Friday, September 10, 2010
SHEgo by Tania Zaverta Chance
I was intrigued by the author's daring experiment of not naming one character in the story and, in my opinion, she pulled it off. And it's an appropriate tactic when the reader considers the early self-absorption of the narrator, her main character. In the first few chapters, I laughed at the narrator's sassy attitude about everyone and everything. Then I sensed unnerving shadows lurking about, like the darkness behind the door of a partly open closet or the unclear bottom of a basement stairway. I actually began to feel fear at the intimacy of being so much inside the mind of someone whose sanity I began to doubt. The author uses unusual strategies that reveal some of the main character's flaws; for example, the narrator, someone I'd definitely call an antihero, is highly educated and frequently calls it to the reader's attention, yet tramples on language usage as easily as she tramples on the feelings of other people. Also, jumping in and out of other characters' minds, an omniscient approach frowned on in beginning writing classes, gives the reader relief from the sarcastic and angry voice of the main character and the opportunity to gauge what's really going on. The dark humor running through the story helps balance the uncertainty of what will happen to this person, or what she will cause to happen. Despite almost continued anxiety as I read, I enjoyed the book and recommend it.
Sunday, August 1, 2010
Recognition for Stronghold!
Stronghold, recommended for readers from 9 to 12 years of age, is a story that combines a boy’s grief, archaeology and the magic of imagination, was inspired by the author’s children when they built forts in the trees near their home, and by the discovery of Anasazi ruins under their home town. Stronghold’s hero, thirteen-year-old Joe Aberdeen finds himself in the middle of a dangerous adventure when he discovers looters in the act of pillaging.
More at: http://peacecorpsworldwide.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
"We Are Still Here," American Indians in the Twentieth Century
Available at http://www.amazon.com/Peter-Iverson and other stores and libraries.
We Are Still Here is now one of my most valued books and Iverson a writer/teacher I highly respect for his scholarship and presentation.
More later. I'm still reading.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Henry and Anthony by H. Lynn Beck
Henry and Anthony is a charming novel about friendship and loyalty. Henry is a Canada goose, Anthony a lost homing pigeon. They have unusual adventures. Henry grows up on a university campus where he experiments with speed flight, a skill that he uses in future challenges as he travels the world with a small gaggle of friends.
On one level Henry and Anthony is a children's story, although, as such, illustrations would have helped kids understand more of the humor and insights. The photographs at the end of the book help somewhat. It's evident that H. Lynn Beck really knows geese. We own a family of geese; I found myself nodding frequently at his descriptions of their behavior. I read the first few pages to my grandson and he interrupted several times to say, "Hey, our goose Chip does that!" or "That's just like Chip's and Lady's goslings!"
On a deeper level, I consider the story an allegory about a youth facing and overcoming challenges, from physical to social to spiritual. Henry loses a foot in an accident, but pursues an inner drive to discover his purpose in life; he spends time with a flock of geese who become intoxicated from strange berries near a highway and create havoc, and as a result he learns a lesson in choosing his friends wisely.
I admit I was put off at first by the devotion of the Henry and his parents to The Great Goose. I thought, oh this is going to be a sermon in disguise. However, Beck blends the religious faith of Henry's family with the wider view of a society of both believers and non-believers (whether human or geese, ducks or pigeons). The author treats all his characters with the equanimity of a person who sincerely cares about others.
The clear writing style makes it easy to read aloud to children (or silently to oneself as well). I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys animal stories and allegories.
On one level Henry and Anthony is a children's story, although, as such, illustrations would have helped kids understand more of the humor and insights. The photographs at the end of the book help somewhat. It's evident that H. Lynn Beck really knows geese. We own a family of geese; I found myself nodding frequently at his descriptions of their behavior. I read the first few pages to my grandson and he interrupted several times to say, "Hey, our goose Chip does that!" or "That's just like Chip's and Lady's goslings!"
On a deeper level, I consider the story an allegory about a youth facing and overcoming challenges, from physical to social to spiritual. Henry loses a foot in an accident, but pursues an inner drive to discover his purpose in life; he spends time with a flock of geese who become intoxicated from strange berries near a highway and create havoc, and as a result he learns a lesson in choosing his friends wisely.
I admit I was put off at first by the devotion of the Henry and his parents to The Great Goose. I thought, oh this is going to be a sermon in disguise. However, Beck blends the religious faith of Henry's family with the wider view of a society of both believers and non-believers (whether human or geese, ducks or pigeons). The author treats all his characters with the equanimity of a person who sincerely cares about others.
The clear writing style makes it easy to read aloud to children (or silently to oneself as well). I highly recommend this book to anyone who enjoys animal stories and allegories.
SHARE THIS! by Deanna Zandt
After I read (and immensely enjoyed) Deanna Zandt's new book, Share This!, I wondered if I'd made the wrong decision to deactivate my Facebook and Twitter accounts. They provided interesting windows to the world beyond my own, but I wasn't sure how useful they were. I bought Share This! to educate myself about what social networking is really all about.
Zandt's book doesn't explain how to use Facebook, Twitter, blogs, forums, etc. (that's what tutorials are for); instead she focuses on, as her subtitle says, " How You Will Change the World with Social Networking." This is a book about impacting change. For the first time in history, we all can have a say. No longer are we merely a massive ear for privileged voices, those empowered by government, corporations and the news and advertising media; these voices, whether by accident or intention, limit our knowledge and therefore shape our opinions to suit someone else's agenda. However, with electronic media at our fingertips, our information range is broadened on a horizontal level--we can learn from each other, and, through online communities and even independent blogs, we can be heard. That's potential power to move mountains, or at least move people to demand solutions to oil spills.
But we're new at this; most of us are still used to thinking of ourselves as powerless, isolated individuals. ("I'm just one person. What can I do?") According to the author, that's about to change and already is changing here and there. She cites examples of communities affecting and effecting local political and educational policies. Someone throws a pebble in the cyber pond of information and opinions, and the ripples get noticed; soon there's more pebble-tossing until the whole pond is churning with ideas.
Throughout the book, Zandt emphasizes the necessity of building trust if we, the people, realize that by taking the reins of this new power horse, we CAN form a more perfect union and secure the blessings of liberty. Trust, according to the author, involves being as open about our identity as we are comfortable with, being open with our opinions and being unafraid to change our minds as we learn more about ourselves and each other. As Deanna Zandt points out, "It's impossible to tackle deep-seated social injustices without understanding the beliefs of those who oppose fixing those injustices, and the Internet provides that opportunity."
Maybe I will reactivate my Facebook and Twitter memberships.
Zandt's book doesn't explain how to use Facebook, Twitter, blogs, forums, etc. (that's what tutorials are for); instead she focuses on, as her subtitle says, " How You Will Change the World with Social Networking." This is a book about impacting change. For the first time in history, we all can have a say. No longer are we merely a massive ear for privileged voices, those empowered by government, corporations and the news and advertising media; these voices, whether by accident or intention, limit our knowledge and therefore shape our opinions to suit someone else's agenda. However, with electronic media at our fingertips, our information range is broadened on a horizontal level--we can learn from each other, and, through online communities and even independent blogs, we can be heard. That's potential power to move mountains, or at least move people to demand solutions to oil spills.
But we're new at this; most of us are still used to thinking of ourselves as powerless, isolated individuals. ("I'm just one person. What can I do?") According to the author, that's about to change and already is changing here and there. She cites examples of communities affecting and effecting local political and educational policies. Someone throws a pebble in the cyber pond of information and opinions, and the ripples get noticed; soon there's more pebble-tossing until the whole pond is churning with ideas.
Throughout the book, Zandt emphasizes the necessity of building trust if we, the people, realize that by taking the reins of this new power horse, we CAN form a more perfect union and secure the blessings of liberty. Trust, according to the author, involves being as open about our identity as we are comfortable with, being open with our opinions and being unafraid to change our minds as we learn more about ourselves and each other. As Deanna Zandt points out, "It's impossible to tackle deep-seated social injustices without understanding the beliefs of those who oppose fixing those injustices, and the Internet provides that opportunity."
Maybe I will reactivate my Facebook and Twitter memberships.
Monday, May 31, 2010
"Business Deal" by Nathaniel West
This short story by novelist and screenwriter, Nathaniel West, is too, too funny. It's about a financial tug of war between a screenplay writer and a film producer. I'm going to look for more works by West!
http://storyoftheweek.loa.org/2010/05/business-deal.html
http://storyoftheweek.loa.org/2010/05/business-deal.html
Tuesday, May 18, 2010
The Lone Ranger and Tonto Fist Fight in Heaven by Sherman Alexie
Sherman Alexie, a Spokane/Coeur d'Alene Indian, wrote this powerful collection of stories and the screenplay, Smoke Signals, based on the book. When the movie first came out, I watched it with some Navajo friends and, at one level, we laughed heartily at such scenes as the reservation weather and traffic report; at the deeper level we were silent. Ideas can send one into quiet zones.
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