Known and Unknown: A Memoir by Donald Rumsfeld

832 pages
Published by Sentinel, a Penguin Group in 2011
New York, NY

"My life has spanned more than one third of the history of the United States. As I thought more about this memoir and a title, the idea of the known and the unknown seemed to fit. Not only are there things in this book people believe they known about my life, but there are also things that may surprise and differ from what many may have read or heard or assumed." ~ Donald Rumsfeld

From the first moment I heard about Donald Rumsfeld's memoir, Known and Unknown I wanted to read it. What could be more fascinating than learning the "inside story" of my country's government for the last forty years than from a man who has spent most of his life serving as a Congressman, an Ambassador, and even twice as Secretary of Defense?

Most readers of my generation will of course remember Mr. Rumsfeld as the Secretary of Defense for most of George W. Bush's presidency, but what many of these same people may not realize is that that was not his first appointment to the job. Donald Rumsfeld also served as Secretary of Defense during the Ford administration in 1975. By 2001 he had been both the youngest and oldest person in American history to be appointed to the job of Secretary of Defense. Fascinating...

And that is exactly how I found Known and Unknown, fascinating. I was only 100 pages into the tome (and tome it is, for the text, index not included, reaches well over 700 pages!) and I could hardly put the book down.

During approximately the first quarter of Known and Unknown, Mr. Rumsfeld discusses in some detail the years 1932-1969 -- from his childhood, to the time spent serving in the US Navy, and later as a 29 year-old US Congressman from Illinois. For me this part of the book was a quick history lesson. Some events and people mentioned I remember hearing about, but for the most part his memoir filled in many of the holes left over from my childhood history lessons.

The second quarter of the book recalls Mr. Rumsfeld's time serving as a representative to NATO and White House Chief of Staff during the 1970s, as well as brief mention of the two decades he worked in the private sector for pharmaceutical companies. Again, the mention of people, places and events filled in more of the holes in my personal world and American history knowledge. By the end of the first half of Known and Unknown, Mr. Rumsfeld has brought his story up to the late 1990s, a time in which I have personal memories and the starting point of what I consider "recent history."

The "meat" of Known and Unknown is certainly to be found in the last half of the book. It is in this last half that Mr. Rumsfeld reaches the end of the 20th century and the early years of the 21st. It is a time that I consider "recent history" and to a point "current events." It is a time I remember vividly. Some events I remember reading or hearing about in the news and other events I experienced personally. For me the last half of Known and Unknown was the most fascinating section of the book... And at times it was also quite overwhelming. I was blown away with the amount of detail contained in each chapter. I can only imagine the amount of time and the extent of research that was required to complete this memoir. And I challenge anyone who thinks they know the reasons why America was attacked on 9/11 and why America went to war in Iraq and Afghanistan to read this book. This is not just one man's view, this is a memoir that includes details, facts, quotations, citations, and references that explain the known and the unknown of that period. It was very interesting.

That said, I must admit Known and Unknown is not for the faint of heart. If you tremble at the thought of reading anything political or historical in nature than you probably won't find Known and Unknown an easy read. Mr. Rumsfeld writes well, the entire book is woven together almost seamlessly, which makes it must easier to follow than other memoirs I've read, but the extent of detail does slow the reader down. If you have a predetermined interest in the topic then it is well worth the effort.

All in all, I am glad I took the time and effort to read Known and Unknown. While not every reader may agree with every decision made by Mr. Rumsfeld (or his bosses) I still encourage every reader to consider reading Known and Unknown, if for no other reason than to learn another side to the story that is recent American history.

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Related Links:

• The Rumsfeld Papers 
• World Timeline During Rumsfeld's Life (1932-Present)
• Rumsfeld Library (includes thousands of related documents)
• Known and Unknown (Additional information from the Publisher)

Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand

406 pages
Published in 2010
by Random House

For the last couple weeks I have thought over how exactly I was to review Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption by Laura Hillenbrand. I wanted to be careful in how much I gave away about the story because it came to me with little information and thus was a surprise read. For that reason I think it's almost best to keep you in the dark (a little) as well.

I first learned of Unbroken from a friend who told me nothing about the plot except that they thought I might enjoy it and that I shouldn't read anything about the story background or do any research on the book itself before I read it. Now, to do this is contrary to my normal pre-reading method. Under normal circumstances I read a review on a blog or I will read the book description and maybe a few snippets of reviews on Amazon to get a feel for whether or not it's the type of book I will want to read. (Why waste time on books that just aren't worth it?) At any rate, because I had confidence the person who was recommending wouldn't suggest an awful book I decided to go ahead and take their advice -- I picked up Unbroken and jumped in with both feet without stopping to find out anything more.

The plot (no spoilers):
"On a May afternoon in 1943, an Army Air Forces bomber crashed into the Pacific Ocean and disappeared, leaving only a spray of debris and a slick of oil, gasoline, and blood.  Then, on the ocean surface, a face appeared.  It was that of a young lieutenant, the plane’s bombardier, who was struggling to a life raft and pulling himself aboard.  So began one of the most extraordinary odysseys of the Second World War." (Summary courtesy of the publisher. Further description available on their website.)

My Thoughts:
Wow. Where do I begin? From the basic description one might think the story begins during the heat of World War II, but Unbroken begins before then, it starts as most biographies do, with the birth of the hero of the story. The author takes the reader through the background before leading them to the heart of the story -- the plane crash and what happened afterwards. This is indeed a fascinating story; a read I found interesting from a historical point of view (it begins in the early 1910s) and becomes a page turner (by the 1940s) that I just couldn't put down. Although a biography it reads a lot like a novel weaving dialogue, narration, and description together.

On the flip side there were some very difficult aspects to the story. War stories can be very gritty and Unbroken certainly has many gritty moments, which means it is not for the faint of heart. And yet, somehow the way Laura Hillenbrand writes I didn't mind the grit so much -- it was how it was and I pressed on because I wanted to find out how the story would end.

I must admit that after pressing through all the grittiness I almost gave up on the story during the last quarter of the book. It is at that point that the hero, having survived some of the most deplorable experiences, comes out a survivor, but a very angry and lost man. It was here that I started to second guess my friend's recommendation. I began to wonder why they of all people had recommended this book to me if it was going to end on such a depressing note. And then with the turn of the page and the start of a new chapter the story took a dramatic turn that led to a very exciting and amazing end. Unbroken is truly a story of survival, resilience AND redemption. It left me amazed and proud not only to have read such a book, but to have such people in my country's history.

In the end I believe Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand is one of the most powerful books I have read this year and it is a book I recommend wholeheartedly!

Note: Once you have read Unbroken be sure to check out the related links below. For those wanting to keep the surprise element in the read stay clear of these links until AFTER you've finished the book. As for the rest of you who enjoy knowing the surprise ahead of time... you've probably already googled Unbroken and already know the whole story without picking up the book so I suppose it doesn't matter. Either way... I hope you'll take time to read this book.


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Related Links:

• LouieZamperini.com
• Devil At My Heels by Louis Zamperini
• SRN News.Com Intereview with Louis Zamperini (35min long)
• NY Times Bestseller (hit #1 during 2010) 
• Laura Hillenbrand's Official Website

All About Agatha - Part II

When I decided to write twice for the Agatha Christie Blog Tour I originally planned to make my final post a Q&A of sorts -- or at the very least I thought it might be a "Did you know" type post that was full of fascinating and little known details about one of the most famous authors of all time. To help with my writing I began my research. I decided I needed to read a biography on Agatha Christie... And that's when I discovered something even better -- her autobiography!

Some people may think it's rather narcissistic to write the story of your own life, but I don't agree. Who better to tell about your life, your experiences, thoughts, conversations, and memories than you? Yes, you might be tempted to paint yourself in a better light than some objective researcher, but there is the indisputable fact that they will never be able to capture on paper the emotions and memories that you have unless you previously expressed them.

From page one of Agatha Christie: An Autobiography I was immediately captivated. Her writing is light and refreshing, interesting and descriptive. Unlike some autobiographies and historical nonfiction pieces this book is a page-turner. Each time I picked it up I felt as though I was stepping through the pages of time and seeing historical events unfold through her eyes as they happened. At 519 pages it is a very thorough, though admittedly not entirely complete story (she leaves out any reference to her infamous disappearance). Still, the result of this large volume is a book that masterfully weaves together a personal life story with first hand accounts of life in a time and place so completely foreign to life when the memoir was published in 1965 (and even more so today in 2010).

Agatha Christie, when referring to her own memoir said:

"This is not a travel book -- only a dwelling back on those memories that stand out in my mind; times that have mattered to me, places that stand out in my mind; times that have mattered to me; places and incidents that have enchanted me."

And so it is from the first page to the last I found Agatha Christie: An Autobiography absolutely fascinating. And safe to say probably one of the most fascinating reads I've picked up all year.

Here are some of the highlights:

* Agatha Christie had a vivid and very creative imagination as a child. She reminded me a lot of the fictional Anne in L. M. Montgomery's Anne of Green Gables, only with a happier childhood.

* As a child she loved math and problem solving, story telling and reading. Much to her mother's horror (who thought it bad for the eyes for a child to read before the age of 8), Agatha taught herself to ready by age 5. All these are just glimpses of gifts that would help her later in life.

* The Prisoner of Zenda by Anthony Hope was Agatha's first romance read. She was completely smitten with the poor king imprisoned in the dungeon. During this age she had many impossible crushes, including one on the young and handsome King Alfonso of Spain. (Yes, this is the same King that Betsy, Tacy and Tib fall in love with in Maud Hart Lovelace's Betsy and Tacy Go Downtown). Later these crushes bloomed into opportunities for true love. Agatha relates what life was like in an era when ladies hid their ankles and kissing was saved for only those in a serious courtship.

* Agatha was an avid reader all her life. She enjoyed Dickens and claimed Bleak House was her favorite of his works. She also was a great fan of May Sinclair and claimed that she was "one of our finest and most original novelists... I cannot help feeling that there will be a revival of interest in her some day."

* She gives a descriptive and interesting narrative of life in an upper-middle class British home in the early 20th century. The details of marriage and family life, of a young girl's education, friendships and courtships, and the interaction of master and servant. It is an era and a people now long gone.

* As a child Agatha's nanny taught her etiquette. Agatha wished to one day be "Lady Agatha," but Nanny said that she could never be -- you have to be born a Lady -- little did either of them know that little Agatha Christie (nee Miller) would one day be both Dame Agatha AND Lady Agatha.

* Agatha took music lessons and sang a little opera. She was once told she was good enough to become a concert singer if she so desired, but she lacked the strong lung capacity needed to sing opera professionally.

* Although Agatha Christie is now a world-famous author it was her sister, Madge, who was initially considered the "writer" in the family having published several short stories in Vanity Fair magazine. But Agatha's fate was sealed the day her mother suggested she take up writing. Sick and bored in bed, Agatha began a story which she finished a mere 24 hours later. It was titled The House of Beauty and she later recalled, "I think on the whole that it is good; the first thing I ever wrote that showed promise... Amateurishly written, of course, and showing the influence of all that I had read the week before. This is something you can hardly avoid when you first begin to write. Just then I had obviously been reading D. H. Lawrence..." (Pt IV, Chpt 5, pg 181)

* Agatha began plotting her first detective novel (The Mysterious Affair At Styles) while she worked in the hospital pharmacy during World War I. It was partially because her sister said she couldn't do it (they were just too difficult to write) and partly because she was bored that she even began plotting the story. It was also at this time that she gained her vast knowledge of poisons, something that would later come in handy in her career as a crime story writer. And it was the Belgian refugees who fled to England during this time that inspired her most famous detective, Hercule Poirot.

* After World War I, Agatha and her first husband, Archie Christie did a little globe trotting. They left their daughter with Agatha's sister and traveled around the world, stopping over in South Africa, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, and Canada. During their time in South Africa and Hawaii Agatha and Archie spent many hours surfing. (Imagine Dame Agatha Christie on a surf board!)

* In the years leading up to World War II and post World War II Agatha spent a great deal of time in the Middle East. Her second husband, Max Mallowan was an archaeologist. She drew from her life with him and used it in several of her books both as Agatha Christie and under her pen name Mary Westmacott. Because she loved this part of her life so much she even wrote a short little book about their experiences titled Come, Tell Me How You Live.

* One of their archaeologist friends pressured Agatha to write a historical detective novel, something set in ancient Egypt. Hesitant at first Agatha eventually gave in and with the assistance of this friend she researched and then wrote her only historical fiction novel: Death Comes As the End.

* Agatha did not like that she had to include a romance within her mysteries and thrillers. She felt it was forcing a "love motive into what should have been a scientific process" and it went against the grain. So why did she include them? In that era it was expected for that genre. Personally I am glad, I've always loved that aspect of her thrillers.

* Contrary to rumors that she wrote her final Miss Marple and Hercule Poirot books for the insurance of future money, she actually wrote them during World War II and gifted the proceeds of the books to her daughter and husband upon her death. She was certain she would be killed during the war as she spent so much time in London. In the end these two novels were not published until her death in the mid 1970s.

* Agatha once said she was inspired every day, every where in every way. Sometimes ideas came when she was eating lunch and overheard a conversation. Other times she was looking in a shop window. Clearly she had her eyes wide open and her mind constantly engaged. She was alive and alert. Everything in life had the potential to influence or be a story.

To me it is no wonder Agatha Christie has won the title of "Queen of Crime"and is considered the all-time best-selling crime writer. She was an interesting person who led a full and fascinating life. She had a spectacular imagination and was a gifted storyteller. Whether you are like me, a fan of Agatha Christie's novels, or just a fan of the mystery genre in general, or even someone who is merely interested in learning more about life in England and Europe during the first half of the last century then you really should read Agatha Christie: An Autobiography. It is most definitely a worthwhile read.

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Related Links and More about Agatha Christie:

Agatha-Christie.com
Fun Trivia - Agatha Christie Quizzes
Hercule Poirot Central And Other Agatha Christie Info
Agatha Christie Reading Carnival

Monday Children's Picks of the Week

I am sorry to say I have a bad case of "the Mondays." I'm already behind in my list of To-Do for the week, but I didn't like missing a post about some of our favorite reads of late so here I am for the weekly pick of children's books.

As I've mentioned before, my daughter is 3 years-old. She's not yet ready for a structured preschool, but I thought it might be fun if we started doing something fun each week. You know a craft here, a special trip there, etc. As part of this we joined a casual group of moms and preschoolers who meet twice a month to have a lesson, craft, snack, game and Bible verse followed by a field trip. Each month is planned around a specific theme. September's theme is farm animals with the field trip being a trip to see all kinds of farm animals at the county fair.

We are both enjoying this opportunity to learn more about animals. We've done a few crafts, we've sung some animal songs, we've talked about animals and the sounds they make, and best of all we've read lots and lots of animal and farm books.

Two favorites that I want to highlight this week include:

Cock-a-Doodle-Quack! Quack! by Ivor Baddiel. (Published by David Fickling Books in the UK and by Random House Books in the US in 2007) This book is a great read-aloud for children ages 3-8.

In the story a baby rooster is born. Eager to begin his job on the farm he asks the other farm animals what he should say to wake them up each morning. He tries "cock-a-doodle-oink-oink" and "cock-a-doodle-moo-moo" to no avail. Finally the farm cat suggests the baby rooster go speak with the wise old owl. The wise old owl gives him a mysterious suggestion, which baby rooster chooses to follow. The result. At long last he learns the exact words he has to say to wake up the farm.

We learned about Cock-a-Doodle-Quack! Quack! from another mom/daughter in our co-op. It is both cute and funny, the perfect combination for a preschooler to enjoy. The illustrations by Sophie Jubb add to the delight of this book. Definitely put this one to your library list. A must read.

While browsing for non-fiction books about animals I discovered a collection called First Step Nonfiction Farm Animals by Robin Nelson and published between 2008 and 2009 by Lerner Publications Company of Minneapolis, MN. Each of these little hardcover books run approximately 20-25 pages and highlight a particular animal with photographs and short and simple sentences. "What lives on a farm? chickens live on a farm. A female chicken is a hen. A male chicken is a rooster." and so on and so forth. I picked up the books on Cows, Chickens, Horses, Pigs, Goats, and Sheep. I am hoping the author or publisher will expand this collection to include ducks, rabbits, and some of the other farm animals and pets. They are fun to read and touch upon enough information my 3 year old enjoys them and comes away knowing more than she did before we read. Again, great read-aloud books. I can't wait to refresh by visiting these animals at the fair!

Happy reading!

So Long, Insecurity: You've Been a Bad Friend to Us by Beth Moore

350 pages
Published in 2010
by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.
Carol Stream, Illinois

As you might notice most of the books I read I end up enjoying enough to recommend as books to read. There are of course the occasions where I don't really enjoy the book and give them a so-so review or a thumbs down. And then there are those occasions where I enjoy a book so much, find it is so amazing that I just want to cry out in call caps: GO! YOU MUST READ THIS BOOK! NEVER MIND WAITING IN LINE AT THE LIBRARY. RUN TO THE BOOKSTORE, YOU HAVE TO OWN THIS BOOK!

So Long, Insecurity: You've Been A Bad Friend to Us by Beth Moore is just such a book. This is a must read for every living breathing woman in the world.

Who exactly is Beth Moore? Before reading this book I had only a brief introduction to this woman of faith, but from random conversations with some of my Christian friends and acquaintances I realize I am in the minority. Beth Moore founded Living Proof Ministries in 1994 "with the purpose of teaching women how to love and live on God's Word." She is the author of countless Bible studies and books and in the last few years added radio and the Internet to her ministry outreach. My own church has held a few women's events in the past that utilized Beth's Bible studies. The one I attended I found insightful and applicable.

So when I noticed her face on the cover of a book on the "New Release" table at my local B&N store I added her to my list of authors to read in 2010. At the time I wasn't even thinking that a book about conquering insecurity would be applicable to my own life I just thought it might be a good title to review.

The Book:
As I mentioned before, I wasn't sure what to expect when I picked up So Long Insecurity. I wasn't expecting to apply it to my own life, after all I consider myself a fairly secure person who may have struggled in my teen years with some forms of insecurity... but then what teen hasn't?

As I began the first chapter of the book I felt a tad doubtful of how good this book was. Beth's writing style is exuberant and seemed to emanate girl power with each paragraph. In my head I heard that Martina McBride song, This One's For the Girls and thought to myself... I'm not so sure this is my type of book. But as I read on I quickly discovered that this book is so much more. It is applicable to every living, breathing, hot blooded or cold blooded woman in this world; be they 18 or 88 or any age in between and regardless of whether they struggle with insecurity or only know of someone who struggles.

"Keep an open mind to what an insecure woman looks like, and don't be too hasty to let yourself off the hook just because a dimension of the portrait doesn't look like you. The fact that she can be a complicated mix of confidence and self-consciousness is the very reason it took me so long to identify it in myself and admit it." (Chpt 1, pg 19)

So Long Insecurity could be divided into three parts. The first part is where Beth discusses the history or more specifically "roots" from which insecurity grows. While it is not exactly all inclusive I believe she's thorough and it would be a rare instance where the reader didn't connect with at least a fragment of an example in this section.

Through the second part Beth discusses how to dig up these roots so healing can begin and how strength and dignity can be attained. The goal of this book is not to preach or to discourage, but to help women everywhere find security and live the life filled with the dignity, joy, and purpose that her Creator intended.

The last section of this book wraps up everything that has been discussed and looks to the future. Not only how can one go on from here with a "clean escape", but how can each woman who is secure help future generations of women (e.g. their own daughters or nieces or the little girl down the street or in their classroom, etc.)

This book is powerful and came at the perfect time. Insecurity is a major problem for women in the world today, including freedom loving Americans.

My Thoughts:
First of all I have to say I really appreciate Beth Moore. She's not just another woman out there who has it all together and is looking down her spiritual nose at the rest of womankind. This book is her journey as much as it is mine or any other reader's. Beth is genuine, she is honest, and she is full of encouragement. She shares from her heart the good with the bad in her own life: "I am a common woman sharing common problems seeking common solutions on a journey with an uncommon Savior. If something hurts me, I conclude it probably hurts somebody else." (Chpt 1, pg 13)

For my own part, I admit freely that I have struggled with insecurity in the past, even as far back as junior high and high school, but again, that is fairly typical. What was an eye opener for me was to realize that I still struggle, although the insecurity manifests itself in different forms now than it did 15 years ago. I also found it very interesting to discover how insecurity can play strongly in how I perceive other people and how they in turn perceive me. I realize now how failings in friendships or family members, or even bad encounters with other people where I've been snubbed or hurt are often connected to either one or both of us having issues with insecurity. It is indeed a fascinating issue to ponder.

For those wondering, So Long Insecurity is NOT a quick fix. I finished it only a week ago, but I am still faced with chronic insecurity. The difference for me now is that I know how to confront these feelings and come away the conqueror. I know how to say, "I am clothed with strength and dignity... God gave it to me. It is mine. You cannot have it." I no longer struggle.

In closing I can honestly and wholeheartedly say this book will improve your outlook on life and people. I recommend this book with two thumbs firmly up. Don't borrow this book, buy it. It is a keeper and it is one you will want to reference. It is not exactly a fast read -- while it reads quickly and is a book you don't really want to put down -- there is a lot to ponder and digest. For me some chapters took a few days for me to finish as I stopped to process exactly what she was saying, to pray about it, and to apply what I had read to my own life. This is a book you will want to share with all the women in your life.

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Related Links:
Book Excerpt
Get Thee Behind Me, Insecurity: Interview with Beth Moore
So Long Insecurity affiliated website
Living Proof Ministries

Spoken From the Heart by Laura Bush

439 pages
Published May 2010, 1st edition
Scribner, A division of Simon & Shuster, Inc.
New York, NY

Ever since I first learned that former First Lady Laura Bush was planning to write a memoir I have been curious to get my hands on a copy. I have always been fascinated by American history and more specifically presidential history and the history surrounding our nation's capital. But even more so I was interested in Mrs. Bush's book because I was interested in learning more about the life and thoughts of a president and first lady who, over the course of eight years, I have come to respect and appreciate. The Bush Administration faced some difficult times, but I believe they performed a great service to Americans by helping to maintain American freedom and advocating our way life to the world.

Spoken From the Heart is not an autobiography in the sense of telling Mrs. Bush's entire life story, yes, she includes details about her ancestors and facts and memories from her own childhood and early adult years, but the main focus of this book covers the years that she served with her husband, George W. Bush at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue in Washington, DC. The book ends shortly after the Bushes retired to their ranch in Crawford, Texas in 2009.

The early years: I found the first quarter to third of the book very interesting as it sets the foundation for the rest of the book. Mrs. Bush writes about her parents generation and life in Texas in the years leading up to World War II and then her birth; of the dusty draughts and the year where it didn't rain once in a 12-month period; of the hardships of living in a time and place where modern medicine was unavailable to save the lives of her mother's three premature babies. And of the early years when her love for reading, for learning and life was born. From the first few chapters it is clear that Mrs. Bush inherited her love of books and nature from her own mother.

"When I came through the door in the afternoon, I was greeted by the soft rustle of book pages and my mother, her feet propped up, book open on her lap." (Page 46)

The middle years: The next section of the book focuses more on Mrs. Bush's adult life -- her time as a librarian and as a school teacher, as well as the early years of her marriage to George W. Bush. This then leads the reader on to their life as grown children of a vice-president and later president (George H.W. Bush) and ends with George W. Bush's time as governor of Texas. Again, most of the information contained within this section of the book reads to me as history as I was either not yet born, too young, or not paying attention when it was actually happening. Still, it's interesting to learn more about our former first lady, her life with George and their twin daughters. From the start I was fascinated with Mrs. Bush's natural desire to help others, especially women and children. Because of her husband's role in public office even more opportunities were opened up to her, which she not only took on, but was successful in making a difference for many people.

The White House years: The last third of the book is the longest and contains a variety of details and events as well as Mrs. Bush's personal memories from the 2000 presidential election year through the end of President Bush's second term in the White House and the Bush's departure from Washington in January 2009.

It was a little surreal for me when I read this part of the book. I was flooded with some of my own memories from those dates, places, and events. I remember clearly the year President Bush was elected and the long drama of recount after recount in November and December. I was in Washington, DC for his first (and second) inauguration. (It was cold!) I was one of the thousands (millions?) standing soaking wet on the Mall on that VERY HOT July 4th in 2001 when the rain only just let up in time to watch the fireworks. And I will never forget where I was and what I was doing on Tuesday morning September 11, 2001 when the planes crashed into the World Trade Center and Pentagon just as own parents will never forget where they were and what they were doing on November 22, 1963. I remember hearing of various state dinners and visits abroad, including when the President and Mrs. Bush traveled to visit the Queen at Buckingham Palace. Or the time that President Bush surprised the troops and spent Thanksgiving with them in Afghanistan. At Christmas I laughed and enjoyed the "Barney-Cam" videos the White House released and twice I had the honor of joining hundreds of other guests to visit the White House and enjoy a close up of the festive holiday decorations. I remember where I was and what I was doing the morning we learned terrorist and dictator Saddam Husein had been captured. And I was one of thousands to stand in line for hours so I could pay my respects to former President Ronald Regan's flag draped casket in the United States Capitol Rotunda. So many memories...

Amongst all this reminiscing I did learn something new about the years the Bush's were in the White House. Although I was aware that Mrs. Bush did travel abroad advocating freedom and women's rights I had no idea the depths she went to meet with and help those in depressed places like Afghanistan, Iraq, and Africa. If you doubt at all the freedom a woman has living in the United States then read this book (or one specifically dedicated to that topic, Azar Nafisi has written several) and you'll see how different it is for women in the Middle East. I am grateful that Mrs. Bush took a personal interest in the women and children of these countries.

There was so much that occurred in the eight years that President and Mrs. Bush were in Washington, DC and I really couldn't sum up my thoughts of those years and the President's role in shaping history than Mrs. Bush's own thoughts when she wrote:

"He [President Bush] simply did what he believed to be right and expected to be judged based on outcomes and history not daily headlines or pundits on talks shows." (Page 383)

For a reader curious to learn more about Laura Bush, or even for an inside glimpse of what life was like for the president and first lady during the first decade of the 21st century there couldn't be a better book than Spoken From the Heart. Not once did I feel Mrs. Bush pushing her view or misrepresenting history or a particular person. She was candid, but polite. She was respectful, but factual. She didn't balk at addressing some of the sensitive or personal subjects that made headlines during her husband's career in politics. She is sincere and tells her story in a clear and detailed way making it one of the more enjoyable memoirs that I have read in a long time and a definite worthwhile read.

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Related Links:

The White House

The Laura Bush Foundation for America's Libraries

George W. Bush Presidential Library

The President's House by Margaret Truman

First Ladies by Margaret Truman (reviewed)

Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi (reviewed)

The Spinster Book by Myrtle Reed

222 pages

Published in 1901

G. P. Putnam's Sons

New York and London

The Knickerbocker Press

Up until now I've only reviewed novels by Myrtle Reed, but she was also well known for some non-fiction works (mostly cookbooks). You might consider The Spinster Book in this category as it is not a novel, but more a satirical look at life. Or to be more specific a satirical look at men, women, their relationships, love, courtship, marriage, widow/widowerhood, and the life-long single woman.

When I say satirical I mean Ms. Reed's pen is dipped in truth and told with a serving of salt and vinegar and tongue firmly planted in cheek. And yet, I didn't agree with everything contained in this book. Yes, there were plenty of truths to contemplate, but there were also so misconceptions and a lot of sad and unfortunate views.

Still, I found it fascinating to get a glimpse into the minds of some types of men and women who lived and loved during the earliest years of the 20th century. But what is most valuable about this book is the chance to read and get a better understanding of the inner ticking of Ms. Reed's mind and imagination, both of which led to the creation of the lovable (and sometimes despicable) characters within her novels.

That said, this isn't the book for every reader. If you have a particular interest in the mind of a woman from the early 20th century, you love satirical literature, or if you are a fan of Ms. Reed's novels you will likely find this a fun read. There are plenty of quotable passages and passages that will make you laugh out loud, but this wasn't a book that I would read over and over. I obtained the copy I read from my library's ILL program, but electronic copies are widely available at: The Archive (Librivox audio version), Read Print, Project Gutenberg, Online Literature, and Books Should Be Free (audio).

There are still many novels by Reed that I haven't read and I look forward to them, especially now that I know more about Myrtle Reed's imagination.

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Other Reviews of Myrtle Reed's work:

Weaver of Dreams
A Spinner in The Sun
Lavender And Old Lace
The Master's Violin

Related Links:
Tuesday Teaser: A Spinner in the Sun
Tuesday Teaser: Lavender and Old Lace

The Black Print by Malik Green

178 pages
Published 2009
Outskirts Press, Inc.
Denver, CO

A few months back I was approached by a publicity company who wanted to know if I'd be interested in reading and reviewing copies of newly released books. Although it doesn't appear they handle ARC (Advanced Reader Copies) I still thought this was a great opportunity and signed up.

The first book that caught my attention was The Black-Print by Malik Green. I actually read this book in November, but it has taken me some time to sit down and work out my thoughts to the point where I could put them into a review.

The Black-Print is Mr. Green's first published work and what he calls a "plan of action."

What it's all about:
"African Americans are the descendants of a great and mighty people. However, today, despite over 50 years of so-called progress, the African-American community faces a host of maladies that contribute to our continued disenfranchisement. With an increase in black-on-black crime, drug abuse, gang-related violence, illiteracy, and a lack of spiritual development, not to mention our economic and political deficiencies, African Americans are struggling to gain true equality, prosperity, and respect here in America. The Black-Print contains bold and radical solutions -- a solid, detailed plan -- to transform the descendants of African slaves and raise them to a level unprecedented in the United States of America. This book gets to the heart of the many problems and obstacles faced by the African American community and presents an opportunity to over come the destructive forces that continue to block our path towards wealth, prosperity and respect." (Summary courtesy of the author)


My Thoughts:
Initially I was quite excited to read The Black-Print from the back cover description (see above) I had a feeling this book might be something along the lines of the ideology that great African Americans like George Washington Carver and Booker T. Washington shared, but as I read my excitement gradually dwindled until at the end of the book I was left feeling somewhat disappointed and annoyed.

What I liked: For starters, Mr. Green has some great ideas and as a born African-American from Harlem he has inside perspective. On page 120 he sums up his concerns in the statement, "The bottom line here is that if African Americans do not find the will or desire to reunite as family, then no plan, no money, no anything will ever get us truly right as a people." Similarly there are several other memorable passages and quotes scattered throughout the book. I believe Mr. Green has caught the spark of a great idea. It is true the African American community within the United States is not where it could be or should be 140+ years after the end of slavery. For years people have believed something was being done through the various government programs, but in reality nothing effective has been done. It's time something more, something other than the status quo is started on behalf of United States citizens be they black, white or otherwise. Unfortunately this is where I found The Black-Print fell short of its goal. Which leads me to what I didn't like about the book.

What I didn't like: Aside from the fact that I disagreed with most of Mr. Green's political and economic views I also found his book poorly sourced and in desperate need of editing. (Note: I researched the publisher only to discover OutskirtsPress is a company that offers budding authors the opportunity to self-publish, sans an editor.) From the first chapter it is clear that The Black-Print reads more like a lengthy op-ed than it does a professional or academic "How-To" piece of non-fiction. Instead of backing up statements and facts with original sources nearly all of the writing is merely stated and the reader left to believe or not believe depending on their view of the text, opinions, and author. The few times that footnotes were included they led only to Wikipedia articles, which any researcher or writer should know know is not a trustworthy source.

Editing aside, there's then the problem of Mr. Green's plan of action. As I said, there were many of Mr. Green's views and opinions that I do not personally share, but this is not the time or place for me to hash out in detail what our differences are. Suffice it for me to state two things. First, that I believe there is one true God and that all men (and women) are created equal. The very idea of racial inequality stems from people forgetting or not believing that we all are children born from the first man and woman, Adam and Eve, we are all created by God. And second, in my opinion The Black-Print calls for some drastic and rather unrealistic steps in order to reach Mr. Green's final goal including the involvement of the government where I do not believe it is wise.

One such unrealistic step requires the United States government to pay "reparations" to the African American community for the years of damage done between 1868 and 1964. The United States government is not a private entity; it is not a business so where would such a large sum of money come from? It has to come from somewhere and mostly likely it would come in the form of heavier taxes on people who either were not alive during those years or who were not citizens in America during that time.

As I read I kept shaking my head thinking how different Mr. Green's views were from what I had anticipated them to be. So very unlike those of George Washington Carver and Booker T. Washington, two men whom I greatly admire. And then as I read I came upon the reason for this difference. Mr. Green admittedly holds the same views as W. E. B. Dubois. For those who don't remember, W. E. B. Dubois and Booker T. Washington were peers who held opposing views as to what African Americans should do once freedom from slavery was achieved. Booker T. Washington was of the mindset that African Americans needed to focus on educating and bettering themselves as individuals, as families, as church members, and as citizens before reaching for riches and fame. Dubois on the other hand believed that the African Americans deserved instant equality with all other citizens of the United States without the necessity of education and hard work. The fact that Mr. Green's ideology matches with Dubois explains a lot.

In Summary:
I had mixed feelings when I finished reading The Black-Print. I felt like Mr. Green touched upon a very important matter and had some great insights, but his application was all wrong, his solution flawed. I felt as if this was a missed opportunity and it is a shame. I can't say I'd recommend this book to others only because there was so much this book lacked. However, I applaud Mr. Green for his effort in writing this book. Many people have ideas, but it takes some determination and courage to share these ideas with the world. Maybe one day people will realize that God has to come first, not just the "everything goes" view of religion that Mr. Green shares. There must be a love for God and respect for each other before there can be healing.

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Other books of interest that I've read:

Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington
Unshakable Faith by John Perry

The Betsy-Tacy Companion by Sharla Scannell Whalen

514 pages
Copyright 1995
Portalington Press
Whitehall, PA

I did not think I could complete my own Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge without first reading a biography of Mrs. Lovelace and without a doubt the best biography out there is The Betsy-Tacy Companion by Sharla Scannell Whalen.

The Plot:
"The Betsy-Tacy Companion is a biography of the author Maud Hart Lovelace. Lovelace is best known for her children's books, the Betsy-Tacy series. These books are strikingly autobiographical, and the Companion focuses on the people and events from the series, revealing the counterparts in Lovelace's own life. Betsy was Lovelace herself, Tacy was her best friend, Frances Kenney, etc.

The Companion begins by describing the time period shortly before that in which the first book, Betsy-Tacy, is set - the years 1883 to 1896. Companion chapters then cover, one by one, each of the Betsy-Tacy books, representing Lovelace's childhood (starting in 1897), taking her through high school a trip to Europe before the First World War, and to the early years of her marriage in Minneapolis, Minnesota. the last two chapters detail Lovelace's later adult life and writing career...

The Companion discusses not only similarities between the fictional Betsy and the real Maud, but equally importantly, reveals events in the author's life which were carefully omitted from the series. An overall picture of Lovelace as a woman and an author results." (Summary courtesy of the publisher, inside dust jacket flap)

My Thoughts:
I thought I had read The Betsy-Tacy Companion several years ago when I was reading through the Betsy-Tacy high school years for the first time, but when I picked it up for the Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge I quickly realized I had not. Perhaps I just flipped through the book and looked at the pictures? At any rate this was my first time reading about the life of Maud Hart Lovelace and how closely it was tied with her alter-ego, Elizabeth (Betsy) Warrington Ray.

At 514 pages The Betsy-Tacy Companion is chocked full of details, pictures, and sketches about Maud, her life in Minnesota and elsewhere, and of course the people, places and events within the Betsy-Tacy series. Of course this is probably much more than the average reader would care to know, but for me a life long fan of the series, I found it absolutely fascinating.

Most of the notes I made while reading I have compiled in a final Maud Hart Lovelace Reading Challenge post which will appear later this week, but for now I have just a few thoughts I want to mention.

Learning more about Maud not only strengthened my love for her books, but also my opinion of her as an author and a person. Like any of us, Maud wasn't perfect, but from all accounts she appears to have been a loving and intelligent woman, who had a strong faith in God.

Towards the end of the biography Mrs. Whalen includes an excerpt from an article that Maud wrote about prayer. I'm including a quote from it here because I think it is an excellent example of who Maud was and what she believed:

"I believe in praying as I believe in breathing. An involuntary procedure, prayer runs along with the day, following the convolutions of work and play, duties, problems, and delights... It is my way to turn to God at any hour, with a small joy as well as with a sorrow, with plans, hopes, thanks - even wishes. Not that I expect Him to stay the course of the planets while He grants my often misguided petitions. But since He is love and is everything, 'nearer than hands and feet,' one may share everything with Him, and there is a blessed release in doing so. What He gives, I earnestly believe, in response to such spontaneous prayers, is strength, insight, appreciations, serenity, but above all a continuing reassurance of His presence..."

In addition to this example of her faith, I found numerous examples of Maud displaying love and kindness to her family, friends and even her fans! Case in point, at one time late in her life Maud considered writing a memoir Living with Writing, but "between answering her ever-arriving fan mail and the many interests she and Delos pursued together, Maud never completed another book." (TBTC, Chap. 14, pg. 475)

Initially I was disappointed to know that Maud had started, but didn't finish a book of memoirs. What rich reading they would have made! But then I realized two things, first as The Betsy-Tacy Companion subtly reveals, the Betsy-Tacy series was in a way her memoirs. Second, I think it says a lot about Maud that she would take the time not only to spend each day with those she loved, but to take the time to respond to those who loved her books. What a treasure those letters must have been to the readers who received them. I wish I had had such a chance.

In closing I want to add the following. The Betsy-Tacy Companion is not for everyone, but it is definitely a fun and extremely interesting read for those who have read and loved Maud's books. I particularly enjoyed getting a closer look at her relationship with Delos -- the real life Betsy and Joe and finding the "Then What Happened" part of Maud/Betsy's story post-Betsy's Wedding.

My only regret in reading and enjoying The Betsy-Tacy Companion so much is that it is not readily available. Published nearly 15 years ago it has fallen out of print and is only available in the form of expensive used copies. Of course I checked with my local libraries, but the only copy they had was listed as "reference" and thus could not be checked out! In the end I was fortunate enough to find a copy at a library near my husband's work that he could borrow for me. All that to say, don't give up if your library doesn't have a copy, or the only copy is catalogued as "reference." Check the ILL system or other libraries within your state.

On the Incarnation by Saint Athanasius

On the Incarnation was one of two books selected for the May meeting of my book club. Unfortunately I never got around to finishing the second book (Confessions by Saint Augustine), but it remains on my list of books to finish! (Yes, right there with Milton's Paradise Lost.) But I digress. What is important is that I did finish one of the two books. 

On the Incarnation is a little book (97 pages) written by Athanasius, a Greek theologian who lived in the late 3rd and into the early 4th centuries. Athanasius penned On the Incarnation when he was only 19 years old. His purpose was to defend the Biblical truth of the trinity against the heresies that were being spread around the World, and in particular by named Arius.

In spite of the fact this book was written nearly 1,700 years ago it has been translated well and makes for an fast and fairly easy read. Athanasius' writing style is almost poetic and his thoughts and views are interesting and as applicable to readers today as they were in the 4th century. In my opinion, On the Incarnation is a true classic, a must read that should be included in every readers' bucket list of "books to read before I die." If you read Plato, you should be sure to read Athanasius. And if that isn't enough to convince you, maybe this will. Fans of C. S. Lewis may be interested to know that he was an admirer of Athanasius' works, including On the Incarnation, which in turn impacted some of Lewis' own writings. Lewis wrote an introduction for On the Incarnation, but readers should pay attention if purchasing the book as not all printings include this introduction.

On a scale of 1 to 5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate On the Incarnation a 4.5. It's a worthy read. Those unwilling to take the leap and purchase a copy for themselves can read the book in its entirety at Spurgeon.org.

Spring 2009 Library Hospital/Reading to Know Book Swap

It's once again that time -- time for the next book swap co-hosted by yours truly at A Library is a Hospital for the Mind and Carrie at Reading to Know.

The goal of the swap? To share much loved books with new found friends. During our Autumn book swap we invited participants to share an all-time favorite book with their swap-match. Then in the Winter swap participants shared their favorite children's book. This time around our theme is Non-fiction books (i.e. non-fiction, biographical, history, etc.) **NOTE: Participants should try to keep the books from being too dry or tome-like. Non-fiction can be fun to read and this is a great way to share a book you've read and enjoyed with another reader.

The Rules:
1. You should only sign up to participate in the book swap if you are actually willing to follow the rules. This means you are willing and able to respond within the set time-limits for the swap.
2. Once you sign up you will be matched with another participant. You initiate or respond to communications from your match concerning the books you will swap.
3. You must contact/respond to your match within one week of the sign-up ending and your match being made. You must have your book shipped to your match before the end of June.
4. You will select your favorite non-fiction book and mail it to your match and they will do likewise. Books can be mailed directly from an online source (i.e. Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Borders, etc.) or purchased at a store and then mailed personally by the participant.
5. Books should be in Excellent, Like New, or New condition unless you and your match agree to another condition. **Please note** We are not expecting you to give away your only copy, but to pick your book to swap and then go get a new copy (or if out of print, a copy in good or like new condition) and send that to your match.
6. Book swaps are permanent unless you and your match agree to another arrangement.
7. Only the first 50 participants will be included in the swap. If this swap is successful we may increase the number for future swaps.

How to join in? Come back on the 29th of May and link your blog up to the Mr. Linky we will be providing. Sign up will remain open for approximately 1 week (through June 6th) or until the first 50 participants are signed up, whichever comes first. So spread the word and be sure to check back here Friday, May 29.

In the meantime, spread the word! We invite you to copy our Book swap button and use it to link to this book swap from your blog.

If you have questions, please leave a comment and Carrie or I will get back to you as soon as possible.

(To view previous swaps please click on the Book Swap label.)

Reading Lolita in Tehran: A Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi

I must admit that before last month's book club meeting I'd never heard of Reading Lolita in Tehran, even though it has remained on the New York Times bestseller list since it was first published in 2003. At the last book club meeting the group decided to pick three books to read before our next meeting (in April). Although widely different in their subject matter all three of the books involve the Middle East or Islamic and Muslim cultures. It was decided that members of the book club could read all three books, any two of the books, or even just one depending on their tastes and how many time allowed. The three books chosen were: Now They Call Me Infidel, Three Cups of Tea, and Reading Lolita in Tehran. I selected Reading Lolita in Tehran for two reasons, first because it was easily accessible at my local library and second, because the idea of women in another culture studying Western literature and discussing it in a classroom or book club setting sounded interesting. And it was...

From the Publisher:
We all have dreams—things we fantasize about doing and generally never get around to. This is the story of Azar Nafisi’s dream and of the nightmare that made it come true.

For two years before she left Iran in 1997, Nafisi gathered seven young women at her house every Thursday morning to read and discuss forbidden works of Western literature. They were all former students whom she had taught at university. Some came from conservative and religious families, others were progressive and secular; several had spent time in jail. They were shy and uncomfortable at first, unaccustomed to being asked to speak their minds, but soon they began to open up and to speak more freely, not only about the novels they were reading but also about themselves, their dreams and disappointments. Their stories intertwined with those they were reading—Pride and Prejudice, Washington Square, Daisy Miller and Lolita—their Lolita, as they imagined her in Tehran.

Nafisi’s account flashes back to the early days of the revolution, when she first started teaching at the University of Tehran amid the swirl of protests and demonstrations. In those frenetic days, the students took control of the university, expelled faculty members and purged the curriculum. When a radical Islamist in Nafisi’s class questioned her decision to teach The Great Gatsby, which he saw as an immoral work that preached falsehoods of “the Great Satan,” she decided to let him put Gatsby on trial and stood as the sole witness for the defense.

Azar Nafisi’s luminous tale offers a fascinating portrait of the Iran-Iraq war viewed from Tehran and gives us a rare glimpse, from the inside, of women’s lives in revolutionary Iran. It is a work of great passion and poetic beauty, written with a startlingly original voice.

My thoughts
For the most part I enjoyed Reading Lolita in Tehran, but it was a difficult book to read. Even though it was only 347 pages it took me over two weeks to finish it.

When I began Reading Lolita in Tehran I expected a book that would teach me more about 19th and 20th century classics as seen through the eyes of women from another culture, but I was in for a surprise. Yes, I did learn more about the classics discussed (incidentally all of which, with the one exclusion of Pride and Prejudice, I've never read). Through her memoir Nafisi and her students do a great job of dissecting the novels and getting inside the characters and authors minds, not that I always agreed with them, but what I didn't expect was to come away knowing so much more about Iran as a country and the Islamic culture during the late 1970s through the mid 1990s.

But as I mentioned the book was a difficult read. For starters, this is no fictional work. It is a memoir and reads like a memoir. At times I found myself bored, but I pushed on and was rewarded as the boring parts are limited. The Islamic culture itself was difficult to read about because it is a depressing world where morals are upside down, where women are suppressed and punished for being women, and where citizens are forbidden their God-given unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Last, and because I knew nothing about so many of the books discussed, the information contained in Reading Lolita in Tehran was a lot to take in. I think it might have been easier had I read the works before reading a memoir where the works are discussed in such detail and in contrast to a culture that is so different from my own.

That said, Reading Lolita in Tehran remains an interesting book and I'm glad I read it, but I'm also glad I'm done reading it. I am looking forward to discussing it with the other women in my book club. On a scale of 1-5, 1 being horrible and 5 being excellent I would rate it a 3. It was ok, but not one I plan to re-read or purchase for my library. I'd advise interested readers to borrow a copy from their local library.

Don't Make Me Count to Three! by Ginger Plowman

Stepping out of the normal genre reviewed at A Library is a Hospital for the Mind, Don't Make Me Count to Three! is a non-fiction parenting book for mothers. As a disclaimer, I admit I am generally not a fan of parenting books or advice books. I find so many of current parenting, advice, or even devotional books tend to be of little help. Often times the author comes across as bossy and superior, shallow, or downright bizarre. But every now and then I come across a book that reaches to me where I am for that moment.

You might say Don't Make Me Count to Three! happened along at just the right moment. I was lent a copy by a friend and young mother, who in turn had picked it up upon the recommendation of a mutual friend and mother of ten. I have a lot of respect for the mother of ten and thought I'd give the book a chance.

The author, Ginger Plowman is a mother of two and the founder of Preparing the Way Ministries, which focuses on encouraging and counseling women on a number of topics, including parenting. I don't know Mrs. Plowman or her ministry personally, but from my brief encounter with her through this book and a little online research, it appears she is a woman who has a true relationship with God and seeks to follow His counsel as laid out in the Holy Bible.

Don't Make Me Count to Three! specifically focuses on parenting from the mother's perspective. The subtitle of the book is: "A Mom's Look at Heart-Oriented Discipline" which is the main focus of this book. While Plowman does address various parenting styles, including the infamous "Don't make count to three!" and "Wait till we get home!" her goal is to help guide mothers towards a parenting style that puts an end to threats, repetition of commands, and the raising of voices and instead apply scripture in a practical way to training children.

As part of this book Plowman does discuss spanking, and is pro-spanking, but she clearly details what she believes are the boundaries of both scripturally, physically, and emotionally appropriate spanking. However, spanking is not the emphasis of her training and even anti-spanking parents should be able to glean helpful advice from this book. What is emphasized is the parent taking time to work with each child to teach them what God expects and instructs them to do and how to put those instructions into action through proper behavior, attitudes, outlook, and speech.

While not all parents will agree with everything Mrs. Plowman shares I found that her advice and counsel was logical (i.e. well-balanced) and founded on scripture. Overall I did enjoy the book. As a reader, I found the writing style easy to read and the chapters simple, but stocked full of information. This is one of those books that ends up more as a reference than a one-time read. On a personal level I found Plowman's advice as encouragement to me as a mother. I don't want my toddler to just act right, I want her to desire to do right as she grows older. I want to be able to interact with her -- to talk and listen -- and really get to know her as a person. And yes, that means not threatening, repeating myself, or raising my voice. Most of all I want her to be obedient to her parents and to God.

On that note, I want to point out that this book is for any parent interested in help with training and discipline, but there isn't a lot of detailed advice for parents of really young children. While there are some great tips for practicing while the child is young (i.e. teaching them to come when they are called, the first time, etc.) most of the instruction is aimed at parents of children 2 years and older -- in other words, children who are able to verbally interact with their parents. But this shouldn't discourage mothers from reading this book, as I said, there are some great tips that can be used for toddlers and the rest can be filed away and referenced as needed.

On a scale of 1 to 5 I'd rate this book a 4. I liked it and I thought it was solid, helpful, and encouraging to parents. Mrs. Plowman comes across as a real mother and very down to earth, not at all preachy or superior. It is doubtful that every library has a copy, but used copies are available for less than $8 on Amazon.

I should also note that fans of Ted Tripp's Shepherding a Child's Heart may find Don't Make Me Count to Three! of particular interest since Mrs. Plowman does include a couple quotes by Tripp. Although I have not Shepherding a Child's Heart I have not heard much, if any, negative feedback.

Queen Victoria by Noel Streatfeild

I don't remember what sparked my interest, but last autumn my friend Alison and I both watched the film, Victoria & Albert, a biographical movie about the life and love of the United Kingdom's Queen Victoria. The movie was very well made and the story very interesting. Alison, curious to learn more about Queen Victoria asked a used book seller she knows for a recommendation on a biography.... the result was Queen Victoria by Noel Streatfeild published in 1958.

While there may be other superior biographical works on the Queen's life, Ms. Streatfeild's work remains a worthwhile read. It is interesting, factual (sources were primary, including the Queen's personal diaries), and reads like a novel, which in my opinion is a good thing. It's also a fairly quick read at 180 pages.

The book opens with the birth of Alexandrina Victoria, Princess Royal and the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent. Born into a family who had no expectations of her ever becoming Queen, Victoria ended up ascending the throne at the young age of 18 and spent over 63 years ruling the United Kingdom. Queen Victoria ends with the death of Victoria. The text in between her birth and death contains much about her life, love, family and the life and times of England during the mid to late 19th century. I found the latter especially intriguing as the timeline of her life and ruling coincides with many classical authors, including Charles Dickens, Lewis Carroll, Wilkie Collins, Elizabeth Gaskell, and Anthony Trollope just to name a few.

Because it is out of print Queen Victoria may be a difficult book to locate (I bought mine through Alibris.com), but if you have access to a copy I encourage you to read it. Victoria is a fascinating person and impacted so much of our world history. But the story of Victoria is more than history -- it is a fairy tale; it is a romance; it is the story of a passionate young girl who grew up to be a devoutly religious woman and a good Queen. At times she was misunderstood and at times she made mistakes, but ultimately she was loved and respected. I thoroughly enjoyed Queen Victoria and am interested in learning more of the era when she ruled.

As a side note, the author, Noel Streatfield is the same author of the "Shoes books": Ballet Shoes, Theatre Shoes, Skating Shoes, etc. Ms. Streatfeild wrote most of her books between the 1930s and 1950s. Her "Shoes books" are mentioned by Meg Ryan's character in the film, You've Got Mail, which I admit, was the first time I had heard of the books and their author. On further research I find that four of her "Shoes books" are currently available in paperback at almost any book store and it appears more of the series will be reprinted in the upcoming years. I'm glad of this because I like Ms. Streatfeild's writing and am hoping to read some of her fictinal works in the near future.

On a further side note, I recently learned that in addition to her biography of Queen Victoria, Noel Streatfeild also wrote a biography and critical analysis of E. Nesbit titled, Magic and the Magician. As you may recall, E. Nesbit is the author of The Enchanted Castle, which I reviewed here.

Marley & Me by John Grogan

Let me preface this review by stating a fact. I am not a dog-lover. That is to say, I like dogs... just other people's dogs. The only dog I can claim any degree of ownership of was our family dog, Muffin. Muffin came into my life when I was two and lived with our family until I was twelve. Although I am not a dog-lover I cried the day she died. She was a good dog, not a perfect dog, but certainly not the world's worst dog.

No, that title falls to the golden Labrador retriever named Marley in the book Marley & Me: Life and Love with the World's Worst Dog. Published in 2005, Marley and Me is the true story of newspaper columnist John Grogan's dog, Marley. The book is more than a story about a dog, it's the story about a dog and his family.

The book begins when John and his wife Jenny are newlyweds living in Florida and considering getting their first dog together. They find a spirited and completely adorable yellow lab and it's love at first sight. John and Jenny have dreams of what their life will be with this new dog and how he will fit into their lives and later be a part of their family when they have children. But when Marley comes home all those dreams change. Marley is "wild as a banshee and as strong as a bull..." the "chewer of couches, a slasher of screens, a slinger of drool, a tipper of trash cans..."

Marley and Me is fun and fast-paced to read. The book is woven with all the threads of life, the highs and the lows; the comedy, tragedy, and the in between normal day-to-day moments. My sister, a dog lover, recommended this book to me on the merits that it was almost as funny as James Herriot's works. I have to agree, this book, while no Herriot tale, is still a very funny book.

One note to the potential reader: Grogan does use some mild to moderate language in the book, which did make me cringe and would probably warrant a PG-13 rating if the book was a movie. Also, there are several references to sex, but (all but once) within the state of marriage and nothing is obscene. Rather, most references are related in humor and tastefully written. However, I felt a warning necessary for some readers.

I picked up a copy of Marley & Me from my local library. Most readers should not have any difficulty finding this book as it will be released as a motion picture this Christmas starring Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson. I'm excited about this and plan to watch the movie... although I'm certain Hollywood will have changed a lot, which is often the case when books convert to the screen.

On second thoughts, because the book is coming out as a movie next month the reader may have some difficulty finding an available copy at their local library, but only because there may be a waiting list, as was the case with one library I checked.

The copy I read was 291 pages (including Author's Acknowledgements) and took me three days to finish. While this book isn't likely to be a read-aloud to your kids, you may find yourself laughing out loud or even wanting to read sections to your spouse. At least, I did. And as a side note, my favorite was the part where Grogan has dressed his son in an upside down "onesie." The choice of words paints a vivid and hilarious picture. I laughed so hard I actually shed a few tears.

And then there were the tears of sadness too. Reading of Marley did bring back some childhood memories of our dog, Muffin. So even though I am not a dog-lover, I still could identify with this book. I think anyone who has had any interaction with a dog -- their own or someone else's --will find this book "a good read."

The Mother Tongue: English & How It Got That Way by Bill Bryson

The Mother Tongue: English & How It Got That Way by Bill Bryson did not discuss everything I expected from the title, though pretty close. But then, I guess my expectations were a little off.

What I expected was a book about the development of the English language as well as varying dialects and accents. What I read was close, but in my opinion Bryson focused more heavily on some areas and scrimped on others. I would have liked more focus on ancient language (ignoring the neanderthal part), but since little was recorded perhaps he did the best with what he had.
Also, as far as accents -- I'm still puzzled how natives to the southern states of the USA came up with such a strong drawl whereas natives to the north have such nasally accents. Bryson only hints at the possibilities -- I'd love to learn more. My personal guess has something to do with the extreme heat in the south. Who would have the energy to talk fast in the days before air conditioning? But I digress...

Bryson begins The Mother Tongue with a focus on language in the world as a whole and then steps back to the beginning of language (from a secular point of view) before moving on through history and eventually reaching the present and future of English by the end of the book. Mixed in are chapters focusing on the history of names, swearing, and word play (i.e. cross word puzzles, rebuses, and other such puzzles).

My favorite chapter was Chapter 5 "Where Words come From" -- I loved learning things like "And there's a word for describing a sudden breaking off of thought: aposiopesis..." Did you know that for 200 years the word Asparagus was called "sparrow grass"? And another little fact is that researchers believe 1/10th of Shakespeare's 17,677 words (written in English)were original/created by him. Words like: barefaced, leapfrog, critical, majestic were not in the English language prior to his plays/sonnets. Hard to believe! But Bryson goes on to list additional words originated to and coined by famous people including Sir Thomas Moore, George Bernard Shaw, and even Charles Dickens -- some that caught on, some that did not.

Another little tidbit I learned has to do with the word "neck" -- it used to mean a parcel of land, but has died out as such except for the phrase "neck of the woods." Another word: "tell" meant "to count", but died out as such except for the term "bank teller". I could go on and on listing trivia I picked up from this book, but you would be better off reading it yourself.

I have seen a few reviews by readers that claim The Mother Tongue is a better book than the very popular Eat Shoots and Leaves, but since I have not read the latter I can not pass judgment. I can say overall The Mother Tongue, at 245 pages, is a fast and extremely fascinating read.

I have learned my understanding of language, even though it is better than the average American, is still on the limited side. And yes, a well-read person can have an even better vocabulary and understanding of the English language than an educated person, it just depends on how well-read you really are. (So keep on reading!) Also, I realized it's been far too long since I've picked up a dictionary (if I need to check a word I utilize online versions, but I don't read dictionaries for fun).

The copy of Bryson's book I borrowed from the library is a little dated (published first in 1990) with mentions of statistics now nearly twenty years old and current facts that are long now history. I'm not sure if reprints have updated this, but even if they haven't the book isn't a waste, it's just something that readers may notice.

In a nutshell: If you are interested in learning the basic history of the English language -- how we got from Medieval times and Shakespeare to where we are today, or if you are into trivia -- this book is a worthwhile read. Unless you are a fanatic for language I'd suggest borrowing a copy of this book rather than buying it. I don't think it's a necessary addition to your library like a dictionary is.

As a post script, chapters you may consider skipping or skimming would include: Chapter 2, "The Dawn of Language" (About neanderthal and primitive man's language. Pointless to those with a Creationist or Biblical worldview.) and Chapter 14,"Swearing" (Unless you either have a morbid curiosity to learn the history of both the vulgar and the not so vulgar [At one time "legs" was taboo, but "limbs" was ok.] or you plan to travel abroad and the knowledge of what is ok in in the US, but not in other places then might prove helpful.