Book reviews – Page 4 – Bookish Butch

Burning Ground and, a new Captain

Heavy rain is a comin’,

or so the weather types tell us.

The Canadiens, my team, have named a new Captain.

The had been captain less for more than a season.

The new captain is, Brian Gionta,

an experienced and plucky player.

Good choice.

Best of luck to him, it’s a tough gig.

I just finished a book I liked a great deal.

It’s been a quiet week at the bookstore,

lots of time to read.

Anyway, the book is,

Burning Ground by Pearl Luke.

It is her first novel and quite an achievement.

It won the Commonwealth Writer’s Prize for Best First Book.

Sounds like a big deal to me,

and well deserved.

A complex and well written novel.

Percy, the protagonist spends each summer in the woods in a tower,

watching for fires.

An important job, forest fires are serious business.

Percy, is a smart and likable character.

She comes from a slightly dysfunctional family,

and for many years has had a slightly dysfunctional friendship/ romance,

with her best friend, Marlea.

Marlea can’t seem to commit or,

is Percy the one that has commitment issues?

The summer will bring a flirtation with Gilmore a fellow fire watcher.

I hate to give too much away.

The novel has many flashback scenes and a few surprises.

I learned a few things.

About underground fires and the whole process of searching for and putting out fires.

I have a new found respect for,

rangers and the people who watch over our precious lands.

I loved the way the novel dealt with the nature of sexual identity,

and the fear of love and commitment.

Those who restrain desire ,do so because theirs is weak enough to be restrained-William Blake The Marriage of Heaven and Hell.

Those who restrain desire. The way she has. Hasn’t she?

For even while seeming to give, hasn’t she held back,

wanting more, settling for less , because she is afraid to face her own fear

that perhaps no one will love her the way she wants to be loved.

An interesting, thoughtful and complex novel.

Well worth the read.

Pearl Luke is a western Canadian writer,

whose work deserves consideration.

Well girls,

Later

A Death In The Family

First order of business,

girls, check this out.

Next, rain, rain and more rain.

The Canadiens WON yeh.

I finished A Death In The Family.

I have rarely read a novel of such emotion.

The emotion never lets up.

This book shows the impact of a senseless death, on a family.

Not sentimental, no bullshit whatsoever.

It is a work of powerful social messages,

without ever being preachy.

The work is also very political, in a subtle kind of way.

Agee was a man of Faith but, there is criticism of the Catholic church.

The characters are the types,

I suspect,

that will stay with me for a long time.

This novel shows grief as it is,

a numbing, infuriating,

leave you clueless,

experience.

I understand why this novel was picked as one of the 100 best American novels.

I have never read anything like it before,

and I doubt I ever will again.

Disturbing and great.

People much smarter than I can analyse.

I just wanted to give you my impressions.

Later girls

P.S

Any man’s death diminishes me, because I am involved in Mankind; And therefore never send to know for whom the bell tolls; it tolls for thee.
John Donne

Takes One To Know One

I’m not feeling so good,

full moon,

hormones,

enough said.

Weather? Who cares.

I finished reading this book, I don’t remember if I told you about it,

Takes One To Know One by Kate Allen,

it was a gift from a friend.

I enjoyed it, and it managed to get me out of my mini book slump.

I liked the characterisations and it had quite a bit of humour.

I always appreciate humour, especially when in a funk.

The action takes place on would be women only land.

A murder takes place, it is a mystery.

But, really it is a portrait of the lesbian community.

In most of its vastness and complexity.

The quirks, the charm, the divisions and the bonds.

It also deals with Lesbian separatism.

I find the idea a little bit passe.

Not that I believe for a minute that women have attained equality.

It’s strange that I finish it,

on the day that I read a New York Times Obituary of Jill Johnson.

Jill Johnson wrote a ground breaking book , Lesbian Nation.

I have never read Lesbian Nation but,

I know that it deals specifically with Lesbian separatism.

I can appreciate the anger and sentiment that brought about such movements.

The novel asks relevant questions and deals with them in a mature, thoughtful way.

Deserves a read,

and I think I will probably read more of Allen s work.

Sorry for the brevity of the appreciation, but,

I think you get the gist of it.

Later girls

The ones I carry in my head and heart

Weather = Nothing to complain about.

I’m still in a book slump.

Everything I have in my TBR pile is either too serious,

I’m not in a serious kind of a mood,

Or really,

well,

sort of boring,

I guess.

So, I thought I would improvise and tell you all about about some of my favourite characters.

Also, if you share my point of view,

or even better,

don’t,

perhaps you can share.

OK ,

so off the top of my head:

Holden Caulfield in The Catcher In The Rye.

I know, I know,

seems like an obvious choice,

but, hey,

I always liked him,

he’s profoundly human in a warts and all, kind of a way.

Misunderstood and smart ass a winning combination,

so real .

Harriet, of Harriet The Spy, again, very human,

who couldn’t love an eight year old budding spy/writer?

I read this book when I was well over thirty and I felt and fell for Harriet,

although sometimes she was a bit of a dweeb,

aren’t we all,

sometimes.

Atticus Finch from To Kill A Mockingbird,

because he is what I would like to be like,

when I grow up.

Seriously,

one of the most honourable characters in fiction.

Jo March of Little Women,

I love Jo,

I love everything about Jo, including her name.

She is smart and good and selfless and yet,

sooo much fun, the original tomboy.

She has flaws, but, minor ,compared to her spunk.

Love that girl.

I like to think today,

Jo would grow up to be a kickass queer girl.

Sidney Carlton of A Tale Of Two Cities,

the man gives his life for the woman he loves.

You know I always thought Dickens’ books were too long,

a case of being paid by the word.

A Tale Of Two Cities was just the right lenght.

That character left quite an impression on a fifteen year old.

He really rises to the occasion.

Recently, I read Stone Butch Blues,

it left a big impression.

Jess, the main character is so strong.

She suffers and she perseveres.

A quietly determined and dignified character.

She gets kicked in the face and stands up,

again and again.

She just wants to live her life.

Not attitude,

just, the right to be.

Powerful.

For those of you who didn’t read it,

do yourself a favour and do.

Well, those are some of my favourites.

I’m sure I could add many more but, I’m tired.

Later girls

Finished Roth

It’s so hot.

First day of the sidewalk sale is done.

Only three to go.

UGH!

It’s wasn’t so bad but, the heat was atrocious.

I have a headache.

A woper of a headache.

Bookish people born in the Great White North are not meant for heat and sun.

I finished the Philip Roth.

My Life As A Man.

Not my cup of tea.

Unbelievably self absorbed.

Very well written.

It goes on and on about the toxic relationship between the protagonist and his wife.

It’s supposed to be Strindberg like.

Never read Strindberg,

not feeling the urge.

Also, the narrative is confusing.

I kept wondering,

Is this the novel? Or a short story within the novel?

Once you give it a couple of chapters its OK.

The man is a pro,

but, my problem?

I didn’t care much about the protagonist.

He was both protagonist and antagonist,

if that makes sense.

His wife a caricature bitch.

I was not really engaged.

I finished it because I promised myself I would.

Next,

The Counterlife also by Roth.

If it doesn’t do more for me,

I’m giving up on Roth.

Later girls

More Agee and taking on Roth.

Today, was raining and humid.

It was also library day.

Every three Sundays I go to the Grande Bibliotheque.

Today, a lot of people had the same idea.

Must have been because of the weather.

Still, it’s nice to see a tax dollars success story.

I only read two out of the last four I took out.

I wrote an appreciation for both.

The Narrow Corner and Small Island.

A few weeks ago, I told you about taking out a book of James Agee’s letters,

I was the only person to have taken it out since the early sixties.

I really loved it,

he was a man of great passion and great anger.

A fascinating combination in a writer,

in anyone.

So, I decided to take out The Library Of America’s James Agee.

The volume includes Let Us Now Praise Famous Men,

his seminal work on Alabama sharecroppers as well as his autobiographical novel,

A Death In The Family, which was published posthumously.

Agee is an important writer and I know I’m going to love both works.

I have always been a ardent lover of American fiction.

Hemingway, Fitzgerald, Anderson, Irving and on and on.

I adore American writers.

Still, there are big holes in my reading of Americans.

I have read no Toni Morrison, William Styron, Joyce Carol Oates or Theodore Dreiser.

I intend to remedy this situation over the course of the next year.

One writer who’s work I am not nearly familiar enough with is,

Philip Roth.

I have read three or four of his novels.

Mostly early ones,

Portnoy’s Complaint, Goodbye Columbus, The Ghost Writer,

and more recently, The Dying Animal.

I thought The Dying Animal, was a fantastic book and it made me want to read more.

Roth, is considered by many critics and scholars,

as one of the most important writers of the second half of the 20 th century.

What I have read I like,

it’s smart and it’s very representative of a certain segment of American society.

Very urban, very Jewish, very New York about a world mostly,

of intellectuals.

Sounds good to me.

Another reason for reading Roth is,

he is nothing like me.

Right now, I want to read from a perspective very different from mine.

So I can go elsewhere,

and also because there is no way I could copy Roth inadvertently.

I have been sketching out ideas for a novel.

I want to read something fulfilling but, nothing like me,

no middle aged lesbians for a little while 🙂

Tonight I start, The Great American Novel,

because I love the title and it’s about Baseball.

I love Baseball, I don’t play it or watch it.

But, I love it’s history and it’s mythical standing with Americans.

A little like Hockey with Canadians,

but, bigger we’re talking Americans here!

I took out two volumes that each contain three novels,

I might need to renew.

I will keep you updated.

I will be reading some lesbian romance ,

a genre I enjoy,

and have no intention of writing.

Take care

Later girls

Small Island

I just finished Small Island by Andrea Levy.

This book was a delight to read.

From the start I had trouble putting it down.

This is the kind of book you finish and you say, “Already?”

The characters are so well drawn I could see them.

The dialogue so clear I could hear the beautiful, lilting Jamaican accent.

I learned a thing or two about the Jamaicans who served in the RAF during World War II,

and subsequently became British immigrants and ultimately, British citizens.

The Brits treated their Black airman better than the Americans,

still it was,

difficult.

Two of the main characters are very strong women.

Queenie, a butcher’s daughter who marries,

Bernard, a weak, little man who is not nearly enough man for her.

The other main female character is, Hortense,

a recent teacher’s college graduate from Jamaica.

Both are wonderfully brave and strong.

Hortense and Gilbert, her husband, have been raised in colonial Jamaica

to know everything about England. When they arrive,

they, the English, don’t even know where Jamaica is ,

most think it in,

Africa.

This resonates with me as a Canadian.

We long were a colony of Great Britain, who knew not much about us either.

Even today, we live in the shadow of the most dominant culture on the planet, the U.S.

How much do you think the average American knows about Canada?

I know it is less than the average Canadian knows about the U.S.

This book is smart, funny and also very touching.

There are no saints and no devils, only scared people who have been though Hell.

Some rise to the occasion better than others.

It also leaves you wondering,

which is the Small Island?

Really good read

well, later girls

The Narrow Corner

Short, therefore, is man’s life, and narrow is the corner of the earth wherein he dwells.

Well, I finished The Narrow Corner by Somerset Maugham.

It was good.

It takes place in the south sea islands and provides an astute analysis of human nature,

as always with Maugham.

How love can be treacherous and unrequited.

Not exactly light but, so well written.

His prose is always so clear.

With Maugham, you always get an entertaining story and always some unexpected.

Next?

I think Small Island by Andrea Levy.

I want something big and meaty.

Also I would like to be transported to another land and another time.

I don’t know much about Jamaica, hopefully this novel will help me learn a little.

Also it takes place in London post World War II one of my favourite periods.

As always I will let you know.

Not much else on the horizon.

Have a good one

Later girls

Of pipes and books

I’m feeling nervous and jittery.

My crazy landlord is taking down a portion of one of the walls at the bookstore.

Another damn pipe needs to be changed, he says this is the last one.

It was inevitable old building ,old walls, old pipes.

I suppose the changing is better than leaks, I’ve dealt with that before, as well.

He just called me to give me an update,

says everything is under control.

That kind of statement always makes me nervous.

I’m trying to deal with it!

There is still a whole bunch of shit I’m trying to deal with.

I don’t think I’ve felt this low and angry since my ex moved out all those years ago.

I wasn’t angry at her. I was angry at me and my failure.

Even when things are done with respect, friendship and civility.

Break ups, parting of the ways, taking things to their inevitable and rightful conclusions,

are still bloody hard.

I’ve been lucky to have books to take things off my mind and business has been decent,

although now, with the severed wall who knows.

Yeah, Yeah I’m thinking positive.

So, I tried to read this book The Blindfold by Siri Hustedt on recommendation of a customer.

He described it as early Paul Auster.

I used to really like Paul Auster Moon Palace and The Master Of Illusions were amongst my favourites,

the last 3 I have read I have been bitterly disappointed in,

I think I’m going to give him up.

That’s just me,

the man has legions of fans.

Back to The Blindfold, I don’t think so, this author happens to be Auster’s wife,

it seems too polished, to purposely deep for my taste,

maybe I’m just being negative.

I did give it a chance, I read more than a third.

I can’t get into the Muriel Spark I got from the library last week, either.

Yesterday, this freaky local poet type came into the store to sell me books.

I don’t need any books I have tons, everywhere.

Of course, no matter what you have you never seem to have enough as a bookseller,

or a reader.

Anyway, this Hippie type, he’s nice and he always has interesting books,

happened to have a nice copy of On Beauty

by Zadie Smith, which I have been wanting to read for a while,

I loved White Teeth.

Among his books he had a copy of Mr. Muo’s Travelling Couch by Dai Sijie.

That really got my blood pumping.

I read Sijie’s Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress, last year.

I loved it.

It is funny and deep and about difficult, trying times,

The Chinese cultural revolution.

It is about how books can keep you going even in the most terrible, dark times.

A philosophy I agree with. If Mr Muo is half as funny or touching, I feel I will be a happy camper.

well girls,

have a good one,

keep your fingers crossed about the pipe and the wall.

Aquamarine

OK, you must read this book.

It is one of the most original books I have ever read.

I want to thank a good friend for giving it to me, more on that later.

Jesse, is a former Olympic swimmer,

she won a silver medal in Mexico City in the ’68 games.

The novel is short, 197 pages, and is divided into 5 parts.

A prologue that shows what happened at the games and why Jesse “lost” the race,

an epilogue which I won’t go into for fear of spoiling anything,

and 3 distinct lives for Jesse.

Each life is different and yet all are plausible, believable and Jesse is very much the same girl.

In the first, Jesse is married to Neal and living minutes away from where she grew up,

helping to run his family’s business.

In the second, she is a college professor and “married” to an attractive New York actress.

In the third, she is a divorced single mother raising two teenagers and running a business.

All these Jesses are possible depending on certain decisions.

Go to college or not , love women or love men, have children or not.

Jesse in each case, has the same past, the same memories and yet her lives are different.

It’s all about roads taken,

or not.

I don’t know if I am being clear, and honestly I don’t want to give too much away.

I also don’t want to be simplistic but, I think books mean different things to different people.

This is a terrific book.

Believable characters.

Nothing is false or contrived.

A must read.

I could not recommend it more highly.

Aside from being a good read it makes you think about your life, your choices.

I will most definitely read it again,

and seek out more books by Carol Anshaw,

a name to remember.

The friend who gave it to me has given me a few books lately,

that have brought me joy as well as insight.

Thank you.

Sharing books we love with people is a beautiful gift.

That is one of the reasons I really enjoy blogging,

that and the whining.

Sharing my non expert opinion about books that touched me, somehow.

Later girls

Take care