Book Club, Just for Fun, and a New Hobby

Moloka'i by Alan Brennert
We read this novel for book club, and I was floored by the depth of the story. The novel begins in the late 1800s, when Hawaii was still independent, and not yet a part of the United States. However, due to contact with foreigners and foreign diseases, Hawaiians were getting sick from bacteria that was no longer affecting the American population. One of these diseases was Leprosy (now called Hansen's Disease).

The story is historical fiction about a the life of a Hawaiian woman, Rachel, who is diagnosed with as a child with Leprosy. In order to limit exposure, inflicted individuals are treated for a period of time to try to eradicate the bacteria. If not successful (it often was not), the patient was sent to the island of Moloka'i in an effort to isolate the disease from the rest of the population. An official discovers Rachel's red rash at the age of seven. After unsuccessful treatment at the local hospital, she is sent to Moloka'i. Communication with her family is severed, although her father still maintains contact throughout the rest of his life. She is not alone on the island, as all girls and young women are required to live in the grounds monitored by nuns. She also has a favorite uncle who was sent to the island years earlier.

What I found so incredible about this novel, is that the story is true - people with Leprosy were sent away, essentially to die. So few were ever cured, that the island was full of graves for those lost. But the most fascinating part to me, was that despite the disease, people were able to find joy and make a complete life on the island. Rachel took up surfing, fell in love, made great friends, became a mother, and lived through the deaths of many others. This story even talks about the bombing of Pearl Harbor and the dark part of US history where Japanese Americans were sent to internment camps. I enjoyed the juxtaposition of ancient Hawaiian ancestors/religion compared to Catholicism. And the bond between friends and foster families was so touching.

I highly recommend this book, as a triumph of the spirit and the body against great odds.


Pretty in Plaid by Jen Lancaster
I have read several of Jen's books, and have always enjoyed her spunky style. If I wrote a memoir of my life, it would probably come off like her books. Small stories added together to create a whole persona. However, I had gotten tired of her shallow tales after the last book, so I've been on hiatus for a few months.

This book was unique though, in that each chapter was centered around an article of clothing that marked the event in her life. I love how she started with childhood and went into her early 40s with the book.

This is a fun read, but I preferred her other books more. The shock of her frank attitude is so fresh upon first discovering her books!


Birds of North America by Jeffrey Glassberg, Sheri Williamson, and Tom Wood
I have decided I wanted to start a new hobby. For the last few months I've been joking with Kevin about starting to bird watch. We even had a few spectacular sightings in the evenings last fall of a Hairy Woodpecker and a Barred Owl. So I am deeming myself a new "birder" and want to start this hobby in earnest! I checked out a book that looked like a good beginner guide to learn about bird groups, migratory paths, bird behavior, and the basics of identification.

This book had great photos and was good in that it didn't have pictures of every single kind of bird in North America. It covered all bird groups, but focused on a few images of birds within the category. Now I feel like I know what I'm looking for when I'm spying in the trees. I am now looking forward to a field guide with a bit more detail on all species, and there are many books available. I think I'm going to like looking for owls best, they are so elusive and I remember the thrill of hearing owls and dissecting owl pellets as a child at camp. I've also been mulling over where we could put a feeder that would draw birds but not our local squirrels or the outdoor cats.

Wench

I just finished reading Wench by Dolen Perkins-Valdez. I loved that this book told the story of the Underground Railroad, such a fascinating and sad time in our nation's history. USA Today heralded this novel as intriguing as The Help, which I didn't find to be the case. It didn't pull me in with as much reckless abandon - I was able to put it down, but did read it in a week. I enjoyed reading from the slave woman's point of view. When I was in eighth grade, I did a project on the Underground Railroad in Ohio. This novel took place in Ohio and Tennessee, and felt very familiar to what I read years ago. It was a work of fiction, but I love how the author took the facts of a true time in history, and a true location, as well as how the vacation spot of Tawanda House fit into history. Perkins-Valdez did a really nice job weaving a fictional story into facts.
As is to be expected, this story was filled with rapes, which were somewhat graphic and difficult to read.

One concept I found particularly striking was how the masters viewed the children from couplings with their slave mistresses. These children were recognized as blood relatives of the master, but were property before they were thought of as family. I can't imagine being able to make this distinction in one's mind.

Long awaited book reviews

I have been busy wrapping up the publication for Junior League, so I haven't been able to get my post updated as quickly as I hoped. I thought it might be best to do a few sentences on each of the queued up books.

Books from 2010:

Be Pretty, Get Married, and Always Drink Tab - Gigi Anders ~ C
This book had a lot of promise, as I love memoirs and enjoy learning about other cultures. I was surprised how deep the story became, but I didn't feel a connection with the main character.

Eat, Pray, Love - Elizabeth Gilbert ~ C
Everyone was talking about this book and movie last year. This one felt like it was overrated. I read another book by Gilbert, Committed, and was a bit disappointed by that one as well. I think my problem is that the author is so unlike me. Although I have moments of doubt, I have never felt so lost or fearless. I read the book while in India, hoping to reach some enlightenment over the yoga sections. I was able to see the movie on the flight back to the US, and felt it was uninspired.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - Stieg Larsson ~ B
I don't normally read mysteries, but this was a fantastic story! I read this for book club. I have never had as strong of a reaction as I did to the violent sex scene between The Girl and her case worker. I literally felt sick, had to stop reading, and asked for water from the flight attendant since I was stuck hundreds of miles in the air.

The Road - Cormac McCarthy ~ B+
I haven't been able to shake this book from my mind for the last few months. The subject of the story, a post apocalypse world, is so disturbing, the "others" are so horrendous that I often find my mind wandering when I'm home alone. This story reminds me a lot of the movie I Am Legend which creeped me out for weeks.

Eclipse - Stephanie Meyer ~ B-
I still think the first book is the best in the Twilight series, but these are good books for beach reads.

Kabul Beauty School - Deborah Rodriguez ~ B+
I loved this memoir. The author has a great voice and she accomplished amazing things, in the face of great adversity. A hairdresser is sent to Afghanistan to support international volunteers. She ends up helping the women of Kabul learn hairdressing skills by opening a beauty school which taught many women to become self sufficient. The hardships she suffers come alive through her vibrant language and wide cast of characters.

Books from 2011:

Their Eyes were Watching God - Zora Neale Hurston (Time book!) ~ B-
The first two thirds of this book were pretty dull to me, I had read more impactful novels from Toni Morrison. However, the last portion of the book was fantastic, with the flood of biblical proportions. Most of the characters didn't resonate with me as I had hoped they would. I didn't understand why the main character did so most things she did. But I can see why this novel was on the Time list, and enjoyed the latter portion of the story immensely.

The Hunger Games - Suzanne Collins ~ A-
This is a great story, addictive in the way Harry Potter and the Twilight series are, but the topic was so dark. It was about humans, not wizards, vampires, and werewolves. The story is set in post war dystopia America, with a dictator government. Children from each district are selected to compete against each other in war zone. The goal is for one child to emerge a winner and as the only survivor. I'm looking forward to reading the other books in this series.

The 19th Wife - David Ebershoff ~ A-
This is another book club book. Polygamy has always fascinated me. I love watching Big Love and Sister Wives. I thought the story did a great job fictionalizing Ann Eliza's life, the famed 19th wife of Brigham Young. And the juxtaposition with a modern day 19th wife, as told by her gay son, was a good comparison. I cannot wrap my mind around why a woman would buy into this type of religion or society. It amazes me what the woman gives up, and what the man gains in return. The misogynistic culture is that is not self sustaining. Population needs men and women to procreate, but boys get kicked out by their fathers when they reach puberty and become competition (and a threat). I really recommend this book, it's a great read and definitely thought provoking.