Getting My Brain's Groove Back

I have a couple of friends whose blogs are always extremely intelligent and witty, and I don't think it's a coincidence that both of them are avid readers (links to their blogs are listed on the right). After my pathetic post about my fuzzy brain, I decided I was going to make an effort to reawaken my rusty brain by following their examples and reading books that require some thought. I love that our library has a website that allows you to find a book and request it from any of the libraries in the county. I think this is pretty standard these days, but I never truly appreciated it until I started dragging two kids into the library, grabbing little hands that were ripping books off the shelves, hauling a heavy baby carrier behind me down narrow aisles of books, only to find that the book that was supposed to be on the shelf was nowhere to be found. It's glorious to walk up to the desk and have all the books my heart desires in 2 minutes. So when I read Jenny's review for "The Little Giant of Aberdeen County," I requested it immediately. While I was on her blog (Red Hot Eyebrows), I scanned through some of her older posts, and requested "Paper Towns" as well, because it sounded intriguing. I'm giving you links to her reviews because they say everything I'd like to, and, although reading these books gave my brain a jump start, I'm still a little sluggish, and Jenny is not.

I am going to tell you what I think of both books, though. Just not in as much depth and detail as Jenny. Starting with "Paper Towns," by John Green. First of all, a warning: this book is about 18-year-old guys that may not share the same standards as other boys you know. In other words, there's a bit of swearing and some less-than-appropriate dialogue that takes place. (Think of Juno.) However, the dialogue is very real and relatable if you can overlook the language. The main characters are band geeks and nerds, so I felt a kinship immediately. The main character is also the narrator of the story, which I enjoy, because it allows you to see inside his head and experience his emotional journey. This novel explores the differences and similarities we share as the human race. It reveals the limitations we put on ourselves and each other by defining ourselves as a "type" (popular, band geek, nerd, jock, jerk). It really left me thinking about how others see me, and how I view myself. Does my behavior reflect who I really am? Do people really know me? And do I really know other people? And ultimately, how do we deal with the challenges we face? See, my brain really got working with this one! And the great thing about this book is that all those questions are wrapped neatly into a fascinating story that keeps you riveted until the last page.

"The Little Giant of Aberdeen County" by Tiffany Baker is actually quite similar underneath the story. Like "Paper Towns," the narrative is in first-person. The narrator is Truly Plaice, a giantess in a small town. She endures persecution by the small-minded (hee hee) people in the town, who only see her as a hulking nuisance that offers nothing to their town. Her sister is the town beauty, which emphasizes Truly's size and ugliness even more. As she gets older and continues to be treated poorly, she harbors resentment and anger deep inside. She has two good friends, who are also outcasts. Each of them deals with what life has dealt them in different ways. The way they each react to their difficult lives made me stop and consider how I react to adversity. Do I become vengeful and bitter? Do I focus on something I love and let criticism roll off my back? Or do I clam up and become eaten up inside, allowing myself to waste away? The characters in this book are complex and real. They all have faults and weaknesses, but each of them has something redeeming in their make-up as well. It's how they cope with the hand life has dealt them that reveals who they really are. I think this is a great book group book. There is a lot to discuss, yet the story moves along well and captivates the reader well. I tore through it because it was so interesting.

It was so refreshing to read books that didn't involve magic wands or elves or mind control. Just good stories with lots to think about. Thanks, Jenny, for mentioning these books. Now I'm going to get onto Rachel K's book reviews and find some more treasures.