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.
Showing posts with label fiction. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fiction. Show all posts
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Saturday, August 30, 2008
My Take on Historical Fiction
I decided, after spending the entire summer reading fantasy novels, it was time to branch out a little. Plus, I was still waiting for the Brandon Sanderson books I'd requested from the library to show up at the hold desk. So I perused the stacks and came across "The Other Boleyn Girl" by Philippa Gregory. I'd seen previews for the movie, and thought, Isn't this about Henry VIII? I don't know much about him! So I checked it out. I started reading it fully aware that there was a chance that it would get too racy for my taste, and I wouldn't finish it. Oh, Philippa, how clever you are.
First, though, a quick summary: Everyone knows Anne Boleyn got beheaded after being married to King Henry VIII. The book is about how her greedy, grasping family got her married to the king in the first place, and what sacrifices were made by her sister, Mary, in order for their family to rise to power. This book may as well be called, "The sexual exploits of the Boleyn girls and their questionable brother." Mary catches the eye of the king while he's married to Katherine of Aragon, Mary becomes his mistress, bears two of his children, a boy and a girl, and is cast aside while pregnant with the boy. Anne catches the king's eye while her sister is busy with childbirth (by the way, hooray for the ridding of a month of confinement before the baby's born). Meanwhile, the queen is trying hard to act like she is the apple of the king's eye, but the king is frustrated by the lack of a legitimate male heir. For 6 years he works with spiritual advisors to weasel his way out of his marriage to a very nice lady. All this time Anne is clinging onto his attention so she can marry him. And she does, as we all know. Mary spends this time as his sometimes lover and wishing she were in the country with her children. And she falls in love with William Stafford, who buys her a farm in the country and they secretly marry. Then Anne has one daughter, Elizabeth, but fails to produce another child, is disliked by the English populus, throws the court into corruption and debauchery, and is beheaded for witchcraft and adultery. So, that's the story.
Ms. Gregory is very very sly in her writing. It's as though she could read my mind and knew that she could start out with fancy, old-fashioned terms to describe the affairs of the king (Mary is dressing alluringly, fade out, fade in and her hair is rumpled and she's exhausted). Then she sneaks in a little more detail, still using antiquated vocabulary that makes everything seem more innocent. And then, at about page 500, she knows you're going to finish the last 100 pages, and starts using the modern-day terms in great detail. Yuck. And it worked. I had already read 500 pages. What's another hundred? Ugh. Boo on her. And boo on me for getting sucked in. So, that's my biggest complaint. I was talking to a friend yesterday who had seen the movie, and I asked what she thought. She said the movie left her feeling icky. Yep, that's how the book made me feel, too. Yucky King Henry VIII. No wonder all those people came to America to live in disease and squalor for years. They had to deal with horrible tyrannical psychopaths that changed laws and religion so they could fulfill their selfish desires. And I felt icky knowing way too much about the Boleyn family as well. I used to feel sorry for Anne Boleyn. Of course, this is categorized as "historical fiction," so I don't know what to feel.
Which leads me to the reason for the title of this particular post. I haven't read a lot of historical fiction. In fact, I think this book was only the second "historical fiction" novel I've read. I read "The Kingdom and the Crown" series by Gerald Lund a few months ago. And I had the same complaint after those books that I do now (nothing to do with the racy content, obviously--Gerald Lund's books are squeaky clean). My beef is that I don't know what is real history, and what is the author's imagination. Was Henry VIII really that disgusting? Probably. Was Anne Boleyn really that conniving? I don't know! I imagine the thoughts of each character and the small details are all fictional, but based on customs of the time. But I don't know! And that drives me crazy. It was the same when I read "The Kingdom and the Crown." Lund was very very very thorough about citing his references, though, and stating at the end of each chapter what was a real event and what was not. He also had a glossary and end notes and footnotes and a long introduction. But after I finished I was scratching my head and wondering, If you are going to spend that much time and research, why not make it pure history instead of adding in romantic characters and side plots? The answer I came up with was: romance sells, and history doesn't. I couldn't help but compare those novels to the books that are strictly historical, like "Seabiscuit" and "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" (that one is actually more like a documentary--it chronicles a girl in the Hmong culture that has epilepsy, and how the cultural barrier makes it difficult for her family and the doctors to cope--read it!). Both of the real history books are written in the style of a novel, making them entertaining and fascinating, and after I finished I felt like I knew more, and had gotten smarter by reading them. Not so with the novels. I felt confused and annoyed. On the positive side, the fiction inspired me to research topics I hadn't felt motivated to learn about previously. I just felt like I'd wasted hours of reading filth (in the case of the Boleyn book) and wading through pointless narration to get to the meat. I never would have pegged myself as a history girl, but I guess I care what really happened and what didn't. Go figure. I think it's time I try to read "1776," by John McCullough. I believe his books are good reads that are also historically accurate. Any other recommendations?
First, though, a quick summary: Everyone knows Anne Boleyn got beheaded after being married to King Henry VIII. The book is about how her greedy, grasping family got her married to the king in the first place, and what sacrifices were made by her sister, Mary, in order for their family to rise to power. This book may as well be called, "The sexual exploits of the Boleyn girls and their questionable brother." Mary catches the eye of the king while he's married to Katherine of Aragon, Mary becomes his mistress, bears two of his children, a boy and a girl, and is cast aside while pregnant with the boy. Anne catches the king's eye while her sister is busy with childbirth (by the way, hooray for the ridding of a month of confinement before the baby's born). Meanwhile, the queen is trying hard to act like she is the apple of the king's eye, but the king is frustrated by the lack of a legitimate male heir. For 6 years he works with spiritual advisors to weasel his way out of his marriage to a very nice lady. All this time Anne is clinging onto his attention so she can marry him. And she does, as we all know. Mary spends this time as his sometimes lover and wishing she were in the country with her children. And she falls in love with William Stafford, who buys her a farm in the country and they secretly marry. Then Anne has one daughter, Elizabeth, but fails to produce another child, is disliked by the English populus, throws the court into corruption and debauchery, and is beheaded for witchcraft and adultery. So, that's the story.
Ms. Gregory is very very sly in her writing. It's as though she could read my mind and knew that she could start out with fancy, old-fashioned terms to describe the affairs of the king (Mary is dressing alluringly, fade out, fade in and her hair is rumpled and she's exhausted). Then she sneaks in a little more detail, still using antiquated vocabulary that makes everything seem more innocent. And then, at about page 500, she knows you're going to finish the last 100 pages, and starts using the modern-day terms in great detail. Yuck. And it worked. I had already read 500 pages. What's another hundred? Ugh. Boo on her. And boo on me for getting sucked in. So, that's my biggest complaint. I was talking to a friend yesterday who had seen the movie, and I asked what she thought. She said the movie left her feeling icky. Yep, that's how the book made me feel, too. Yucky King Henry VIII. No wonder all those people came to America to live in disease and squalor for years. They had to deal with horrible tyrannical psychopaths that changed laws and religion so they could fulfill their selfish desires. And I felt icky knowing way too much about the Boleyn family as well. I used to feel sorry for Anne Boleyn. Of course, this is categorized as "historical fiction," so I don't know what to feel.
Which leads me to the reason for the title of this particular post. I haven't read a lot of historical fiction. In fact, I think this book was only the second "historical fiction" novel I've read. I read "The Kingdom and the Crown" series by Gerald Lund a few months ago. And I had the same complaint after those books that I do now (nothing to do with the racy content, obviously--Gerald Lund's books are squeaky clean). My beef is that I don't know what is real history, and what is the author's imagination. Was Henry VIII really that disgusting? Probably. Was Anne Boleyn really that conniving? I don't know! I imagine the thoughts of each character and the small details are all fictional, but based on customs of the time. But I don't know! And that drives me crazy. It was the same when I read "The Kingdom and the Crown." Lund was very very very thorough about citing his references, though, and stating at the end of each chapter what was a real event and what was not. He also had a glossary and end notes and footnotes and a long introduction. But after I finished I was scratching my head and wondering, If you are going to spend that much time and research, why not make it pure history instead of adding in romantic characters and side plots? The answer I came up with was: romance sells, and history doesn't. I couldn't help but compare those novels to the books that are strictly historical, like "Seabiscuit" and "The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down" (that one is actually more like a documentary--it chronicles a girl in the Hmong culture that has epilepsy, and how the cultural barrier makes it difficult for her family and the doctors to cope--read it!). Both of the real history books are written in the style of a novel, making them entertaining and fascinating, and after I finished I felt like I knew more, and had gotten smarter by reading them. Not so with the novels. I felt confused and annoyed. On the positive side, the fiction inspired me to research topics I hadn't felt motivated to learn about previously. I just felt like I'd wasted hours of reading filth (in the case of the Boleyn book) and wading through pointless narration to get to the meat. I never would have pegged myself as a history girl, but I guess I care what really happened and what didn't. Go figure. I think it's time I try to read "1776," by John McCullough. I believe his books are good reads that are also historically accurate. Any other recommendations?
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