The Book List of a Free Woman

Hello there (: A couple of posts ago I mentioned that I would be tracking down some books by authors reward the Nobel Prize for literature, and track down I did, though not as many as originally anticipated. Instead, I decided to switch out prize wining works for a few books that have been sitting on my to read list for a while. I would have more to report, but I unwittingly reached my library’s lending limit at 10 books. So here’s what I managed to find for my Christmas break book list, aka the book list of a free woman (4 weeks without textbooks!)

The Kill by Emile Zola. I originally wanted Germinal, but wimped out when I saw the width of the English translation. Just wanted to try out this French author.

Winter Trees by Sylvia Plath. You may have heard that Sylvia went quite mad, and I’ve heard that some of her works reflect that, so obviously I’ve wanted to read something by the controversial authoress for some time. The Bell Jar, her most popular novel, was unavailable, so I’ll give this thin volume a try.

Canto: Studies in Words by C.S. Lewis. Literally a study of words, an interesting little book.It’s been on my list for a couple of years.

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovichby Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn. A Nobel prize winner I randomly picked of the list of laureates.

Electric Light: Poems by Seamus Heaney, also a laureate, but one of whom I’d actually heard. He is known for his translation of Beowulf.

One Man’s Bible by Gao Xingjian, a Chinese laureate known for the realism of his often semi-autobiographical novels and plays. I’m really excited to be ready literature actually out of China instead of about China.

China Road by Rob Gifford. A critically acclaimed travelogue! Need an easy read to fall back on after all the other dense stuff I’ll be working to scratch of my list.

Aurora Leigh by Elizabeth Barrett Browning. Still working on this thick poem/novel, but I love it for the challenge.

Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut. Mostly reading it to see if the fiction deserves the hype.

So this is my stack of happiness, progress will be reported to you intermittently with some sparse reviewing. Happy Christmas readings!

Foreign Affairs

I have monumentally happy news! Most people would not become nearly as ecstatic as I did when I found this long-awaited journal in my mailbox, but to each their blissful own. The precious arrival was Foreign Affairs, a journal I will be so opinionated to call the best resource on, well, foreign affairs.

Topics include expert commentary on current events and developments in current foreign policy, both of which showcase the well-developed opinions of their diverse authors. A quick sampling of what can be found within the pages this issue (Dec/Jan) ~ an article on developments in American diplomacy by Hillary Rodham Clinton, a beautifully formed book-list on releases the publication deems exceptional in their fields, and several articles arguing different opinions on shifts in global power. Contributors have extensive experience in academia, government, and all manner of smart and worthwhile things.

Any one interested in International Relations should get their hands on this great resource at Foreign Affairs.com. Don’t worry, I will not subject you to my rambling summaries of the content of these articles in future blogs. These articles are too dense for my unqualified self to effectively explain to anyone else, especially in “light-hearted” blog format. Just wanted to share my happiness with fellow lovers (or perhaps soon to be) of international affairs.

A Little Challenge

This is going to be a short post, as I realize the last posts have been a bit long. So here it is in the proverbial nutshell – I have a month long break for Christmas! No papers, exams, classes – for an entire month. That means on cold nights I can curl up with books I actually want to read, and read more than ten pages before passing out from exhaustion. Check out my Shelfari account to see what I’ll be reading – and sign up for an account yourself if you are a fellow book lover.

I’ve also decided to use the time to complete a bit of a challenge, something I’ve been wanting to do for almost a year but haven’t had the time. I finally made me way over to the Nobel Prize website, specifically the comprehensive list of Nobel laureates in literature, of which there are over 107 who have received awards from 1901 to the present. I found the variety (not a first though, it was mostly old, white academic men with odd hairstyles. see the pictures of the first few winners listed) of chosen authors to be intriguing, and I have decided that over Christmas break I will read works by at least 10 of these authors, 20 if I can find them at the library. I’ve always wondered what kind of literature wins this prestigious prize, and I finally have the time to find out for myself. I’ll post updates on what works I decide to read, and how I liked them when its all said and done. Here’s hoping you will enjoy this adventure as much as I will (perhaps you will read some of your own along with me) – don’t stop checking in at the blog, even if this doesn’t interest you. Normal posts on anything and everything will still be posted weekly.

Short reviews of Blue Like Jazz and Aurora Leigh are coming up! Happy December

Fairy Tale, Stage Two?

When I am forced by my work load into an all-nighter, which unfortunately occurred last night, I often play bad romantic comedies in the background to break up the 4am silence so conducive to sleeping. As I half listened to dialogue I had heard before, played on a similar night under the same circumstances, I had a slight glimpse of insight into a new theme being pushed by rom com writers – that of the ever popular fairytale, but with a new twist. Fairy tale ending, stage two; You may know this relatively new theme as happily ever after, post-divorce. And it goes a little something like this.

Beautiful, middle-aged people normally are the stars of the screen in this type of rom com. They have successful jobs, glamorous lives in the city, maybe a small child with flawless bone structure and wide, innocent eyes. There are variations, but we’re just talking basic plot.

Recently separated or divorced (sometimes the spouse has died, but not usually), these people are either afraid/tired of the dating scene. By some miracle of fate (in Disney’s Enchanted, a woman from a cheery animated world falls upward through a sewer grating in a NYC alleyway, for goodness sake!), the divorcee falls head over heals for someone they never expected to like, let alone love, getting a second chance at that ever popular fairytale.

I have nothing against happy endings or even divorce, but I do have something against the disposable marriage model this theme  is subtly promoting. And I’m not looking for conspiracies here, I’m just look at the plot without the “movie magic”. For one, happy endings are earned, not fallen into. Love is a choice; it is not an infatuation or a sexual attraction – both may fade. It is a decision to love one person unconditionally despite their faults and yours.

Secondly, Enchanted is rated PG and intended for child audiences. I’m not bashing the movie, it’s adorable, and enjoyed it – but I do have a problem with the carelessness with which the writers throw that first marriage aside. Ending a marriage is a BIG DEAL, especially for children. Telling them it is not a major issue is not OK, and writers are promoting an even stronger legacy of the too easily justified divorce to the next generation of married people. And we need marriage – it makes our social system go round.

With media messages like these, where a former marriage is carelessly brushed aside for a new, brighter chance at a happy ending, a higher divorce rate becomes more inevitable. It justifies the current generation’s lagging urge to care enough to suffer through another person’s faults (this sounds depressing – there are many bright spots earned through the hard work that goes into a good marriage. there is a great deal of hope in sticking with it). At the same time it is preparing future generations for low standards in marital perseverance and higher divorce rates, which most people would agree is not desirable.

These are just observations. I am not bashing divorcees or taking a holier than thou approach; I’m just telling us to look a little bit deeper at the shift of values in marriage. Ask yourself – can we afford this decline?

Reliable (and interesting!) Sources

I often hunt through search results for a decent travel blog, which, to my continued surprise, is incredibly hard to find. Here I find myself in a situation similar to the one I experience every time I search for reliable blogs on any subject – they take longer than the ideal to find. Often, I come across blogs on the exact subject I’ve been looking for and find that I can barely wade through the horrible writing. Ok, so those few frustrated sentences lead up to this – links! I’ve found a great few of excellent caliber lately, thanks to some miracle of internet fate. These authors have great taste in writing, subject matter, site organization, and photography. Though their subject matter is extremely varied, I wanted to post some of my favorites in each field here for you to check out. This rather comprehensive list will also paint a pretty clear picture of my tastes and possible subjects future blogs may explore. As you skim the blogs, always notice the blogs the author is connected with (normally listed under another tab or on the right side of the blog)  if you find what they are writing about interesting. You may find another blog you like even more, which you can then recommend to me! I’ll read absolutely anything that is well written

In travel – Amanda Kendle of Not a Ballerina is a phenomenal writer with interesting and varied experience in her subject matter of choice. I strongly suggest clicking through her archives, as she has been to some amazing places you would be unlikely to hear of otherwise. I really cannot recommend her blog enough.

In baking AND fashion (this multi-talented woman does both) – Audrey Dettmar of Home Run Ballerina is a good, clever female writer not afraid of dressing up while bragging about eating wonderful food. She is a professional baker and her site has fantastic photography. Her posts are somewhat sporadic, but worth the wait.

I found the two above blogs accidentally while searching for blogs on ballet. I’ve yet to find any ballet related blogs, but these two finds have become my favorite blogs!

Whimsical fashion – Rebecca of the Clothes Horse, my favorite fashion blogger, has a beautifully organized site offering relatable fashion information for readers of all tastes. She and her significant other always put great imagery up in new posts,  photographing her outfits in beautiful landscapes and in creative ways almost daily. Plus, the writing is clean and down to earth. Thoroughly pleasant blog to skim weekly or even daily.

And on a more serious note, foreign diplomacy (more interesting than it sounds, especially when written by interesting well-traveled authors) – A couple recently place in Bahrain, Two Crabs has been all over the world. The have great opinions (though I don’t necessarily agree with all of them) on important issues not normally discussed on the news. For me, the most interesting facet of the blog is reading through the archives to learn about what it takes to achieve a career in diplomacy.

On Teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) in Japan – Christy Bahr of My World on a Page presents a sincere picture of actual life in Amori, Japan. The high level of care she shows for the people and culture of Amori comes through in simple, sweet writing and photography.

On ESL in China – Robert G. Longpre and his wife of lawai teacher are both returning to China to teach at a university, and the blog is chronicling their process step by step. Though the photography is not very creative and the writing sometimes dry, the journey they are taking is very interesting. He gives details about the process I have not been able to find anywhere else.

On Missionary life in Harar, Ethiopia – Sarah Graefe of Uncharted: A Mission Diary is passionate about the needs of the Ethiopian people, and she is serving a one year term living among the people. On a side note, she is my best friend, so I am biased. The photography, though not of amazing quality, is taken of some very interesting subject matter. The passion comes through in her writing. Read it people.

Accurate opinions and reporting on Foreign Policy - Foreign Affairs magazine offers its major articles online (though I highly recommend subscribing). I love it purely for its accuracy and breadth of information. Well researched articles seems like an understatement.

If you want government issues with strictly no opinion, which you may need for a paper, try the Foreign Press Center which is published under the Department of State. Up to date information on any foreign issue the government is involved in. My go-to source for statistics, and the source looks good on a paper. Tip – don’t be daunted by length, just read the provided summary. Often that is all you will need.

And to end favorite web sources, my two favorite news resources, The Economist is hands down the best global news publication available. Some of the issues are a bit heady, but all are objectively reported and well-written about the most relevant issues today. This should be required reading (and it is in several college economics/global affairs courses). And The BBC, a more popular news source with articles sorted by country.

So if this list isn’t a rather comprehensive peek into my brain, I don’t know what is. Many of these sources are excellent for research or just expanding your basic knowledge of how the world works, while others are fun, light-hearted breaks from the more serious issues. I put a lot of time into compiling the list, so I hope it helps someone Happy searching.

Refocusing

Yet another refocusing. I’ve realized that although I’m far from consistent, I really love the stuff – I just can’t give up on blogging quite yet. Consistency in my current life is a monumental challenge from where I stand. I’m a full-time college student, which gives my life more than its needed amount of “suck it up, sit down, and get it done.” Six courses and all the crazy work that requires have consumed most of my free time for the last four months, but now that the semester is almost over I’m trying to recapture the ambition to do not only the things I need to, but also the things I love. And so here I am again, several stressful term papers later, ready to write the fun stuff.

To celebrate my relative freedom (I still have finals, but oh well…) and blogging ambition, I’ve refreshed the blog format with a new theme. Also, I took the time to think about what I really wanted to write about. The main theme will still be literature, as I have a backlog of reviews ready to be dusted off and posted, but the blog will also take on a new facet by addressing my love of global affairs and China studies. Over time I have accumulated tons of great sources and developed new opinions on both subjects,and though that may not appeal to current readers, it may attract new ones. Also, interesting observations/adventures from my own day to life, though they will probably be few and far between, may appear.

So prepare for at least a weekly post on anything from Bronte to the political relationship between China and Tibet to my cooking adventures (for instance -I just cooked up some jet black squid ink pasta. fun story), with added opinions and information from any viable source I can lay my hands on. If I find great links, I promise to share. You will see new writings very soon!

Sincerely, Ellie

Sixpence House

This book is blowing my mind. But let’s rewind just a few hours, shall we? As I scanned the shelves at my local library, my weekly Monday ritual, my face sunk into a frown. The ratio to crappy (UNDERSTATEMENT) romance novels and thrillers to classical novels and monumental works of literature is pathetic! I can barely find a good book, and when I stumble across one through the online catalog, they have to get it from basement storage. Why? Because no one reads them any more. They might actually make people think.

Sorry for the mini rant. Anyway, as I dejectedly glanced through non-fiction as a last resort, my eyes fell upon Sixpence House. The subtitle, Lost in a Town of Books, caught my eye, and I flipped to the description. A book about books for book lovers? Hmm. A glimmer of hope.

So basically, this is one of those books I sincerely wish ran 1,000 pages long. It is extraordinarily witty and hilarious, but in a dry intelligent humor sort of way. As I read, I continue to burst out laughing at the spontaneous bits of hilarity this man put into words. The author chronicles his move to Hay-on-Wye, a little town in Wales with a population of 1,500 and 40 antiquarian books stores. With a subject matter like that, and a combination of wit and some amazing writing skills, this book can do nothing else but be brilliant. And it is. Really brilliant. Do anything necessary to hunt it down and give it a read. The author is Paul Collins.

Rain’s Wings and Birds of Snow

The above excerpt is a whimsical line from one of e.e. cummings poems.

Last year I watched a movie, a crummy chick-flick called In Her Shoes. As the movie wrapped up and I was thinking that I had just wasted two hours that could have been spent reading, the leading lady started quoting a poem. By the time she finished, there were tears in my eyes (very rare) and I was rushing to google to find out who had written the brilliant poem I had just heard. And thus began my love affair with E.E. Cummings.

The poem turned out to be i carry your heart(i carry it in my heart), the entirety of which can be found on my other page entitled Purposes. After several serious hints given to my parents, I received The Collected Poems of E.E. Cummings for Christmas, a massive book  I now read (almost) every day. His poetry is what made me look into other poetry, and so he can be credited for my discovering the greatness of a genre of literature I never thought I would like.

A few of the many reasons why I think he is brilliant. One – his writing always seems innocent and free, often childlike, even when he is conveying massive  ideas behind the words. He paints pictures in my mind somewhat like this

Simplistic in beauty, naturally stunning, yet realistic. Otherworldly yet not.

Two – His deep ideas are actually deep. That’s a poor way of describing it, but the lengthy thought processes his poetry so often ignites in my brain should be proof.

Three – He is a master at using poetry for social commentary. Example – the poem anyone lived in a pretty how town, is one of his more famous poems that exemplifies his ability for poetic social commentary at its best.

Four, to wrap it up – He can write a beautiful, traditionally styled lyric poem yet turn out a completely out of the box free verse with the most diluted punctuation you’ve ever seen. Yet somehow, both mean so much and showcase the different abilities of words to express and be intensely personal. Only a great poet can accomplish that.

Rethinking

Recently I posted two blogs, one on Virginia Woolf and the other on the importance of reading author biographies. In the blog on Woolf I recommended a detailed biography by Julia Briggs called Virginia Woolf: An Inner Life. I withdraw my recommendation. As I began to read more of the book, I discovered things I really never needed to know about the author, and I greatly regret ever picking the bio up in the first place.  I still recommend getting to know the basics about the author, but maybe only through a brief online bio.

Having this experience has made me rethink trying to delve into the author’s mind. Maybe, armed solely with basic details about their life, I should just let their works stand-alone. Especially someone like Virginia Woolf, who created beautiful pieces, but lived her life in such darkness. Now that I know her most minute beliefs, and can see the underlying messages in her books, I find myself disappointed.

Also, I adore the poetry of E.E. Cummings. I love it so much that I am afraid to see the author in his own work, for fear that its otherworldly quality would be tainted by the fact that he was just another flawed man who could write. Therefore, I have avoided any bio other than the one on the first page of my Collected Poems of E.E. Cummings.

Maybe this would be truly respecting the author – letting the work they created stand without them. As I think about it, if I created a novel or wrote a poem, I would like the novel to be judged alone, without my own flaws encroaching upon it. So for now, I think I will return the author biographies I’m currently reading to the library. It may be wrong, but I think I would like to see the books, for the most part, without the authors.

Books on Shelves

Lately I’ve been reading some more modern books, but only non-fiction informative works. I just finished a book about the culinary culture of France at the turn of the century, called A Goose in Toulouse (which I enjoyed more than I expected…) You see, I recently was blessed with my own demi-library, numbering over 400 books of all kinds. Among them are The Great Works of the Western World, Classics Club, and The Harvard five foot shelf of books. The afore mentioned culinary book is also apart of my collection, which ranges from books on the origins of the Persian carpet and a dictionary of american cultural literacy to the collected works of Freud and E.E. Cummings. Great, Huh? This is a very poor picture, and doesn’t show my third bookshelf, but I just wanted to give you an idea. I’ll change this out with a better pic when I get the chance.

These beautiful shelves of books hold several of the works I read and then review on this blog, so I just wanted to show them to you and perhaps brag a bit. I am very proud and happy to have so many BOOKS! They really were a wonderfully unexpected gift that has brought me many smiles and great reads since. I’ve read a couple that I haven’t shared with you yet, but I will eventually when I am not too tired to form intelligent opinions