Her Book Self

I don't travel much.  I wish I had the time and money to explore more of the world - and even more of my own country - but for the most part, I don't go very far from home very often.  I think because of that, I love to read about foreign countries and different cultures.  I suppose my love of nonfiction stems from my overall love of learning, but I also feel that books are akin to mental passport stamps - a way to visit far off places without leaving the discomfort of my bus seat.  My most recent literary vacation was to Kabul, Afghanistan in Deborah Rodriguez's book, Kabul Beauty School: An American Woman Goes Behind the Veil.  The map at right is courtesy of CNN.com and shows where Kabul is in Afghanistan, and the inset shows the country's location in relation the rest of the middle east.  I've read several other books set in this part of the world, but anytime I read a book about a country that I'm unfamiliar with I like to look it up on a map to better orient myself with the geography of the setting.  (That's super nerdy, right?  Oh well, I'm comfortable with my braininess.)

Back to the book.  Deborah Rodriguez is a hairdresser from Holland, Michigan who trained as a relief worker and traveled to Afghanistan after the fall of the Taliban in 2001.  Originally feeling that her talents were not as crucial as those of the doctors and nurses in her company, Rodriguez spent much of her time exploring her surroundings and befriending the people around her.  When she discovered that the Westerners in the area and many of the Afghan women she met were desperately seeking her services as a beautician - an idea was formed to begin a school to train and develop local women to start their own salons.  With corporate sponsors and the hard work of dedicated individuals, the Kabul Beauty School opened its doors and Rodriguez became a teacher, mentor and friend to women whose country had forgotten them.

I loved how this book explored the culture clash between American and Afghan society.  The story was well told and it was inspiring to see how Rodriguez changed the lives of the women she worked with and the powerful impact that their stories and friendship had in her life as well.  The book was also a good example of community development done right.  Rodriguez hired her first graduates as teachers and along with giving them a means to support their families for a better quality of life, she set up a cycle of sustainable serving for those who had learned to continue on in teaching others.  It is a model of giving a hand-up rather than a hand-out; the former being ultimately much more productive.

I've never been a big list maker.  I have the occasional "To Do" or "To Buy" list, but mostly I rely on remembering things rather than writing them down.  However, one list that I always have on record is my TBR - or "to be read" list.  Since it's grown to monstrous proportions over the years I've taken to affectionately calling it "Mount TBR".

In honor of Free Comic Boy Day tomorrow (yes, you read that right - stop by your local comic store to get a free issue!) I thought I would spotlight a graphic novel that I was introduced to earlier this month at Chicago's Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2) that will be offered on Free Comic Book Day.  Mouse Guard by David Peterson is a really interesting story of soldier mice selected to protect their species against the numerous predators and survival threats that exist for mice.  The artwork is fantastic and the stories (or at least the few that I have read) are creative, dramatic and really well conceived.  It's a series to skip if you're not a fan of anthropomorphic rodents, but I find myself wanting to reach through the pages and pet these furry heroes.  Check out Free Comic Book Day tomorrow and if you're looking for a great new graphic novel adventure series, check out Mouse Guard too! 

And since I'm on the subject, what was or is your favorite comic book series?

One of my favorite forms of book reviewing is the comparison review.  In a way it takes me back to my school days as I feel a bit like I'm writing a book report, but for me there's something really fun about pointing out the similarities of two otherwise dissimilar works.  In this case I wanted to draw some ties between two very popular books - and since much has already been said about them as individual novels, let me explain why fans of one, might very well enjoy the other.  

Last month a coworker lent me the book The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society (from now on to be referred to as TGLPPPS). I know it's been pretty popular since its release - I had been wanting to read it since I first heard about it through LibraryThing's Early Reviewers - but I never got around to picking it up until it was literally plopped right into my hands with someone saying "You need to read this book! You'll love it!"

Needless to say, I did love it.  For those unfamiliar with the story, it takes place after WWII and in a story told through written correspondence it weaves a tale of a unique and charming book club formed by the residents of the island of Guernsey during Nazi occupation. As various members of the society share their letters and stories with a writer in London, she becomes enamored with their lives and becomes part of their world.

Interestingly enough, the book drew many parallels for me to another favorite historical fiction of mine: The Book Thief by Markus Zusak (from now on to be referred to as TBT). Sometimes classified as young adult fiction, Zusak's novel is also set in WWII but takes place in Germany with a slightly different perspective on Nazi occupation. Aside from time period though, some of the similarities between TGLPPPS and TBT are what make them two of my favorite novels.

One thing they have in common is a unique narrative style. TGLPPPS is told through letters between all the different characters and the constant changing of narrative voice gives a fresh take and perspective on each portion of the story. TBT has a single narrator, but that narrator is Death, an appropriate choice for the time and place of the novel. I think the creativity in storytelling takes each of these books from being a good story to an excellent book.

Another point that I love in both books is the theme of the power of words. In TGLPPPS each member of the literary society tells a brief tale of a favorite author or book. Their choices in literature tell the reader as much about their personalities as their words and actions in the story. I don't want to spoil any of the plot, but books do a great deal to bring people together and create community in the novel.

This same theme is seen in TBT. The story begins with young Liesel Meminger stealing a book from the cemetery at her brother's graveside. Her desire to learn to read and her craving for books and new words parallels the growth of her character throughout the book and draws her closer to many of the other characters. In both novels, words and books are powerful instruments of change - which could very well be why many bibliophiles (like myself) have become so enamored with these two works.

She Walks in Beauty by Siri Mitchell transports the reader to New York's Golden Age of the late 1800's. The story follows young and timid Clara Carter as she is thrust into the world of high fashion and elegance with her debut into society. While Clara would prefer to keep to herself and her books she feels duty bound to her father and aunt and submits herself to their rigorous tutelage and their hopes that she will secure a wealthy husband.

Though parts of the story in this book were predictable, I did find it to be an enjoyable read. The historic setting and details were well painted and it was an interesting look at the celebrity status that debutantes experienced at the time. Also, I felt that the Christian message was appropriate and fit into the story smoothly. Many readers complain about Christian fiction as being "preachy" and I don't think this book was. The theme was one of God loving people personally, just as they are, and it fit in well with Clara's struggles of maintaining a perfect appearance and always looking to please others.

Overall I think this book was a unique and engaging story. There was a subplot involving the contrast between the upper and lower classes in New York that I wish had been developed and expanded. However, the focus of the story was solidly on Clara and she was a charming heroine - modern enough to appeal to contemporary readers without seeming out of place in her setting. She Walks in Beauty is a solid entry into the genres of historical fiction and Christian fiction and Siri Mitchell shows herself to be an accomplished writer of both.

I'm curious where other readers fall in their opinions of Christian fiction; do you like books to have a strong Gospel message or do you prefer Christian themes to be woven in subtly?

My aunt is a librarian.  She's a wonderful lady (just like my mother) and her profession could be put into an infinite list of reasons to love her.  Along with wicked-fast reference skills, she gets lots of free books.  Let me say that again: she gets free books!  One such freebie that she passed on to me was a fantasy novel by Brandon Sanderson called Warbreaker.  Though I had heard of Sanderson, I was unfamiliar with the book I was given, but the description was intriguing enough to entice me to read it, and  it turned out to be one of the best novels I've read so far this year!

Magic, politics, religion, love, trust and betrayal combine in a monumental scope in Brandon Sanderson's fantasy epic Warbreaker. The story is complex and exciting filled with unpredictable twists and turns and peppered with well-drawn characters. The heroes and villains were equally enchanting - and the distinction between them often blurred - and as the narrative switched between the multiple subplots a riveting story was woven together.

Sanderson's world-building is phenomenal. The rich layers of detail about the neighboring kingdoms and the incredible theory of magic involved with BioChromatic breath, Awakening, and the Returned were seamlessly blended into the story. Each new facet of the setting was introduced subtly, leaving the reader with a sense of discovery rather than a displeasing "info-dump".

From the opening chapters to the dramatic climax, Warbreaker was a spell-binding tale. The ending offered a satisfying conclusion with just enough of an open door to leave readers with their fingers crossed that perhaps a future book will return them to this marvelous world. Although this was the first book I have read by Brandon Sanderson, it most certainly will not be the last.

I know a lot of people don't particularly enjoy "high fantasy" - a genre title usually given to what many call "swords and horses" novels - but with the popularity of Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter, and The Chronicles of Narnia, it seems that many non-fantasy readers are giving the genre a chance.  That said, I think Sanderson would be a great author for readers looking to test the waters of fantasy literature.

I've often heard Margaret Mitchell's novel Gone With The Wind referred to as "a classic" or a "must read" book, but before reading it, I wondered if the text had become overshadowed by the iconic 1939 film. Even seeing the title on the cover causes strains of the memorable theme music (Da-DEEE-de-daaaah...) to echo in my head. Though it's been years since I've seen the movie, I wanted to approach the book with eyes that looked at Mitchell's words directly and not see Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh in my mind.

The story is a familiar one, with Scarlett O'Hara as the prominent belle of the south residing in splendor at Tara, her family's plantation. Her easy-going carefree life of balls and barbecues - and her pastime of pining after Ashley Wilkes - is drastically upset by the onset of the Civil War. The epic American conflict is recounted through Scarlett's eyes and the drama of the war is paralleled with the daily struggles of the women left behind struggling to feed themselves and their families. Meanwhile, tangled webs and love triangles are set up as Ashley marries Melanie Hamilton and Scarlett weds Melanie's brother, Charles - leaving Scarlett as sister-in-law to the wife of the man she really loves. Adding to this particular drama, is the dashing figure of Rhett Butler who has an eye for Scarlett's fiery Irish personality which perfectly matches his own.

Through the days of the war, the South's surrender, and the chaos of Reconstruction, Mitchell's novel follows these expertly drawn and fully realized characters as well as a supporting cast that brings the settings and struggles alive. The writing is stirring and emotional with themes of love and loss, and the descriptions are amazingly vivid, bringing balance to an action-filled plot. Scarlett O'Hara is not always a likable heroine but even when the reader disagrees with her actions and despises her motives, there remains something admirable in her gumption and passion for life. Though the film is excellent (I admit that Gable and Leigh were expertly cast, staying true to Mitchell's descriptions) even at four hours of running length it can only scratch the surface of this amazing novel. The depth and detail ensconced in almost 900 pages of text provide a richness to the story that assures Gone With the Wind its rightful place as an American masterpiece.