KirstenL4W

“Atticus, he was real nice…”
“Most people are, Scout, when you finally see them.”

There aren’t many books that I haven’t wanted to let go of. When I finished reading To Kill a Mockingbird, I held the book close to me for just a few minutes more. It’s the kind of story that sticks with you, that you don’t want to finish.

I first read this book in a high school English class. I don’t remember much of the book except that I read it so fast that I didn’t really retain anything in it, and ended up passing that portion of the class based entirely on paying attention during discussions. So when I was perusing lists for my Banned Books post, I decided that I absolutely had to put this book on my list. On the next trip to the bookstore, I bought a copy. I’m glad I did.

Harper Lee’s only published novel is generally agreed to be one of the best books of the 20th century. It is a tale of innocence lost while faith in humanity is maintained. The story is told from the point of view of Scout, a young girl growing up in a tiny Alabama town during the depression. Scout is, as can be expected of any 6-year-old, naive in the ways of the world, but possesses a strength and determination that is beyond her years. She wants to understand the adult world around her. I really liked the way that the story was told as a vivid recollection of events all while keeping the inexperienced mind of a child intact. There’s no “if I knew then what I know now” feel to it that would, in my opinion, ruin the storytelling.

I’ve read some of the reasons why this book has been banned or challenged. Language, racism, and references to a vulgar crime are the usual excuses, and poor ones at that. While To Kill a Mockingbird doesn’t have endless chapters describing the landscape the way a Steinbeck book does, the author brings you to Maycomb in a way that is so real you can almost smell the dirt road that Scout and Jem walk on every day. You get to know the people as well as Scout does. There’s a gritty realism to it, and it’s a rare story that’s able to bring you so completely into it. So much more can be gained from a story such as this one than a sugar-coated fluff piece that takes place in a perfect world.

Now I sit here, up way past my bedtime, trying to stop myself from re-reading the book in its entirety while calling it “research” for this post. Trying to sum up my thoughts and convey to you all why this is such an excellent book, coming up against the walls of fatigue and my own limited writing ability. I can’t seem to tell you why this is such an amazing book or say anything that would compel you to pick up a copy for yourself. It’s a well-written tale. It’s a commentary on Depression-era society. It’s a book with a lesson that (I hope) will always be relevant.

I should probably be writing reviews of books I finished long ago and are back to collecting dust on my bookshelf. I have a few of those reviews started and in draft mode, but haven’t found the motivation to finish them, even though for the most part I enjoyed the books. But I wanted to get this one done asap, since someone has been patiently waiting for me to actually read the book first. Now that I’ve finished it, here’s the review.

With a fondness for footnotes and a bizarre fetish for linoleum that has not gone unnoticed by other reviewers, Rob Kroese (aka “Diesel”), Mercury Falls tells the story of the impending Apocalypse, the attempts by various factions to manipulate the result in their favor, and the otherworldly bureaucracy that has governments around the world green with envy. Christine, a reporter who covers all things having to do with the end of times, gets caught up with Mercury, an angel who’d rather make snowmen than do the job he’s contractually obligated to do.

It might seem a bit off to use movies as talking points when reviewing a book, but to be honest I haven’t read any of the books or authors that other reviewers have mentioned. So I’ll stick to what I know.

Dogma, the Kevin Smith movie that explores a heavenly loophole, is similar in tone to this book. So is War, Inc., the John Cusack movie that exploits the notion that war is an event manufactured for profit. These two movies were constantly in mind as I read this book (and it helps that I enjoyed these movies). I did have a bit of a hard time keeping some of the other angels and who they were working for straight, but that is only the fault of this reader and not the book. What I did love was the Antichrist, who also happens to be a pathetic loser, the unique take on how the Apocalypse is supposed to go down, the impossible bureacracy involved, and the importance of linoleum.

So now that I’ve shown you all how much I suck at writing book reviews, I hope that you are somehow convinced that Mercury Falls not only does NOT suck, but is actually quite an entertaining read, and that you should read it. Then when you’re done, write a better review than I did.

I’ve been doing reviews of books I’ve been reading (not a lot, since the bulk of my book reading is done in the moments between going to bed and actually falling asleep), and because of that I’ve been looking at more blogs and websites dedicated to books and writing. And of course, since I’m so in the loop about all sorts of stuff, I found out today that there is a whole week dedicated to banned books. This year, that happens to be this week. There are lots of books that have been banned or attempted to be banned, but for the purposes of this post I’ll be referencing this article that I found.

First, my thoughts on banned books. It shouldn’t be allowed. Period. I have to begin by saying that I’m not a parent and have no plans on being one, but I am an aunt, cousin, and friend to children whose education I care about. I firmly believe that the best way for children to get the best education possible is to question things. Being spoon-fed all your knowledge and thoughts will not prepare anyone for the real world, because the most successful people in this world are not automatons who repeat back everything they’ve been told without question. No, successful people challenge everything, push the limits, and understand the world in which they live. The study of literature in general teaches us to think critically so that we can better interpret the world around us. Banning books does no favors for anyone. Check out this list of most ironically banned books, and even if you thought banning books might be a good idea, you’ll start to see how ridiculous it is. I mean, really - Fahrenheit 451?

(Of course, poorly written crap that leaves readers less intelligent after reading can be banned.)

Now, for my thoughts on books I’ve read that are on the previously mentioned banned books list.

• The Harry Potter Series - I never got into this until I met my husband. I have since read all the books, all in a row, and I find the stories consistent from one book to the next, the character development to be above par, and the theme of love to be an integral part of this series, but in an unexpected way. Plus, as 11 Points said, it did re-introduce the joy of reading to an entire generation. You can’t fault it for that.
• A Prayer for Owen Meany - One of my favorites. Look for my review on this book soon, as I recently finished a 2nd reading of it. Is Owen’s unwavering faith too much for people to handle? Or is it the way that John questions Owen’s faith (along with his own)?
• The Grapes of Wrath - After East of Eden, I was compelled to read more Steinbeck. It’s a great story of a family during the Depression years, and I encourage everyone to read it, if you haven’t already.
• The Great Gatsby - I read this in high school and college,and even though the lists say it’s been banned at times, I can’t for the life of me figure out why. Maybe because it doesn’t depict a perfect suburban middle-class life? It is an excellent book, though.
• Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl - required summer reading before I started my freshman year of high school. I was a slacker and didn’t read it. Banned in part because it’s supposedly too sad. Shouldn’t books stir emotion inside of us? Must it always be happiness?
• To Kill a Mockingbird - I remember really enjoying this book, to the point that I read it too fast and didn’t absorb it as well as I could have. Must re-read.
• I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings - I read this in Contemporary Lit in high school. I had a hard time with it, but this book taught me that any story is easier to digest if you can pick out one thing in the book that you personally identify with. Perhaps if I read it again I’ll find something.
• One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest - on the list in my Contemporary Lit class. I kinda sorta didn’t read this one (but still passed the class), but still remember some of the major themes of this book.
• East of Eden - another one of my favorite books ever. I read it for the first time in Contemporary Lit in high school, and have re-read it a few times since. EPIC novel made even better when you start getting into the character development, because I think that we can each see a bit of ourselves in every character (even Cathy/Kate).

As an independent thinker, I really have no idea what’s so wrong with the above books that we can’t let them be taught in our schools and stocked in our libraries. I would encourage everyone to read banned books (and other books) and speak out against banning books.

I have to be honest - I didn’t pick up this book because the story looked interesting. I bought it because it was on the bargain shelf at the bookstore, and it takes place in Las Vegas. For that price, I was willing to put up with it, certain that it would be over quickly.

This book is about vampires. Vampires that live in Las Vegas. I’m down with the Vegas part of it, since I live here and all, but I never got into the whole vampire thing. Which means that I have never read and have no intention of reading a certain vampire series written for the young adult market but is wildly popular with women my own age.

But enough about that. Bled Dry: A Tale of Vegas Vampires by Erin McCarthy is about Brittany, a woman who gets herself knocked up by a vampire after a one-night stand. As we read further into the book, we find out that her sister has become a vampire after marrying one, and that her brother-in-law is president of the whole vampire nation. Brittany happens to be a half-breed herself, though she doesn’t have any symptoms at all. Her unborn child will be three-quarters vampire, and there was only one other known case of this ever. Which makes the baby a super-powered vampire and very sought after for this reason. So Mr. One-night-stand, who happens to be doing some DNA research on the whole vampirism virus and trying to find a cure, figures all this out and tries to protect Brittany.

What problems did I have with this book? Well, it was overly simplistic, had long, drawn-out love scenes that were more annoying than titillating (no, I’m not a fan of trashy romance novels, why do you ask?), one-sided underdeveloped characters, and other than maybe having been in a casino once, the author obviously had no knowledge of Las Vegas because it didn’t factor very much into the story. Sure, most of the scenes take place in a casino, or a room in the hotel, but having lived here for over six years now, I should know Vegas, and I did not know the mostly nondescript town with a fictional casino that this story took place in.

This is an ok book if you’re looking for something to read when you’re traveling so you can forget the book in the seat-back pocket. I’m just glad I didn’t pay more than $5 for it. And don’t worry, future book reviews will be of books with some actual substance to them.

Ok, it’s been awhile since I last posted. But don’t blame me - I took a long weekend away and I don’t check email or anything else online when I’m away. Well, blame me if you want, but that’s the way it is.

Anyway, when I got back from my long weekend I checked the comments on my blog and found that I had new comments on my post Cuts Like a Knife. My mom left a comment to bolster my ego, and my mom’s Cousin Betty left me an amazing comment (that’s becoming a habit with her). Betty suggested I try writing a book.

I’ll be honest, the idea is not new to me. Besides a few bloggers I know of who have written or are trying to write books, I too have thought of this. It’s something that’s been at the back of my mind since I was a kid. English literature and writing classes have been among my favorites in school, and they are the classes I always got the best grades in. I still have a lot of the stuff I wrote back then, and even posted one of my papers here on my blog. I have it in my blog post idea list to post more of my writing from school.

Writing a book is a great idea, and while I’d love to do that, I’m not ready - not yet. I think I still have some adventures to come that will help put me in a better position to have a complete book. I’d be looking towards a memoir or collection of anecdotes from my life, or using stories from my life and propelling them into a fictional chick lit book, which is a genre I tend to like. In the meantime, I’ll continue writing here. This blog is a beginning, a place to practice writing and hone my skills and test out what sort of stories would appeal more than others. Based on what I like to read, I am drawn towards stories in which I can identify with a character or situation in some way. I like complex, well-developed characters because I like to be able to figure out what makes them tick. Even if what I write isn’t popular, I like to know that it resonates with readers. As a writer, these are all skills that take time and lots of practice to perfect.

While I continue living my life and writing my story in my head, do you have any suggestions? Any blogs or books to read that will help me along my way?

I’ve found that the best way for me to unwind at the end of the day is to read. It’s usually the last thing I do before falling asleep for the night. It helps me get out of my own head so that I can relax enough to fall asleep.

I recently finished reading The Emigrants. It’s a 4-book series about Swedish emigrants who leave their homeland and settle in America hoping for a better life. I was first introduced to this series by a friend from Sweden, who said it would help me understand my own history better. My great-grandparents came from Sweden, though about 60 years later than these books take place, and they weren’t farmers like the Nilsson family in the book.

It took me a few tries to get through the book. I tried when I first got it, and would then pick it up every few years. I think it took me about 10 years before I was able to sit down and really push myself to get through the entire book. Once I did, I wanted to read more. Once I got into it, I really wanted to find out what happened to these characters and how they fared on this journey they embarked upon.

The first book, The Emigrants, tells of the life that the main characters, Karl Oskar and his wife Kristina have on their farm in Sweden. It tells of the hard times they have as they begin their family and are met with drought and the resulting starvation. Karl Oskar’s younger brother Robert, full of wanderlust and not willing to live a life of being anyone’s servant, as would be his fate in Sweden, tells Kark Oskar of a great land called America. After suffering a heart-wrenching tragedy, Karl Oskar decides to move his family to America so that they can have better opportunities. Various friends and relatives hear of the plan and join the party, so early in April 1850, the party of 16 Swedish emigrants board a ship bound for America. The second half of the book tells of the rough journey they all experience.

The second book, Unto a Good Land, tells of the trials and tribulations the settlers have as the make their way towards Minnesota Territory, stake out their land, and start to set up home. It’s interesting to read of the culture shock they experience as they settle into their new homes.

The third book, The Settlers, is about how the emigrants get along after having been in the new land for a few years and the successes and failures they have. Their community begins to grow, and more Swedes begin moving into the area.

The final book, The Last Letter Home, finishes up by telling how Karl Oskar’s children have grown up and started their own families.

Except for a few small facts, which are outlined in the introduction to the books, I’d say these books are historical fiction - the places the emigrants end up in are real, and their stories are the same stories that many other settlers from Sweden have. My family didn’t go west, instead preferring to settle in the NYC area. My great-grandmother’s aunt had a boarding house in Brooklyn, where my great-grandmother worked when she arrived, and where she met my great-grandfather when he rented a room their. They lived in Brooklyn until the early 1920s, when they moved to the Plainfield, NJ area, which is where my grandmother and mother grew up, and where I still have some family. My family didn’t work the land, like the families in the books, but I took great interest in the character’s experiences. I’m sure that the cultural issues outlined in the books were very similar to the ones my family experienced.

Reading these books made me feel closer to my roots, and as my friend told me, they did help me understand my great-grandparents’ experience. Even if you’re not Swedish, or not descended from immigrants, I’d recommend these books just as highly as I’d recommend something from Steinbeck.