christianity and Islam.  So why can't we all notice these similarities and connect our own stories in order to create a more peaceful existence?  Among other topics touched upon in this graphic novel are kidnapping, slavery, child abuse, ecological warfare, castration, suicide attempts, female submission and rape.  So with that being said, this is not a book for children.  Horrible and hateful things happen to both Zam and Dodola while they are children, but it is the foundation for the climax of the story, which speaks to the overwhelming power of love.  God's/Allah's love as well as love for one another.  There is a lot of mature content, but if comparative religion interests you, this is one to pick up.

Blankets

So this book is not on my 2012 list, but I saw a beautifully bound book entitled Habibi and had to stop myself from impulse-buying it. I would not normally place myself in a category of "avid graphic novel reader" (I've only read Persepolis), but if a story is good I will read it, no matter the form.  So instead of buying Habibi, I went home and did some research on the author.  I saw that Blankets was an earlier work by him and it was available at the library. I thought I should probably give him a try before spending $35.  The illustrations are beautiful and emotive. The story has moments of joy, pain, sorrow, laughter, and wonder.  It's an autobiographical account of the author's childhood and it is full of difficult situations that kids/teens face. Divorce, strict parents, first loves, sibling rivalry, bullies, spiritual crises, existentialism, family dynamics, child abuse, and more.  The story is easy to follow and has many insightful observations.  A warning though....if you are not a religious person, this book may not be for you. Many of the author's observations and conversations in the book are in relation to Jesus and Christianity. I know the topic of religion is not for everyone so that's why I mention it. There is also a small amount of adult content/nudity if you're wary of that. I fully enjoyed the book and will definitely be reading Habibi in the near future.

Aleph

I saw Aleph was on the shelves and rushed to the library thinking I would surely be placed on a waiting list. Surprisingly, it was right there on the shelf.  Should that have been a warning?  I really tried to enjoy the story, get absorbed by it, and gain insight from it.  Paulo Coelho is known for his, often profound, spiritual perception of what we believe to be the basic ennui of life.  As I was reading Aleph, I did come across some spiritual gems, but by page 123 I was dozing off.  Also, I should note that it took me several days to get to page 123 because I kept putting it down.  If I'm putting a book down often, I have clearly not become engrossed enough in the story to allow it to take me away to a place where time and pages completed don't matter.

The long and short of the plot is that the main character takes an inspirational journey on the Trans-Siberian Railway and the journey is a metaphor for the journey we take in life.  He also is trying to figure out why he is so restless and unfulfilled in this life (as most people are) and journeys to past lives to find the answer. His main partner who helps him during this voyage is a young woman who is about thirty years his junior, but apparently knows his soul.  They have an affair of sorts (which turned me off because he is married) and teach each other about forgiveness.  I think this book was "just ok".  If you really want to great book by the author I will continue to recommend "The Alchemist".  It is always relevant.

So You Don't Want to Go to Church Anymore

I read this book because Pastor Waller mentioned it in one of his sermons a few weeks back.  Anyway, it was sloooow to get through for two reasons. 1 - The main point was repeated quite often so when the author went on and on I dozed off.  2- When the author did make a salient point I took the time to pause and think about it.  Overall, though, I think this is a book that could have been a 20 page booklet/brochure.  I'm just saying.

Heaven is for Real

Quick read.  Pretty much read half last night and the other half on my flight to Cali.  Interesting and thought-provoking.  I think it was even more thought-provoking because I was reading most of it as I was flying over the beautiful landscape of America and it does make you think about God.