I am a big fan of futuristic or post-apocalyptic science fiction novels. A really good futuristic novel is not only intriguing and engrossing because of the fictional future world it depicts, but it is also rather frightening because the reader can see parallels to our own present-day societies. Books like 1984 or The Giver are prime examples of this. These novels would not be nearly so powerful if we didn't see Big Brothers or vestiges of the community in our own lives.
Two such novels look at some very important questions: do some members of society have more value than others? Should some members of society be used to improve the lives of others? Are some people dispensable for the greater good? This isn't a new issue. We see it everyday in abortion clinics and in the debates about euthanasia. This blog isn't intended as a platform for either of those issues but it is hard to dispute that the futures described in The Unit and Never Let Me Go are very frightening possibilities.
In Ninni Holmqvist's The Unit, there is a special place reserved for those who don't contribute meaningfully to society. The unit is full of unmarried and childless men and women, past middle age who do not work in important industries. They are given fine food and entertainment, art, recreation and the company of others. While the unit is a pleasant place, it has a much more sinister purpose: the residents of the unit are kept healthy for as long as possible while their bodies are slowly harvested for the desirables. The men and women of the unit are fully aware of their role in society. They are even accepting of their imminent deaths- but what happens when two people on the unit fall in love? Holmqvist keeps the reader emotionally invested in the novel, right up until the surprising- but perfect- ending.
Kazuo Ishiguro explores similar themes in Never Let Me Go. Kathy narrates her experiences growing up in an unusual English boarding school. As Kathy transitions from childhood to adulthood, she dares to deam about a future with the boy she loves. More than anything, Kathy just wants to be a normal girl- will she be given the chance? As you put the pieces together, you will be captivated by Ishiguro's commentary on humanity and value. This is a complex, multi-layered and intelligent novel.
I hope that you will enjoy these novels and, more importantly, I hope they will make you see the frightening possibilities.
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Thursday, May 20, 2010
My Hero!
The last time I bought a book on opening day, it was the long awaited seventh installment of the Harry Potter series. I love to own books, but I try to only buy books that I have read and immensely enjoyed so I don't have shelves full of mediocre books that I will never read again. The exception- besides Harry Potter- is Lee Child's newest book which came out on Tuesday. I picked it up on release day and read it that evening...and I was not disappointed!
Lee Child's 61 Hours is the latest installment in the Jack Reacher series. Reacher is an ex-military cop who drifts from town to town with only the clothes on his back, a foldable toothbrush and an expired passport. He is homeless by choice, used to his military upbringing and career in which he moved constantly. He feels restless when he is in one place for too long, so he drifts all over the United States, buying clothes as he needs them (even carrying a small bag makes him feel tied down) and always in search of the perfect cup of coffee. Reacher is a giant- he is 6'5 and he weighs about 250 pounds. His battle scars from the military and his many misadventures add to his imposing looks. He is not looking for trouble as he drifts from town to town, but trouble always finds him. He will operate outside the law when his sense of justice warrants it. Whether he's protecting an innocent or it's self-defense, or whether he's punishing someone for a ghastly crime, Reacher's violence is always justifiable. He is reluctant at times to get involved in other people's concerns, but once in he will do his best to help and protect others. Reacher is the ultimate hero, and can always be relied upon to save the day.
It is not just the unusual and very likeable hero that makes these novels so great. Lee Child is a master at creating suspense. He writes in a straightforward, sparse style, never using a word he doesn't need. This builds up and creates suspense, so these books are hard to put down.
In 61 Hours, Reacher finds himself stranded in a town in South Dakota during a bitterly cold blizzard. He is soon helping the police to protect an old woman-and key witness- and to hunt down an unknown killer. He soon learns that there is a greater conspiracy at work, and that the corruption may have spread to the police force. The police must abandon the town during a riot at the nearby prison, leaving Reacher as the woman's only hope. Will he be able to keep the both of them alive? The suspense picks up throughout the book until the unforgettable conclusion- let's just say that I'll be buying the next installment, which will be released in October.
If you decide to read the Jack Reacher books, there are thirteen other novels. I would recommend reading 61 Hours last, or at least after you've read a few other ones. These are not books that must be read in order, but the first novel is The Killing Floor. I read them out of order, and each book is a story of its own- you'll pick up details of Reacher's early life and personality as you go.
In short, if you want novels with an unforgettable hero and pulse-racing suspense, try Lee Child's Jack Reacher series. You will not be disappointed!
Lee Child's 61 Hours is the latest installment in the Jack Reacher series. Reacher is an ex-military cop who drifts from town to town with only the clothes on his back, a foldable toothbrush and an expired passport. He is homeless by choice, used to his military upbringing and career in which he moved constantly. He feels restless when he is in one place for too long, so he drifts all over the United States, buying clothes as he needs them (even carrying a small bag makes him feel tied down) and always in search of the perfect cup of coffee. Reacher is a giant- he is 6'5 and he weighs about 250 pounds. His battle scars from the military and his many misadventures add to his imposing looks. He is not looking for trouble as he drifts from town to town, but trouble always finds him. He will operate outside the law when his sense of justice warrants it. Whether he's protecting an innocent or it's self-defense, or whether he's punishing someone for a ghastly crime, Reacher's violence is always justifiable. He is reluctant at times to get involved in other people's concerns, but once in he will do his best to help and protect others. Reacher is the ultimate hero, and can always be relied upon to save the day.
It is not just the unusual and very likeable hero that makes these novels so great. Lee Child is a master at creating suspense. He writes in a straightforward, sparse style, never using a word he doesn't need. This builds up and creates suspense, so these books are hard to put down.
In 61 Hours, Reacher finds himself stranded in a town in South Dakota during a bitterly cold blizzard. He is soon helping the police to protect an old woman-and key witness- and to hunt down an unknown killer. He soon learns that there is a greater conspiracy at work, and that the corruption may have spread to the police force. The police must abandon the town during a riot at the nearby prison, leaving Reacher as the woman's only hope. Will he be able to keep the both of them alive? The suspense picks up throughout the book until the unforgettable conclusion- let's just say that I'll be buying the next installment, which will be released in October.
If you decide to read the Jack Reacher books, there are thirteen other novels. I would recommend reading 61 Hours last, or at least after you've read a few other ones. These are not books that must be read in order, but the first novel is The Killing Floor. I read them out of order, and each book is a story of its own- you'll pick up details of Reacher's early life and personality as you go.
In short, if you want novels with an unforgettable hero and pulse-racing suspense, try Lee Child's Jack Reacher series. You will not be disappointed!
Monday, May 17, 2010
Frugal Chic
My husband and I have increasingly been leaning towards a more frugal lifestyle. We've always tried to be responsible with money, but it's so easy to get caught up in consumerism. Unfortunately, consumerism never ends, because there's always something bigger and better out there. We're finding that our lives are increasingly full of stuff, and downsizing, streamlinging and de-cluttering has never been so appealing. So when I spotted a book called The New Frugality: How to Consume Less, Save More, and Live Better by Chris Farrell on my library shelves, it seemed to be right up my alley.
This is a good book- well written, and full of great advice. Unfortunately it wasn't quite what I expected. I thought it would talk in depth about strategies to reduce consumerism and embrace a frugal lifestyle. It does touch on this, but it is more of a financial planning book than frugal living book. If you're looking for advice about mortgages and low risk investments, this is a great book. Because I live in Canada, many of the advice about specific American funds and companies was completely inapplicable- though that's not really the book's fault. Nonetheless, this book is full of wise advice about financial stewardship. Mr. Farrell's advice rests on a few principles that any reader can take away:
1. Create financial margin- it's ridiculously simple. Just stop spending more than you have.
2. Save Save Save- You never know what's ahead, so start saving for retirement, and possible hard times.
3. Invest smart- Go for low risk options that will give you a modest payoff. Don't gamble with the stock market or expect your home to be a lucrative investment.
4. Try to live better instead of richer- Get out of the mindset that money = happiness. Invest in what matters- your family and loved ones, and making the world a better place.
The New Frugality is an interesting and engaging book. It was able to keep me reading despite some of the dryer financial stuff. Farrell uses anecdotes to keep the material interesting and engaging. It is a breath of fresh air in a society that emphasizes stuff and more stuff. It's definitely worth a read if you're wanting to become frugal chic.
We're definitely excited about embracing frugality in our everyday lives. We're tired of consuming to death, and we want to be smarter about the way we spend our money. I hope that more books will be written on the subject, and that this trend will slowly catch on. Let's get out of the mindset that we need so much stuff, and let's start living within our means.
For a great short video about consumerism and the environment, go to http://www.storyofstuff.com/
It will open your eyes about the harmfulness of consumerism.
Let's embrace frugal chic together!
This is a good book- well written, and full of great advice. Unfortunately it wasn't quite what I expected. I thought it would talk in depth about strategies to reduce consumerism and embrace a frugal lifestyle. It does touch on this, but it is more of a financial planning book than frugal living book. If you're looking for advice about mortgages and low risk investments, this is a great book. Because I live in Canada, many of the advice about specific American funds and companies was completely inapplicable- though that's not really the book's fault. Nonetheless, this book is full of wise advice about financial stewardship. Mr. Farrell's advice rests on a few principles that any reader can take away:
1. Create financial margin- it's ridiculously simple. Just stop spending more than you have.
2. Save Save Save- You never know what's ahead, so start saving for retirement, and possible hard times.
3. Invest smart- Go for low risk options that will give you a modest payoff. Don't gamble with the stock market or expect your home to be a lucrative investment.
4. Try to live better instead of richer- Get out of the mindset that money = happiness. Invest in what matters- your family and loved ones, and making the world a better place.
The New Frugality is an interesting and engaging book. It was able to keep me reading despite some of the dryer financial stuff. Farrell uses anecdotes to keep the material interesting and engaging. It is a breath of fresh air in a society that emphasizes stuff and more stuff. It's definitely worth a read if you're wanting to become frugal chic.
We're definitely excited about embracing frugality in our everyday lives. We're tired of consuming to death, and we want to be smarter about the way we spend our money. I hope that more books will be written on the subject, and that this trend will slowly catch on. Let's get out of the mindset that we need so much stuff, and let's start living within our means.
For a great short video about consumerism and the environment, go to http://www.storyofstuff.com/
It will open your eyes about the harmfulness of consumerism.
Let's embrace frugal chic together!
Monday, May 10, 2010
Should we censor Hitler?
Censorship is one of those hot button issues that is very difficult to resolve. Obviously there's a line for everyone (ie. no playboy in Elementary Schools), but that line tends to be drawn in different places. My opinion on the topic is that it's up to the reader and in the case of children, the parents, to decide what is appropriate or not. Librarians should select age-appropriate materials for school libraries, and parents should monitor what their children are reading and (gasp) discuss those titles with them. One parent at a school or a library, in my opinion, does not have the right to decide what all the other children can read. It's simple- if you don't like it, don't read it!
My beliefs have been tested over the last couple weeks after I read an article in Macleans Magazine (to read the full article, click here: http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/04/21/the-return-of-hitler/). This article discusses the resurgence of Hitler's ideas in various countries, exemplified in Hitler-chic clothing, elected politicians with anti-semitic leanings, and the renewed interest in his book, Mein Kampf. Normally I would say that it is up to the individual to decide what to read or not, but in the case of hate literature like Mein Kampf, it is not so simple. Eight million people were murdered because of Hitler's ideas- is this really a book that we should allow on our library shelves?
I had this discussion with some co-workers at the library, and one quoted a very powerful quote that I thought very applicable:
Obscenity is not a quality inherent in a book or picture, but is solely and exclusively a contribution of the reading mind, and hence cannot be defined in terms of the qualities of a book or picture. ~Theodore Schroeder
In short, Mr. Schroeder suggests that a book is powerless on its own- it is the reader that gives a novel power and validity. What frightens me is not the book itself- it is merely the ramblings of a paranoid and deluded man- but the readers who will give those beliefs power. Hitler's ideas were powerless on their own- it was the masses of people that supported him that gave him credibility and transformed those ideas into action.
Thankfully, it goes both ways. Readers also have the power to strip Hitler of power, and to replace his hatred with honour and love for his many victims. Perhaps the book can serve as a souvenir of the basest aspects of humanity. Perhaps by remembering both the victims and the perpetrators, we can ensure that we will not victimize others. We can't pretend that evil doesn't exist, and we can't erase the blights on our histories. All we can do is do our very best to ensure they don't happen again.
In short, let Hitler stay on our library shelves. There are many valid reasons to read the book that do not give power to his hate-filled spewings. But let's continue to educate ourselves and each-other so that we don't give his ideas power ever again.
My beliefs have been tested over the last couple weeks after I read an article in Macleans Magazine (to read the full article, click here: http://www2.macleans.ca/2010/04/21/the-return-of-hitler/). This article discusses the resurgence of Hitler's ideas in various countries, exemplified in Hitler-chic clothing, elected politicians with anti-semitic leanings, and the renewed interest in his book, Mein Kampf. Normally I would say that it is up to the individual to decide what to read or not, but in the case of hate literature like Mein Kampf, it is not so simple. Eight million people were murdered because of Hitler's ideas- is this really a book that we should allow on our library shelves?
I had this discussion with some co-workers at the library, and one quoted a very powerful quote that I thought very applicable:
Obscenity is not a quality inherent in a book or picture, but is solely and exclusively a contribution of the reading mind, and hence cannot be defined in terms of the qualities of a book or picture. ~Theodore Schroeder
In short, Mr. Schroeder suggests that a book is powerless on its own- it is the reader that gives a novel power and validity. What frightens me is not the book itself- it is merely the ramblings of a paranoid and deluded man- but the readers who will give those beliefs power. Hitler's ideas were powerless on their own- it was the masses of people that supported him that gave him credibility and transformed those ideas into action.
Thankfully, it goes both ways. Readers also have the power to strip Hitler of power, and to replace his hatred with honour and love for his many victims. Perhaps the book can serve as a souvenir of the basest aspects of humanity. Perhaps by remembering both the victims and the perpetrators, we can ensure that we will not victimize others. We can't pretend that evil doesn't exist, and we can't erase the blights on our histories. All we can do is do our very best to ensure they don't happen again.
In short, let Hitler stay on our library shelves. There are many valid reasons to read the book that do not give power to his hate-filled spewings. But let's continue to educate ourselves and each-other so that we don't give his ideas power ever again.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Past and Present, Intertwined
I love novels that alternate between the past and the present. When a novel like this is well done, the historical story enriches the story taking place in contemporary times. Two novels that do a brilliant job of intertwining the past and present to make one richly complex story are The Forgotten Garden by Kate Morton, and The Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson.
The Forgotten Garden is a title that I instantly fell in love with. A few chapters in, I knew that I loved this novel, and the rest of the story did not disappoint. Morton beautifully weaves this story, seamlessly blending mystery, history and fairy tale together, and telling a story across several generations. I was captivated and absorbed by this book and deeply invested in the fate of each heroine. It is an exquisite story- deeply moving, acutely tragic and yet profoundly uplifting and hopeful.
It is 1913. A small child is found at the docks in Australia. The dockmaster and his wife decide to raise the child as their own, since she is unable to tell them who she is or why she is alone. As an adult, Nell sets out to solve the mystery of her past. But it is a complex, layered mystery, and it is not until after her death that her grandaughter is able to fully solve the mystery. This novel takes place at several different points in time. As you read, you slowly put the pieces together until you have a truly wonderful story. I just loved it. I have recommended this novel many times, and everyone who has read it has really enjoyed it as well. I also read Morton's A House at Riverton, and while it can't compete with The Forgotten Garden, it is an excellent read as well.
More recently, I read The Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson. This novel takes place in Cornwall, in the 17th century, and in present day. Julia is a woman in a dysfunctional relationship with her friend's husband. He breaks up with her to make amends with his wife, and he gives her an antique embroidery book. Written in the book are diary entries from 19 year old Catherine, an embroider living in Cornwall in 1625. Catherine is kidnapped from her church by pirates and brought to Morocco as a slave. Catherine writes about her terrifying experiences, and Julia journeys to Morocco to learn more about Catherine's story. As Julia encounters Catherine in her writings, she must find her own path, and perhaps her own love story as well. The Tenth Gift offers a glimpse into a different time and place, a different culture, and an oft ignored part of history.
Both novels are enchanting, and Johnson and Morton demonstrate the ways the past can enrich the present. I highly recommend them both.
The Forgotten Garden is a title that I instantly fell in love with. A few chapters in, I knew that I loved this novel, and the rest of the story did not disappoint. Morton beautifully weaves this story, seamlessly blending mystery, history and fairy tale together, and telling a story across several generations. I was captivated and absorbed by this book and deeply invested in the fate of each heroine. It is an exquisite story- deeply moving, acutely tragic and yet profoundly uplifting and hopeful.
It is 1913. A small child is found at the docks in Australia. The dockmaster and his wife decide to raise the child as their own, since she is unable to tell them who she is or why she is alone. As an adult, Nell sets out to solve the mystery of her past. But it is a complex, layered mystery, and it is not until after her death that her grandaughter is able to fully solve the mystery. This novel takes place at several different points in time. As you read, you slowly put the pieces together until you have a truly wonderful story. I just loved it. I have recommended this novel many times, and everyone who has read it has really enjoyed it as well. I also read Morton's A House at Riverton, and while it can't compete with The Forgotten Garden, it is an excellent read as well.
More recently, I read The Tenth Gift by Jane Johnson. This novel takes place in Cornwall, in the 17th century, and in present day. Julia is a woman in a dysfunctional relationship with her friend's husband. He breaks up with her to make amends with his wife, and he gives her an antique embroidery book. Written in the book are diary entries from 19 year old Catherine, an embroider living in Cornwall in 1625. Catherine is kidnapped from her church by pirates and brought to Morocco as a slave. Catherine writes about her terrifying experiences, and Julia journeys to Morocco to learn more about Catherine's story. As Julia encounters Catherine in her writings, she must find her own path, and perhaps her own love story as well. The Tenth Gift offers a glimpse into a different time and place, a different culture, and an oft ignored part of history.
Both novels are enchanting, and Johnson and Morton demonstrate the ways the past can enrich the present. I highly recommend them both.
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