Finished!

I finally finished Democracy in America today. I've been reading it since June. This is a red letter day. I also read Aunt Dimity Slays the Dragon, and Aunt Dimity Down Under, but that's all. I honestly don't know when I've been busier than I have this last month, including when I was in college and somehow found time to read Les Miserables during finals week, just for fun. I despise not having time to read. I do like some of the other things I've been doing though, like Christmas Present crafting, making Streusel Kuchen, and playing "balling" (rolling or kicking a ball, for those who don't get toddler speak) with Hy. Come back soon for my deep and insightful comments on de Tocqueville. I'm sure it's something you won't want to miss. Right.

Around Again

I finished reading the book a few weeks ago, but I haven't had time to write about it, or figured out exactly what I wanted to say. I may not have figured it all out yet, but I found a little time.

This is the third novel I've read by Suzanne Strempek Shea, and not my favorite. I loved Finding Finola, but I haven't been able to find the same rhythm and feeling in the other two books I've read. Finding Finola was a hopeful, inspiring book for me. Around Again was a little depressing.

What I've decided about Around Again, is that it is a lot about fear. Mostly about how fear can rule our lives. And it's a little bit about love, and how love can change us and maybe even dispel the fear.

The protagonist, Robyn, is torn between fear and love, but she allows her fears overcome love. She basically cuts herself off from everything she loves for thirty  years because of fear. The whole conflict is born out of fear. Fear of social rejection, fear of the unknown, fear of something that isn't even real.

But the saviors in the novel, Robyn's aunt and uncle, are driven completely by love. And although Robyn says throughout the novel that she knows what is real, it turns out that she was completely mistaken and what is real is the love that she ultimately rejects.

Although I probably won't read the book again, I have enjoyed thinking about it and the reminder that most of what I fear is in my own imagination (the future), and that what I love (family, God) is what will save me from my fear.

Founding Mothers

I read this book, Founding Mothers, for our neighborhood book club. Funny thing about this book, no one can remember who chose it, including the person who chose it.



It took me about six weeks to read this book, probably because I just left it on the elliptical, and only read it during the 25 minutes, 3 times per week that I spend in that particular location. And that said, I may not have gotten as much out of it as I could have. Actually, that's probably the one time where I'm NOT interrupted seventeen gazillion times an hour by children. For some reason they leave me alone. Probably getting into stuff like sharp knives and matches.



Anyway, about the book. I would probably not read anything by Ms. Roberts again. I liked the facts that were in the book, but I did not like the commentary. I liked reading quotes from letters by the great ladies of the founding era of our country like Abigail Adams and Martha Washington. I did not like the tone that the author used to portray the quotes. One thing that I really don't love about biographies and history is the assignation of thoughts and feelings to people that is completely biased by the author's view and personal prejudices. It seemed to me that this is what Roberts did throughout her commentary.



Cokie Roberts is obviously very pro-feminist, and seems to be anti more than one child, and somewhat derogatory toward men. I can't even count how many times she threw in comments like "she was pregnant, again" and "the perpetually pregnant (insert name here)", or how the husbands didn't care about their wives as they should. I processed a lot of information in reading the book, but how much of it is opinion and how much is fact is hard to determine.



But, with all of that, I didn't hate reading the book. Once I got used to the tone of the author, it was enjoyable to find out how much the women of that era contributed to the founding of our country, how they influenced their husbands and the men of the time, and how much they sacrificed. They were amazingly astute and interested in the politics of the time, something that I think many men and women of our time have lost.

Why I haven't been reading much

I usually read about two books per week. Usually. Not lately. Here's why:

I canned tomatoes.

I canned apples.

I canned chicken soup.

I made a marker case for the husband.

And I have the five rugrats to chase after all day.

And, I can't seem to figure out how to delete or move a photo once I've added it, thus the poor display of photos.

But stay tuned. I'm about to finish "Founding Mothers" by Cokie Roberst and "Around Again" by Suzanne Strempek Shea

Favorite author of the week

My new favorite author (this week) is Suzanne Strempek Shea. I read "Becoming Finola" by said author last week. I read "Lily of the Valley" this week. "Becoming Finola" wins hands down, but "Lily of the Valley" was also a good read.
Thinking back, I'm not sure what it was that was so enrapturing about "Becoming Finola". Maybe that it was unexpected from the very beginning. The first part of the book had me thinking the star of the book was someone completely different than it was. Sophie was a complete suprise. The whole book was a surprise. I loved that it was in Ireland. I loved that one of the main characters didn't even make a personal appearance in the story until nearly the end. I loved that it had a happy ending. I loved that the persona of Finola, built up throughout the story was a mirage.
The characters in this book were amazing. So vivid and real.
The way Shea writes is inspiring. I love the use of metaphor, and her descriptions of people, and the setting (which means a lot coming from me because I usually skim description, picking out only what seems necessary to the story).
I suppose I should post one warning for those highly opposed to the "f" word. It is used a few times, but if you can believe me, in a completely non-offensive, everyday conversation, sort of way. Being set in Ireland, Shea even explains through the narrator, Sophie, that the "f" word isn't viewed the same way across the pond as it is here in America.
Overall, I'm a big fan of the book. When I finished, I wanted to read it again. Right then.

Bibliomaniac

I taught myself to read when I was four years old. I haven't stopped since then. For most of my life, I read fiction exclusively. In the past few years I have branched out considerably, although if I want to relax, I don't pick up "Founding Mothers" which I am currently reading, or "Democracy in America", also on the currently reading shelf.

Is it kismet that reading drives me to write? Or is that a natural extension of being a bibliomaniac? I've read so many books, that sometimes they begin to run together. I can't remember titles, or authors, which makes me sad when I remember something I've read but have no idea how to find it again.

This the answer to my problem. If I document each book, remembering it into cyberspace, in a place where I can alway find it, I'll never have to spend days trying to remember the exact title or an obscure author that I pulled off the library shelf. I can simply turn on the desktop, and be reminded.

Since I don't just read, maybe I'll find some other things to write about too, like how much I love my library card, or why Molasses Sugar cookies taste so much better while I'm reading a cozy Christmas book.