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.

Recognition for Stronghold!

PEACE CORPS WRITERS is pleased to announce that Stronghold by Terri McIntyre (Pakistan 1963–65) has won the 2010 Award  for the Outstanding Children’s Book published by a Peace Corps writer during 2009. McIntyre will receive a framed certificate and a prize of $200.

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.org/pc-writers/2010/07/28/2010-childrens-award-mcintyre/
 

"We Are Still Here," American Indians in the Twentieth Century

by Peter Iverson.

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.

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.

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.

"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

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.

Tenderfoot by Mary E. Trimble

Tenderfoot is a finely written strong-woman story, although I think it would also appeal to male readers because it portrays strong (and good) men as well. It is a suspenseful romance with plenty of action, the primary focus being on the actual and terrifying 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens. Lots of humor sprinkled through the story as well.

I'm not really a romance reader (although in my early teen years I devoured Zane Gray books), but Tenderfoot held my attention from start to finish. It's a modern-day western, set in the Northwest ranch country. Trimble's extensive research on Mt. St. Helens and ranch life added layers of credibility to her characters' story and appealed to my own taste for nonfiction. I really liked how she presented the volcanic eruption process as news reports at the beginning of each chapter. When I reached the chapter without the news blurb, a chill went down my spine! The tension builds and by the time I finished the book, I was definitely glad to be "off the mountain"! I was also glad to have read the story and heartily recommend it to adult and younger readers.

No Castles on Main Street by Stephanie Kraft

Subtitle: American Authors and Their Homes. I was inspired by this book because I realized how much my own environment influenced Stronghold. In one sense, that goes without saying. My writing teachers all said, "Write what you know about." But it's more than objects, setting, people and other living beings in our lives--it's how we absorb them. Both Rawlings and Hemingway, contemporaries, lived and wrote in Florida, had marital conflicts, worked for newspapers, were activists for causes they believed in. Their literary responses to their environment were different because they were different people, of course. In my opinion (and not being a scholar of either writer), I see Rawlings as writing from inside the life of plants, animals and people whereas Hemingway's writing, to me, is more observational. Their two homes appear to support this conclusion; Rawlings happily described her home with its "weather-worn shabbiness," adding, "I suppose that a millionaire. . .might stand off the elements and maintain a trim tidiness. . . ." A trim tidiness seems appropriate for Hemingway's Key West Spanish colonial mansion. And his writing.

High Tide in Tucson by Barbara Kingsolver

I had read The Poisonwood Bible by Kingsolver and knew that I'd want to read more by her. Poisonwood is a novel; High Tide is a collection of essays and is my favorite of the two books, perhaps because it's more personal. She writes across many topics, from writing to family to science, travel and history, all written with insight, passion and humor. My favorite story is about her "Rock Bottom" band she and fellow writers with music background threw together for a book promotional tour. It was hilarious and I could tell that experience made up for the tedious and demanding elements of touring--little sleep, constantly traveling, talking, signing books, missing meals (and I would add a personal anxiety of wondering where the nearest bathroom is). I deeply appreciated her concern for elderly writers whose publishers expect to maintain similar marathons. As a self-publisher, I'm my own boss. If I choose to hobble across a stage with my walker, I can. Or not. Granted, I'll probably never see Stronghold on a best-seller list either. So be it. I'm happy that someone in Burnham's Trading Post walks up to me and asks to buy a book.

The next book I want to read by Barbara Kingsolver is Small Wonder.

Thoughts on Voltaire's Candide

It kicks ass!

Kipling on Twain

I can't think of a more delightful reading experience than of one great author interviewing another. It's like reading them both at the same time. Rudyard Kipling's tale of hunting down Mark Twain to meet and interview him is full of charm and humor, evidence of one writer's style affecting another's. For example, Kipling wrote: "Blessed is the man who finds no disillusion when he is brought face to face with a revered writer. That was a moment to be remembered; the landing of a twelve-pound salmon was nothing to it. I had hooked Mark Twain, and he was treating me as though under certain circumstances I might be an equal." Eventually, of course, Rudyard Kipling became as famous and well-loved as Mr. Clemens himself. (photo: me by "Kim's Gun" in Lahore, Pakistan. Kim by R. Kipling.)

I myself hooked a treasure when I discovered and subscribed to Library of America free weekly stories (http://storyoftheweek.loa.org/). What a pleasure and I recommend it to everyone who loves to read, but is short on time (or not).

Jane Eyre, Charlotte Bronte

I finished reading this very old book, 2nd edition/December, 1847, with its brown and brittle pages (with a couple of pages missing and most marked with child scribbles, but still a treasure to me because it is a gift from my brother Bill). It begins with "Author's Preface," Currer Bell, Bronte's pen name.

I immensely enjoyed reading Eyre again. Many years ago I also saw the 1944 film that starred Orson Welles as Rochester, the mysterious and appealing owner of Thornburg Mansion and Jane's employer. Jane was hired to be a governess to Rochester's young ward, rarely saw her master (boss, in today's language), but became intrigued by his broodiness. He, in turn, found Jane's honest and intelligent conversations captivating. A great shadow lurks in the mansion, giving the story Gothic drama, and shocking turns.

I think the couple of offensive racial remarks in the story were careless signs of how embedded prejudices are in human history, and had Bronte examined those phrases as deeply as she did the individual's struggle for identity, she would have edited them out of her story.

Bronte quotes:
"If we would build on a sure foundation in friendship, we must love friends for their sake rather than for our own."

"You -- poor and obscure, and small and plain as you are -- I entreat to accept me as a husband." (Rochester to Jane)

"One does not jump, and spring, and shout hurrah! at hearing one has got a fortune, one begins to consider responsibilities, and to ponder business; on a base of steady satisfaction rise certain grave cares, and we contain ourselves, and brood over our bliss with a solemn brow."

I read that a new film version is coming out next year. I hope to see it.