Persuasion

I have not one but two massive complete volumes of Jane Austen's work. I have been meaning to read Persuasion a few times but I can never seem to get to the end of the book since that would meaning moving past Pride and Prejudice, and that is just wrong. This gave me the perfect excuse to move past that novel (shock!!) and on to one that I have not read. 

Let me just say that I am a Jane Austen fan, my mother showed me the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice starring Jennifer Ehle and Colin Firth, and it was all over. I quickly got my hands on her novels and then bought the huge collection of all her novels. One is now water-damaged and coffee stained (which just shows that it is loved) and the other I am determined to keep nice. 

Persuasion was very good, I read it faster then I thought that I would. Of course it helped having an 8 hour car ride to Colorado to help me out. I was drawn into the story. You can tell that this was one of the last novels she wrote because her heroine is an unmarried "older" woman. Older in this case being 27 or 28, which then was considered pretty old to still not be married. The story follows Anne, a quiet, smart and gracious woman, her family is proud and pompous and pretty rude on most occasions. She is really the only member of the family that is truly respected. She is not drop-dead gorgeous, however she is smart and witty and gracious and a good person to know. As the second sister in the "rich family" of the neighborhood she is expected to marry for money partly because her older sister has not married and since the family may have a good name but not enough money. At the age of 20 she meets and agrees to marry a man that her family does not approve of because he has neither money or a good name. She is persuaded to break the engagement and he leaves, declaring that he will make his fortune and leaving behind hurt feelings. When Anne is 28 and her families situation is so bad that they have to rent out their house, he comes back. A Captain and he has made his fortune. He does not seem interested in Anne but it is Austen and happy ending abound for all.

I love the way Austen titles her books. They all have something to do with emotions that are prevalent in the  novel itself. Pride and Prejudice was named because of the two characteristics that are displayed by the hero and heroine. Sense and Sensibility describes the attributes needed to make good informed decisions. Persuasion was named because Anne was persuaded by those around her to not marry the man that she loved when she had the first chance and because of this, was unhappy for several years. Austen's characters are always so well developed and their actions actually go along with their personality. While reading, I see many people that I know represented in the characters of the book. I also love the language, it flows. A Jane Austen novel has its own feel to the writing and the vocabulary that is used. Her stories are always critiquing society or presenting a message for the reader. The message that I get from this novel is to be yourself, love the person you love and if your family doesn't agree, that is not always a bad thing. I could go on with all the different lessons and social critiques that I found in this novel because I am a really big nerd, but I am going to leave it, and you should go read it yourself.

This was the last novel that Austen fully completed, and it is worth reading! 

Next up is The Hitchhikers Guide to the Universe because I was still in Colorado and it hitched a ride in my bag without my knowledge.

Harry Potter, the Book That Began it ALL!

What can I say about this book? I haven't read it since high school when I became obsessed with Harry. 

This book is so brilliant. It sucks you in. I read it in a day simply because I could not stop reading. I have to give respect where respect is due and J.K. Rowling deserves a lot of respect for this book. I am a reading teacher and it is incredibly frustrating when students do not read. They complain about not being able to read well but don't read so they can improve their skills. J.K. Rowling gave students something they can read and be interested in, which is a big part. Where this book really excels is it's ability to interest not only the younger readers but others as well. Sure, Harry is meant to be a children's book but many others can read it and become drawn in to this world all the same. 

 

The movie came out one day after my 16th birthday. Where do you think I spent my evening? They were having a ticket give-a-way at my school to raise money. Needless to say, I entered. I did not win the tickets but a teacher that I had did. She sent me the tickets so that I could go for my birthday. She was a great teacher, I was her teacher assistant for several semesters. So Mrs. Chambers, science teacher at East High, you rock and I am still grateful for those tickets. Isn't it amazing how one little act of kindness can really leave a mark on a person? 

This book teaches you to dream, it doesn't work if you can't allow yourself to believe that there may actually be wizards and witches out there in the world. It allows you to take a break from your life and live in a world of fantasy. This story will persevere but I wonder if it is the books that will live or the movies. I hope it is the books, they began it all. The movies are pretty good but the books are better. I love that four of the Harry Potter books have made it to BBC's list. Children's books? Yes, but great stories that are worth reading. I like to read this book anywhere but it helps to have some root beer to drink with it as well. Great story. 

Next up is a Jane Austen novel I have not read, Persuasion.

Catch 22 The Final Thoughts

I have finished and I have come to the realization that I was wrong. This book isn't about war. It is about humans. It is about human nature. There are two camps. One, Yossarian, Nately, the Chaplain, Orr and others. They are crazy, many people would choose not to be around them. Yet they are there, trying to complete their time so they can serve their country and go home. Two, Milo, Colonel Cathcart, Colonel Korn and others. They simply are working to make themselves look good. They are looking out for Number One and everyone else is getting in their way. Colonel Cathcart is trying so hard to make himself look good, that he cannot make any decisions for himself. Colonel Korn is concerned about making Cathcart look bad so that he will in turn look good. Milo, Milo is out for himself. He doesn't give a damn about anyone else. He runs his syndicate and makes his money, taking medical supplies from wounded soldiers, bombing his own unit to make money.  He is rewarded too, he is seen as a hero. This novel is less about war and more about humans. No character in this book is perfect, they are all human. Some are worse and more odious then others, but in the end, they are all human.  
Truth is that I have nothing deep and meaningful to say about this book. It is beautiful and terrible. It is hilarious and heartbreaking.  The idiocy of the commanding officers and the blatant disregard for human life and the all-consuming quest for money is something that may take place in a war and on a street. Heller is bashing people and their weaknesses. Chances are that a reader can see themselves in one of the characters and in their weaknesses and follies. Yet through all of this, I can still say that I look to see the good in people. If you walk around believing that people are evil then you never give them a chance to prove you wrong. In this case, isn't it good when you are proven wrong? When people prove that they can be kind and good?
Yossarian is forced to continue flying missions and watching the men around him die. Can you imagine? This book gives me a deeper respect for the people that put their life on the line for their country. They reach down deep and pull it out of themselves. Amazing. Such strong people. Yossarian says that he is against the Colonel's who were not treating him like a human being who's life matters, not against his country, I thought that was well put.
Let me intrude by saying that I have nothing but deep respect for the people that stand up and fight for what they believe in. Everyone is viewed in a gray area, but no more than the men and women that take up arms for their country. There are people that will hate you and people that will like you, there is nothing you can do to change that. However that does not mean that you should change yourself to be who they want you to be. Yossarian was given a choice, be who you are or be who we want you to be. Being who they wanted him to be was going to give him riches and fame. Being who he was would probably bring jail. He chose to be himself. So in the end, he was looking out for Number One, just like those he was rebelling against. The only lesson I took was that life is frail, life is precious and humans are imperfect. Happy thought indeed.
Ok, I rambled a bit, hope you followed. If not, disregard last paragraph. My thoughts are still not settled.
This book will make you smile then it will make your head explode with anger. There are times that you will need a good strong drink. I love it and I completely hate it.
There is always a catch, and it is Catch 22





I need a pick-me-up. Harry Potter and the Sorcerers Stone it is! 

Catch 22 Musings of Today

 

Who can you trust when the entire world seems to be trying to kill you?

I can only imagine what it would be like to be a bomber in WW2. What kept happening to the men in the book is that the men at the top kept raising the amount of missions that the flyers have to fly. Some of the other men had hit their missions, packed their bags, ready to go home and then learn that they now have to fly more. What is pure genius in this book is something that we hear a lot of today. World War Two was considered an honorable war. Everyone was supposed to work for it, there was the home-front war-effort and the men out fighting. No one was supposed to criticize the war or the people running the war. We have all of this today with satires of news shows and novels. Catch 22 does all of this, without coming right out right and saying it. Catch 22 made the situations so ridiculous that it made it real. 

I used to wish that wars and conflicts were really black and white, no gray area. It seemed so nice and neat in school when we learned about WW2 and how the United States was fighting against Hitler to save people and the world. Good and bad, right? There seemed to be a clear good and bad side. Truth is that life is not black and white. It is FILLED with gray areas. It was naive to think that something like WAR would be any different. 

My confession about this book is that I didn't get it. I have never been in a fight, I have never gone off to fight in a war. I didn't get it. Yossarian seems so crazy and so strange that I didn't put myself in his shoes. Once I did though, the book worked for me. And I hate it. It is wonderful. 

Ever had to argue with someone and you knew from the very beginning that it wasn't going to do any good? One man from the novel found himself arguing with an Italian man about the virtues of country and if winning a war is really a good thing. The man, Nately finds himself arguing with a man over something he had never really thought about. Of COURSE winning a war is a good thing? Why would men on both sides be dying for it? Then the man says this which, I admit, blew my mind: 

"You put so much stock in winning wars," the grubby iniquitous old man scoffed. "The real trick lies in losing wars, in knowing which wars can be lost. Italy has been losing wars for centuries, and just see how splendidly we've done nonetheless. France wins wars and is in a continual state of crisis. Germany loses and prospers. Look at our own recent history. Italy won a war in Ethiopia and promptly stumbled into serious trouble. Victory gave us such insane delusions or grandeur that we helped start a world war we hadn't a chance of winning. But now that we are losing again, everything has taken a turn for the better, and we will certainly come out on top again if we succeed in being defeated." ... 

"But," Nately cried out is disbelief, "you're a turncoat! A timeserver! A shameful, unscrupulous opportunist!"

"I am a hundred and seven years old," the old man reminded him suavely. 

"Don't you have any principles?" 

"Of course not." 

-Joseph Heller Catch 22

There are people in this world that cannot be argued with, the believe what they believe and by goodness, they are not going to give it up for you or anyone else. This is a showcase of two very different people in the world. People who are out to serve themselves, like the old Italian man. And people who feel that there are things in life that are worth fighting and dying for, like Nately. Then there are people who are caught in the middle. Question is, who is the better man? My personal vote is for the young man, who may not be able to articulate why is is fighting, but even after a conversation like this, does not stop. It may be naive. And it may all be for nothing, but I like to think that it isn't.

There is so much that can be said for this book and I am almost finished with it. I was having trouble sorting out my feelings for this book until my father asked me one simple question. "Are you mad yet?" That simple question made me realize that YES!!! I AM MAD!!! This book is amazing. Horrible.Wonderful. Infuriating. 

Catch 22 Quote of the Day

"There was only one catch and that was Catch-22, which specified that a concern for one's safety in the face of dangers that were real and immediate was the process of a rational mind. Orr was crazy and should be grounded. All he had to do was ask; and as soon as he did, he would no longer be crazy and would have to  fly more missions. Orr would be crazy to fly more missions and sane if he didn't, but if he was sane he had to fly them. If he flew them he was crazy and didn't have to; but if he didn't want to he was sane and had to. Yossarian was moved very deeply by the absolute simplicity of this clause of Catch-22 and let out a respectful whistle.

'That's come catch, that Catch-22,' he observed. 

 'It's the best there is," Doc Daneeka agreed."

-Joseph Heller Catch 22 

Aint that just the truth? Half of the things that we do, we must be crazy to do, however no one wants a crazy person doing the things that we have to be crazy to do in the first place. 

For example, do you want a crazy person teaching your children? But when I tell people that I am a high school teacher, I get the look. The look that says plainly, "you must be crazy." 

Musings of the day...

Little Woman Part 2

SPOILER ALERT! If you have not read Little Woman and you don't want to know what happens then now would be a time to stop reading. You have been warned.

Jo and Laurie are close, have been close and so it seems to all, especially Laurie, that the two of them would get married. However, Jo does not feel that she can love him. It comes to a difference between the love of friends and the love of a partner in life. The two of them fought constantly, and they would not be a good pair. When I was younger and I read that Jo refuses Laurie's offer of marriage, I threw the book. Why in the world would she refuse a man who could offer everything? I have already admitted that I used to wish for my Laurie to come along. Along with that comes with the idea that the Laurie in the book is perfect. After Jo refuses Laurie, he meets up with Amy in Europe and she calls him lazy, and rude and generally tells him that he is a terrible person. I threw the book again. How dare she attack my Laurie?! Now as "a more mature reader" I can see why she said no, and why it was a good idea. I found myself getting a little frustrated because she kept calling him "my boy" and walking arm and arm with him. (something that was a much bigger deal then than now) I was also getting mad at him when she left to go to New York and he said "It won't do any good, Jo. I have my eye on you." I kept thinking, if you know that she doesn't want to marry you, why do you keep pursuing her? Here is why, you have to try, right? Without  trying, you never really know the answer and you don't get a really emotional marriage refusal. Poor Laurie.

Don't feel bad for him for too long though. Amy, self-assured, poised Amy will eventually call him out on all his faults and comfort him over it all later. Yes, less than a year after Laurie declares that Jo is the only woman for him, he asks Amy to "row the boat with him." (HA!) This is after she tells him that he has changed and that she "despises him." Frankly, as a younger reader I didn't really get why she did that. Now as an older reader, and as a high school teacher, I can see why she did this. It was something Laurie needed to hear. For a long time, he was seen as the perfect boy and was rather spoiled and thought very highly of himself. Then he receives two heavy blows. Number One was Jo's refusal of marriage, something he never thought would really happen. Number Two was Amy's attitude when he saw her in Europe. I think that he assumed Amy would be so happy to see him and fall madly in love with him. When she doesn't and instead calls out his faults, he is forced to rethink how he will go through life. In the end, Amy and Laurie return home from Europe, man and wife. Another happy ending.

Dear, sweet, patient, angelic Beth. It is hinted throughout the book that Beth will not make it to the end. And it is heartbreaking when she doesn't. I cry every single time. I like how Beth doesn't make any speeches, how it is just Jo in the room when she dies and she quietly slips away. It seems so much more tragic, and sad. How did Jo feel when she realized that Beth was gone? How terrible and hard it must be to watch someone you love slip away and know there is nothing you can do to stop it. The last line of the chapter where Beth dies ends with the thought "Beth is well at last." Tear. Actually, waterfall.

Throughout this book is the not-so-subtle Christian undertones. In the first chapter of the book, the girls are given guide books to guide them through life. They read their Bibles every morning. This family has its fair share of trials, poverty, human trials and the death of Beth but in the end, they all end happy as can be. Jo with her Professor in her school and two sons, Meg with John and her twins, Amy and Laurie with their little girl, Beth, while the original Beth is safe at home where she cannot be sick again. I remember in a literature class in college, (one of the many) where an author sometimes acts like a god to their characters. They decide who lives, who dies, who is bad, who is good etc. With some authors you can tell who they like the best depending on how they make it through the story. Our author loves everyone of the characters, even Beth. They all end happy because they live their lives based on goodness and taking care of others around them. 

Book one down. Coming next is one I have not read before, Catch 22 by Joseph Heller. From the virtuous to the ridiculous.

Little Woman Part 1

For my first selection on this reading list I chose Little Woman by Louisa May Alcott. Let me say that I have read this book before but it has been a long time since I have done so. When I was little I had an abridged version with illustrations that I read over and over and over again. I remember feeling so smart because the book was so big and I was smart enough to read it. When I was older and I got an unabridged copy I was surprised at how different it was. It was still the same story but my beloved illustrations were missing! The biggest difference was the writing and it took me a bit before I got used to that. Now at a ripe old age, I decided that this book would be the best to start my list because it is one that i love and one that I have not read in a while.

 

This book is a feel good book, there are many trails and heartbreaking moments, but if you want a book that in the end will make you feel pretty happy, this is it. It begins in Massachusetts during the Civil War. As a reader, you are introduced to the March family, Marmee or Mother, Meg the oldest, Jo the tomboy and writer, Beth the sweet, even-tempered and shy daughter and last, Amy the artist. You hear of their father only to learn that even though he is an older man, he has volunteered to serve as a chaplain in the Union Army. This family is remarkably close. They tell each other everything and lean on each other for support. The family used  to be rich but the kind father lent money to a friend to help with a business deal that went sour so the family lost their money.

There must always be a young man, his name is Theodore Lawrence, or Laurie. Oh how I used to wish for my Laurie to come along! He is smart, sweet, funny, rich and generally a great guy! You (or at least I) can't help having heart flutterings when he and Jo run around and share jokes and play jokes on the family. He is the March's neighbor and it takes Jo's blunt and matter-of-fact "charms" to get him out of the house and into the story. Who will he marry? (you know it has to be one of the March sisters but with so many to choose from, you never know!) 

Part One serves as an extended introduction. The reader gets to know each and every sister and the world around them. Since the sisters are so different, the reader has a good chance of identifying with at least one. Jo is my favorite. She is a blunt tomboy who loves to read and write and will never be a "proper young lady." She is usually outside running around (something a young lady just should not do) or reading. I think that I identify with her since I usually say the wrong thing  and I prefer to be outdoors and reading! I love her friendship with Laurie and how she tries to be the proper lady Meg wants her to be but never really does. Instead she becomes a woman in her own way, which I think is just as charming. 

Part One also lays the groundwork for what happens in the rest of the novel. While caring for a poor family, Beth gets sick with Scarlett Fever. She is very sick and while the mother is called away to care for her sick husband in Washington, Beth gets sicker and sicker. The doctors fear that she will die and the sisters and Laurie send a telegram to their mother. Beth eventually does get better, but doesn't seem to be quite the same. John Brooke is introduced as Laurie's tutor, and of course he falls in love with Meg. She is still young but he confesses his undying love for her and tells her that he will work for her hand. It all seems romantic but I didn't like the way John did it. He still treated her like a child while asking her to be his partner. It really bugged me. I was actually hoping that Meg would shut the door in his face, like Jo would have, and told him to come back when he can speak to her like an equal. But no dice, she swoons and tells him that she will wait. Another thing that bothers me about that whole situation is that it takes Aunt March telling Meg that she can't marry him to actually make her accept him. Isn't that a good reason to marry? You told me not to so I am going to, take that you crotchety old woman! 

The perfect paring for this book is a cup of tea and a hammock or couch, preferably outside but inside works as long as the curtains are open to let in the light. Quite relaxing. 

Part Two begins now!