Literary Escapes – Page 9 – Creative Meanderings

_The Great Gatsby_ by F. Scott Fitzgerald

Jun 232013

_The Great Gatsby_ by F. Scott Fitzgerald

With the movie coming out, I thought that I should actually read this often-talked about classic. While I did not actually finish it before I saw the film, I was not disappointed by any gaps between the film coverage of the story.

I have not read much literature from this time period as I never really got into the American authors from this time. However, as I get older I guess maybe I’m more prepared to read their work. Occasionally, I think I want to read more, but then I change my mind. 😉

Anyway, I don’t really need to give a synopsis of the story since the movie is available now and in today’s media-saturated world, the film will probably be more known than the book in the future.

It was a good story. Some people had said that they had really hated reading it in high school. I feel as if I might have been one of those people had I been forced to read it. Kind of how I feel about Melville’s _Billy Bud_. Still, I am appreciating simpler days when life was still complicated, but with the simpler matters of life – relationships, love, growing up, and life.

-T 😀

_The Primal Wound: Understanding the Adopted Child_ by Nancy Newton Verrier

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Jun 222013

The Primal Wound: Understanding the Adopted…

_The Primal Wound: Understanding the Adopted Child_ by Nancy Newton Verrier

Over a year ago, I found my first foster mother in the States. In our first telephone conversation she mentioned this book to me and recommended it. When I was in Korea in 2009, someone there had also mentioned this book saying how it really opened her eyes to her adoption experience. So, I ordered it and began to read it last summer.

Since it is a paper book, it took me longer to get through than if it had been on my e-reader. Also, it is not really one of those books that you can read straight through as it takes time to digest aspects of what Verrier is saying. So, finally last month I finished it.

The basic gist is that when a child is taken away from its biological mother there is a wound that develops that will never heal. For many adoptees this wound is deep and reopened regularly. The biological need to feel the connection to the person who provided shelter and security for nine months can never be replaced. Due to this wound being inflicted at such a young age, it affects every following relationship with females as well as future friends. One’s identity is also further changed from this broken connection.

There’s much more to explain, but that’s the overall theme. It was an eye-opening read as I had always felt that I was alone in how I felt about the world and the people in it. However, as I read, I realized I’m actually quite ‘normal’. 😉

I am taking the book home to give to my mom to read so that she may find some comfort in knowing that my distance from her growing up was not a personal affront to her as my mom, but just the mere fact that she was there. Maybe it will help. I also recommend my friends to read this as it may help them to understand me that much more. 😀

-T

_Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years)_ by Gregory Maguire

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May 182013

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked…

_Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West (Wicked Years)_ by Gregory Maguire

Okay, so everyone who knows me well knows that I absolutely HATE movie “The Wizard of Oz”. Many years ago, I did read the book and I still didn’t like it. When I was in New York, the Broadway musical “Wicked” came and stayed and was raved about. I was not convinced by people saying that it is nothing like “The Wizard of Oz” and that I would probably like it.

However, many more people whom I came across have mentioned how this book is really good and interesting. They promised it was nothing like the original story and that I should give it a try. So, finally, I downloaded it and gave it a go.

Well, wow…. The fuss is definitely true. It’s a GREAT story. It is NOTHING like “The Wizard of Oz” and is so much more interesting and engaging. Sure, I know the original story was good in its time. I have no issue with the quality, I only never liked the story itself and the movie scarred me for life with the creepy flying monkeys and a person who gets killed by water! I wouldn’t have anything to do with water unless forced for weeks!!!

Still, this story was really interesting and I have to say nothing like anything I have ever read. I cannot really compare it to anything. The story follows the life of Elphaba, who becomes the Wicked Witch of the West. However, we find that she really is not all that wicked and that she never really set out in her life to become so. Some parts of the story with the Wicked Witch of the East and Glinda the Good Witch do not perfectly match up, but in general it is a genius attempt at telling the pre-story of the infamous witch.

So, if you cannot tell by now, I absolutely recommend this book and am going to see about seeing the musical! However, I started to re-read _The Wizard of Oz_ that is included at the end of the Kindle version and nope, I still cannot stand it…. 😛

-T 😀

_Gone Girl_ by Gillian Flynn

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May 172013

Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn

_Gone Girl_ by Gillian Flynn

A couple of colleagues and friends from work asked if I was interested in joining in reading this book with them since one said it was a book that you want to read with someone to be able to talk about it. Intrigued by the idea and never really having done a ‘book club’ type thing before (unless you count Bible studies), I thought I’d give it a shot. Plus, it was a good excuse to avoid academic reading now and then.

Well, I totally got hooked, plus a little bit competitive at J’s speed reading skills. So, I finished the book probably within a week’s time. It was a good distraction, but I’m not convinced about it.

So…the story is told in alternating chapters from the perspective of Amy via her diary entries and her husband in real time. The story tells the tale of their relationship and the inner struggles from both sides. There are a number of twists that I do not want to comment on in case you are planning on reading the book. Each of the twists were well played and the story itself was quite well-written.

Unfortunately, be warned that all three of us were quite disappointed by the ending. We felt that Flynn just sort of gave up leaving a very anticlimactic feeling. I have not read other reviews or gone to see what the general feelings of others have been towards the ending (I mean I do have a dissertation to write after all, haha! ;)), but feel free to comment should you read the book and let me know how you feel about the ending yourself.

Anyway, it was fun. We didn’t do a proper ‘book club’ style of discussion and all that, but it was nice to all have read something together and then to have a chit chat about it. Maybe we’ll do another one soon.

-T 😀

_A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose_ by Eckhart Tolle

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Mar 282013

A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life's…

_A New Earth: Awakening to Your Life’s Purpose_ by Eckhart Tolle

Some friends of ours had been talking about this book and how it helped them to change their perspectives on dealing with people and most especially within themselves. Apparently, Tolle is more famous for his _The Power of Now_ book, but our friends seemed more moved by this one. Since I always love a good recommended read, I decided to give it a try. Besides, it’s another Oprah’s Book Club recommendation, so how can you go wrong? 😉

This book reminded me a great deal of Marcus Aurelius’ _Meditations_, which I read whilst being miserable in Japan a number of years back. Aurelius’ work changed my view of living in Japan and made me more peaceful. Tolle’s work has not quite had the same effect as I felt it was rather ‘commercialized’ if that makes any sense. Rather than it being a strong philosophy, it’s more like a guide book.

Despite this, I definitely am glad that I read it as it has helped put some perspective on how I have been feeling lately towards people. One really poignant point Tolle makes is the idea of the things that make us the most angry in others is probably what we struggle with the most in ourselves. So if I get impatient with people not being totally polite or their attitude towards me, perhaps I should look at my own politeness and attitude towards others.

Another aspect I did enjoy was that he incorporated a variety of religions and beliefs into a common area of what I prefer to call ‘humanity’ or ‘spirituality’. I have always believed that the variation of religions are stem from one spiritual source and like most things with humans we simply are so stubborn in thinking our way of believing is the only way, thus causing religions to form and those whom we can convince to think like us become the followers. Yet, most core beliefs of most religions stem from the same place and share a common desire of spiritual peace. One wonders why we can’t just focus on that….

Anyway, I did enjoy the read and it gave me more than a few bits to chew on, so that’s a successful book to me. Now that it’s about to be spring break, I’m looking forward to some less brain-taxing books and then, of course, I must focus on the academic works… 😛

That catches me up for now on the books!

More to come,

-T 😀

_The Middlesteins_ by Jami Attenberg

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Mar 272013

The Middlesteins by Jami Attenberg

_The Middlesteins_ by Jami Attenberg

Another novel edited by my editor friend and this one was so interesting.

The Middlesteins are a family that is trying to survive despite a strong, overbearing and self-destructive central figure who has greatly affected everyone in the family in different ways. They become a typically dysfunctional middle-class Jewish American family.

I felt as if there was a bit of British humor to it, but at the same time the Jewish element was also clear even though I do not have a full understanding of that element. Also, the story feels as if it is from the past, but at the same time could be your neighbor in suburban America. Also, I kind of related to Edith’s (or Edie) need to eat to feel the love that she so longs for, but she doesn’t realize that the people around her want to love her if she could let them.

It was not a particularly uplifting story, but it was realistic and entertaining. It has similar tones as Rhoda Janzen’s books, but as fiction. So, I recommend it as quality contemporary fiction. 🙂

**This finally updates my books from the summer to now. I’ve got one more book I have just finished to write on and then I guess I shall have to decide what to read next… :D**

-T

_Invisible Man_ by Ralph Ellison

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Mar 262013

Invisible Man by Ralph Ellison

_Invisible Man_ by Ralph Ellison

This has been on my reading list for a number of years. It is not to be confused with H.G. Well’s _The Invisible Man_, which is quite a different story.

Ellison’s book deals with the African-American situation in the south and then in NYC during the ’20’s and ’30’s. It is a typical story of the struggle of the black man in a white man’s world. However, from a historical perspective, it is a great view of the US before the civil rights movement fully took shape. From a literary perspective, it is a beautiful story of how a man tries to make a difference, but hits all obstacles from everyone and finally chooses to look into himself to see the invisible man that no one else wants to see.

I am glad I finally got to this one and need to consider more books like this to get on my reading list!

-T 😀

_The Devil in the White City_ by Erik Larson

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Mar 242013

The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic,…

_The Devil in the White City_ by Erik Larson

I am not sure how I came across this book, maybe from Oprah’s list or from Amazon’s recommended reads. It may have been when I was looking for non-fiction work after getting hooked on Jon Krakaeur’s books.

In any case, this was a very interesting story of the development of the World’s Fair hosted in Chicago and the killings of H.H. Holmes, who may have been Jack the Ripper. The story most centered on H.H. Holmes (the devil), but it was also quite fascinating to read about the development of the World’s Fair and to imagine the building of the White City. Chicago has some amazing architectural buildings and so this book sort of helped me to imagine how Chicago was built up. Also, the surprise of one of the architectural pieces we sort of take for granted today was interesting (I won’t tell you in case you want to read the book!).

Overall, this was a very interesting read. Not long after I finished reading this, R also read it as he has both a fascination with serial killers and non-fictional pieces. We, then, watched the UK documentary on H.H. Holmes. More recently, this article from the Huffington Post was published about a man who might be the great-great grandson of H.H. Holmes. Amazing!

If you like murder mysteries and historical reads, this just might be for you!

-T 😀

_Does This Church Make Me Look Fat?_ by Rhoda Janzen

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Mar 192013

Does This Church Make Me Look Fat?: A…

_Does This Church Make Me Look Fat?_ by Rhoda Janzen

Quite some time ago, I read Rhoda Janzen’s first book _Mennonite in a Little Black Dress_ and was quite entertained. A former colleague, college-mate and friend of mine edited these books, so I always am interested in reading her edited novels. Also, since I had quite enjoyed the first one, I thought I’d go ahead and give this one a try.

The title is very catchy and Janzen still has a funny, sarcastic side to which I totally relate. However, like Elizabeth Gilbert’s second novel, _Committed_, I sensed a loss of the ‘newness’ in the author. It seemed a little too similar to the first and while I enjoyed the story and knowing there was growth in her life, it didn’t make me crack up or constantly engaged.

This one is about Janzen’s settling into a new relationship with a Christian man. Her boyfriend seems very open and loving, which differs from what she is used to from religious folk. So, she embraces his church and his beliefs because he models a calm and stable way even though their relationships non-traditional in terms of him being a single parent and their goals are not about the typical suburban lifestyle. In this sense, I related and enjoyed.

On the other hand, I wasn’t sure what her message was as I did in the first one. Maybe I wasn’t in the right frame of mind when I read it like I was before….

In any case, it is still a good and entertaining read. It doesn’t classify as a trash novel, even though I read back in the summertime, too!

-T 😀

_Real World_ Natsuo Kirino

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Mar 062013

Real World by Natsuo Kirino

_Real World_ by Natsuo Kirino

Last summer I was plowing through books like the world was going to end and so I put out a call on FB for some book recommendations. My high school Japanese teacher recommended _Out_ by Kirino, but as there was no Kindle version, I opted for _Real World_. As a side, I am all about the ebooks these days since moving around so much makes it difficult to carry books around. So, if I can’t get it digitally, I generally don’t read it.

So, as you may or may not recall, I’m not much of a fan of contemporary literature and it is even more rare that I can get into a Japanese contemporary piece of work. However, I have to say this one was very interesting. The story revolves around a high school girl whose neighbor kills his mother. Somehow the girl and her friends help him to escape, but then bad things happen to them. The story progresses with changing viewpoints of each of the young adults involved.

It was an engaging story and made a realistic picture of people. I sometimes wonder if my own emotions and mental state have not truly evolved much beyond my high school / teenage years as I do identify well with young minds. So, the story was one I could put myself into and feel the characters’ emotions and share their thoughts. It was suspenseful and very honest/direct in its topics, so I enjoyed it a great deal. 🙂

-T

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