Recently Read Books: Charming Billy

Charming Billy by Alice McDermott  (fiction)

McDermott is an amazing writer. I LOVED her book “Of Weddings and Wakes” (In that book, she flawlessly enables the reader to enter different perspectives of members of a family—it is an exercise in empathy and realizing that one’s perspective could be quite different from the real thing---like reading about a family through a prism. She trains the reader to distrust his/her own stereotyped judgments towards "the other". Great and beautifully written.) In Charming Billy, McDermott is still an amazing writer, although this book would not make it on my top ten list of favorites. This is the story of a beloved, tragic uncle who ended up an alcoholic. Written from the perspective of the grown niece, stories and memories of this uncle (and the family, in general) piece together into a portrait of a life. I love how McDermott humanizes a family; you begin to see your own relatives through different eyes and realize that experiences make us into much of what we are. The story's gentleness serves as a reminder to withhold brutal judgment from family members that get under your skin. J This book is one of McDermott's most famous ones, but I would say that I enjoyed “Of Weddings and Wakes” more.

Recently Read Books: The Meaning of Marriage

The Meaning of Marriage by Tim Keller  (topical)

I heard great things about this book and I was not disappointed. It was written for singles, for those who are dating, and for those who are married. Keller answers the question, “Why not toss the whole idea of marriage out the window?” with some honest replies. I felt like his honest, openhearted approach took a lot of the terror out of the concept of commitment while giving it a soberness that it deserves. Keller is not afraid to be honest while simultaneously being comforting, helpful, and understanding. Its written for those who are burnt on the idea of marriage; basically, my generation.  I would highly recommend it.

Recently Read Books: The Good Thief

The Good Thief by Hannah Tinti  (fiction)

This book had great ratings but I must say I was a bit disappointed. Tinti is a good writer, and the story is definitely unusual. The main storyline follows a foundling child with a missing arm, and his adventures with the grave-robbing man who claims him from the Catholic orphanage. The boy is trying to discover his identity through the story, but he must undergo some rough times in order to get there. The finale of the book was not good enough for me to feel like all of the nastiness was worth it. There are few characters in this book who do not have something revolting about their appearance, occupation, or lifestyle. That is fine if the writing and the story are great, but this one fell short for me. (Contrary to this book, Daphne du Maurier's "Jamaica Inn" and its complicated, unsavory characters are well developed and the story is fantastic.) 

Recently Read Books: The Scent of Water

The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge (fiction)

This book is an older one, and I picked it up because I had read and loved her republished children’s fairytale entitled “The Little White Horse” (sweet story and delicious writing). While I would rate TLWH as a top-notch children’s book, The Scent of Water would not get the same rating as a story for grown-ups. The ending was not well done, and I feel like Goudge would have done better if she would have limited the story to focusing on her 2 main characters (Mary and her deceased aunt) and not included so many “inner thoughts” or stories about the people in the town, since she did not have quite enough time to properly finish all of their stories. Her descriptive writing is still amazing, and I absolutely loved learning about Mary’s deceased aunt’s story through her diary entries. The diary entries are incredibly unusual as they detail the aunt’s struggle with mental illness (panic attacks and depression) and what she learned of God’s tenderness through her struggles. This book is an older one, and the aunt’s story was set in the late 1800’s-early 1900’s, as a time when there was hardly any counsel or real help for ones who underwent battles of the mind. Those diary entries are probably worth wading through the ho-hum quality of the stories that occur whenever Goudge strays from Mary and the aunt as the main topic; the truths that the aunt learns and clings to in her struggle could have come from an old, precious devotional book. 

Recently Read Books: Abide With Me

Abide with Me by Elizabeth Strout  (fiction)

I read this because the reviews were good. J Although it was not an amazing read, I did enjoy the story of a small town preacher who is struggling with grief over the death of his young wife. What impressed me about Strout’s writing is how she was able to weave the preacher’s subconscious thoughts through the story in an authentic way, which enabled me to see into his soul. Strout chose Dietrich Bonhoeffer as the preacher’s hero and “mentor” (although the preacher had only known the German writer through books), and she must have done a ton of research on Bonhoeffer's life and writings, since she wove them seamlessly and constantly into the preacher’s thought processes. This story helped me catch a glimpse of grief’s inner struggle, and reminded me that most people carry inner burdens. (The preacher is not the only one in the story who is undergoing emotional struggle.) I appreciated Strout’s commitment to her main character's development and to the story: she makes her character go through the entire process of grief, doubt, hurt, anger, and the beginning of healing. Some writers create a great problem but have no idea how to bring it to a conclusion without cheap shortcuts. This book is a good exercise in empathy, reminding the reader that under a brave or caustic exterior often lies a hurting heart.

Recently Read Books: The Creatures that Time Forgot

The Creatures that Time Forgot by Ray Bradbury (science fiction)

I read this because my brother wanted me to. J I loved Ray Bradbury’s book Dandelion Wine (SO good), but this book was nothing like it. Bradbury is well known for his science fiction, so I guess it’s high time I read from his real genre. J  This is a short book/story about a planet where the people-creatures there have a lifespan of only seven days. The main character refuses to use his lifespan for merely his own pleasure; he risks everything trying to find a way to get more time for all. My favorite quote was: “It reminds me that there is something better, something I have missed! Why can’t we be ignorant? Why can’t we live and die without knowing that this is an abnormal living?” True, it’s good not to be satisfied with abnormal living. J

Recently Read Books: River Town

River Town by Peter Hessler  (New York Times bestseller, nonfiction)

A Peace Corps volunteer’s account of his two years spent teaching English in small--town college in China in the later 90’s.  Phenomenal writing and full of astute, perceptive observations of the enigma which is China. I loved reading this book in my fifth year of teaching in China because Hessler gave words to things which I have also experienced, felt, or wondered about. He describes his students and Chinese friends with warmth, giving the reader a glimpse into their personal struggles, small joys, and future hopes. The student writings that he included from his classes served as windows into the souls of these young people standing on the cusp of their futures. While I think anyone who has lived or taught in China will LOVE this book, I think others will enjoy it as well. It would be the perfect book to start on for those whom China seems faraway and monochromatic. An honest retelling by a man who was willing to work hard to establish a human connection with those around him.