Author: Barbara Kingsolver

Recommendation: A must read!

Have you ever finished a book and wanted to personally thank the author for writing it? This is that book for me. I would first have to apologize for ever doubting I would enjoy this book.

There are so many great themes in this novel that I was trying to decide on which to choose for this post. Should we talk about missionaries in Africa? Should we talk about Apartheid? Or the U.S. involvement in developing nations? These are all great topics and I wish I could do them all. But I chose one, instead, that we are all currently very familiar with: cultural appropriation.

I doubt that when this book was originally published in 1998 cultural appropriation was as wide a topic of discussion as it is now. These days, it’s a hotly debated topic: What is it? Does it exist? What can be appropriated? These are questions both scholars and internet trolls delve into daily. So my question is: Is Leah culturally appropriating in the novel?

Before I get into Leah, I want to take a moment to discuss Rachel’s character. Leah and Rachel both decide to stay in Africa but for very different reasons and with very different results. Rachel becomes a shining example of what Apartheid looks like on an individual level in South Africa. She is a white lady, in a white marriage(s), living a white life. She uses American products and speaks English and she sees black Africans as simply the help that needs to be monitored like children. As Adah tells her mother towards the end of the book, Rachel would be voted least likely changed at her high school reunion. No matter what side of the cultural appropriation debate you are on, it is clear that Rachel is simply living in Africa, but is not part of the African cultures.

The other end of this spectrum is Leah. Leah’s wish is that her skin color didn’t matter and that she didn’t stand out in her community. She is a minority in the culture she adopted. She has married a Congolese man, she has learned his language, and she has adopted his ways of life, including food, dress, and living conditions. But most importantly, she has adopted his life’s mission: to see a truly free Congo ruled by the native people instead of foreign influence. It’s a noble cause that causes a lot of pain and anger in her marriage. Can she ever become Congolese herself? I think the answer lies in Ruth May.

Leah’s youngest sister, Ruth May, and Patrice Lumumba die on the same day – January 17, 1961. Lumumba was the elected leader of the new free Congo who was assassinated in order for Western leaders to seat their own leader to run the country. Every January 17^th, Leah and her husband, Anatole, mourn the day. But they mourn different things and this causes tension between them. Anatole, while understanding Leah’s grief, doesn’t understand why she mourns so deeply. For him, children die every day in the Congo and Ruth May was just another child. And Leah, in return, cannot fully understand the grief and loss that Anatole feels for losing the free leader of his country. This day, January 17^th, is used as a day to remind them that, while they love each other and have the same goals, they still come from very different places with differing values. Leah’s grief for Ruth May, like her skin color, makes her an outsider.

And Adah? Despite being the first sister to begin understanding the Kilanga culture and language moves back to America. She has a deep respect for the culture and environment of Africa and dedicates her career to studying viruses, an interest she gained from her time in Kilanga. But she doesn’t stay in Africa. I think that she understands that, not only does she not belong because of her skin color, she also knows Africa isn’t hers to have.

So, is Leah culturally appropriating? If we define appropriation as “the unacknowledged or inappropriate adoption of the customs, practices, ideas, etc. of one people or society by members of another and typically more dominant people or society.” Leah is certainly adopting the customs, practices, and ideas of Congolese culture. We can argue whether or not her adoption is appropriate, but it is acknowledged. She understands and respects where the customs are coming from and therefore doesn’t fully fit the definition of cultural appropriation.

I hope you have enjoyed this book. And if you haven’t, pick it up now. It will take you on a wonderful adventure.

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Red Clocks by Leni Zumas

If you are concerned about the limitations that may be placed on women’s reproductive rights, this book may (or may not) be for you. There are two reasons why I recommend this book. The first is that the book takes place in a reality that isn’t that hard to imagine. A reality where abortion is illegal and single parents are barred from adopting children. A reality that our predecessors once lived in and we may be at risk of living in again. The second reason are the characters. These characters are flawed in their own ways and you wonder if you should be rooting for them. But in a world where a woman cannot make her own health decisions, you tend to support their cause.

The Great Alone by Kristin Hannah

Kristin Hannah is easily my favorite historical fiction writer and The Nightingale is my favorite historical fiction book. This newest book from the author does not disappoint. A family moves to Alaska to escape the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder of the patriarch of the family. The mother and daughter are disappointed to learn that even this extreme change in lifestyle will not make him a better man and he relapses to his abusive ways. A great book about the lives of domestic violence victims and the superhuman strength women can display when their lives depend on it.

Rainbirds by Clarissa Goenawan

A young woman is murdered and her brother travels to the city in Japan where she lived to try to shed light on what could have happened. A great murder mystery with a surprising ending. The main character, Ren Ishida, is a wonderful character that you will come to cherish.

Calypso by David Sedaris

Anything David Sedaris writes becomes pure gold, and this book is no exception. A satirical memoir of his life, it will make you laugh out loud, even in the most inappropriate moments. A must read!

The Clockmaker’s Daughter by Kate Morton

A lengthier book with many characters, but the author keeps you interested as the plot takes the reader by surprise. The novel is about a pretty young girl who falls in love with a famous artist engaged to be wed to another woman. A great book that studies the complicated romantic relationships among individuals.

An Absolutely Remarkable Thing by Hank Green

An alien invasion goes viral in this unique novel. If you enjoyed Ready Player One (the book, NOT the movie), this book may peak your interest.

Author: Ben H. Winters

Recommendation:          Good read for those who enjoy dystopian novels

I have to be honest – I have never read George Orwell’s 1984. It has been on my reading list for at least a decade and I have yet to pick it up. Reading The Golden State has motivated me – I will read 1984 this year.

I’ve read a couple reviews of The Golden State after I finished reading it. I usually don’t read reviews but the book felt rushed towards the end, and I wanted to see if I was the only one with that impression. I wasn’t. Several reviews compared the book to 1984, which is why I will be purchasing and reading it shortly.

The Golden State is situated in what we currently know as California. In the novel, there seemed to have been an incident, an unknown and unclear one, where California broke away from the union to create its own country – one that they would like you to think is a utopia and a wonderful place to live. The premise of this new society is that lying is a crime – a severely punishable one. The main character, Laszlo Ratesic, a Speculator of The Golden State, is sent to investigate a death – a seemingly clear accidental death of a roofer. But this death leads him to uncover that there are people who are trying to undermine The Golden State and its principal of the Objectively So (the only truth).

The novel is an interesting thought experiment to the alternate reality we currently live in – the era of #FakeNews. Today, if you click on the comments of any article posted on Social Media, no matter what end of the political spectrum it is written from, you will undoubtedly find someone (usually multiple people) crying “fake news.” This two word statement has become a way for people to express that they don’t believe the facts written in the news. It has become impossible to read anything these days without someone question its authority.

The Golden State is the response to this Fake News world. Everything is recorded and put on the Record. Every inch of the State is recorded at all times and people carry around Day Books to record who they have met with, where they went, what they ate. It’s a world of complete surveillance where no one can tell a lie because the truth is constantly being recorded. But even in this world, it turns out that not everything is as it seems.  

Tomorrow, I turn 30. Some say a big birthday can be bittersweet but, for me, it is just sweet. I have felt 30 for the past several years. It probably happened at the same time I began to enjoy red wine. What elevated taste I had! While my friends were ordering Riesling and Moscato, I was ordering Pinot Noir or Cabernet Sauvignon. Then came a time when that wine was better enjoyed in the comfort of my own home than at a loud bar. And finally, a time when that wine had to be enjoyed in moderation as to not waste my entire next day. I have enjoyed growing older and I hope to be one of those women that age (pun intended) “like a fine wine.”

To celebrate this milestone, I wanted to reflect on some of the things I have learned in my 30 years. Yes, this is a shameless vanity post about how wise and mature I am, but I am also fully aware that I know next to nothing now and that I will look back on this and laugh at how witty and enlightened I was trying to be. So, here are 10 reflections before I turn 30.

• On family. I was once a bratty teenager who was ungrateful to her parents for being strict. As I grow older, I have learned to appreciate my family, especially my parents. My parents immigrated to the United States when I was a little girl. My mom was 27 years old when she left Poland to start a new life here. I cannot imagine making the decision to leave my country to chase a dream that is so uncertain. But they wanted what was best for me and my siblings and they took a chance. They worked hard, saved money, and instilled a lifelong passion for education and bettering ourselves. They helped me financially and emotionally through my childhood and adulthood. They gave up so much so we could have so much more. I really can’t thank them enough.
• On friends. A good friend is like family. I used to work so hard to maintain relationships that were toxic. Over the years, I have cultivated my small group of friends to be people I truly enjoy spending time with. As I get older, some friends have moved, some have passed, and some are too busy to talk too frequently. I am no longer in college when you could pop in to anyone’s dorm or apartment and have someone to hang out with. Friendship, now, takes effort and meticulous planning, so it is so much more important to nurture my relationships with those I truly care about. I no longer feel bad about eliminating someone from my life.
• On my husband. I got married about five months ago to my husband on our six-year anniversary. I never thought I would be the person to have a big, expensive wedding. I was regretting the decision until the very day. And then, I married my husband and those regrets instantly went away. Marriage and relationships aren’t easy and there are days when we are not at our best. But, as long as you both want it, you can make it happen. We have a long way to go and we have much to learn about being together. We work on our communication skills and try to improve on the foundation that we have built. He is a wonderful person. He is smart, and funny, and honest. He pushes me to experience new things and stray outside of my comfort zone. He is also the reason I agreed to get a puppy, our beautiful fur-child, Ava. He is the person I want to experience everything with and there are still moments that I am amazed at how much I love this man.
• On my Board of Directors. I recently went to a women’s networking event where the speakers of the event instilled the idea that you need a “Board of Directors” in your life. As a corporate paralegal, this immediately resonated with me. Your Board are the people closest to you that can steer your life in the right (or wrong) direction. These are the people that you confide in, both personally and professionally. I have been always led to believe that I am in charge of my own destiny but, the truth is, my life has been significantly shaped by my Board. These people have been family, friends, my husband, as well as several professional connections I have made. They have had my best interests in mind and I will be sure to, from now on, be more mindful and grateful for these individuals in my life.
• On my career. When I was getting my paralegal certificate from Loyola University Chicago, my long-term goal was to be an in-house corporate paralegal. I have reached that goal before the age of 30. I have hopped around a lot in my young career and, at first, I felt guilty. I should stay loyal to my company and be rewarded in return. But I soon learned that this was not the case. I had to do what was best for me and look for a position that valued my skillset. As soon as I felt that skillset was being taken for granted without the proper compensation, I learned to move on. I am very happy in my current position and I now understand I would never have gotten there if I hadn’t had the courage to let go of a previous job.
• On my mental health. I am an anxious person and that anxiety can spiral out of control. I’ve seeked professional help before. I have since gotten significantly better at controlling my anxiety as well as taking some “me time.” Learning to identify when my anxiety is flaring up, along with being proactive on lowering my stimulants, has been a learning exercise. I have not mastered this skill, but I now understand that sometimes, stepping away from something is the best thing for me. Having my dog, Ava, at my side has been a great comfort as well. I still have not registered her as an Emotional Support Animal, but she is truly one of the best things to happen to me and just holding her furry giant head lowers my heart rate.
• On my physical health. I used to exercise and eat healthy so I would look good. These days, exercising and eating healthy are necessary for me to FEEL good. Don’t get me wrong, I still care about my physical appearance (in a less vain way than before), but I find that a poor diet and lack of exercise make me sluggish in a way I didn’t know existed in my early 20s. I can no longer have a cheat day unencumbered. It is now limited to a cheat meal. And yes, I am writing this as I eat a pint of ice cream and drink a bottle of wine. It’s my birthday.
• On sleep. I would describe my college career as an all-nighter. My last semester I took 21 credit hours, 3 of which were an internship of about 150 hours – UNPAID. Needless to say, I didn’t sleep much that semester, and my other semesters were not exactly Sleeping Beauty worthy either. I was an international studies major so it included a lot of reading and a LOT of papers, all of which take time. And I am a slow, meticulous reader. And don’t even get me started on writing. Fast forward 8 years, and I have to call in sick if I had a restless night. I’m joking but, in all seriousness, sleep has become so important to both my mental and physical health. A bad night of sleep means a bad day at the office and a bad workout at the gym. It means choosing fast food over a healthy meal and, as you may recall, we can’t have many of those anymore.
• On my past. We all have embarrassing things in our past. When I started dating my now husband, there was a lot I didn’t want to tell him. I wanted to start fresh and to be the person I wanted to be. But, slowly, he discovered the terrible and dark things I had been hiding and he continued to love me. Convincing myself that my past has made me the person I am in my present was a long journey. There are still things I don’t like to talk about or would prefer not to admit, but I’m slowly learning that those things don’t matter.
• On my future. I have led a good life up to this point. This is thanks to my family, friends, husband, and coworkers. My husband and I plan on starting a family in the next year. I am grateful I waited until my 30s to do so. For financial purposes, but also because I feel more mentally prepared. I don’t know where my career will take me, but I know that I will have my hands on the wheel. I intend on spending more time with those I care about. I intend on reading more books and learning new things. But mostly, I intend to choose what is best for me and to not feel guilty about my decisions.

Author: Greer Hendricks & Sarah Pekkanen        

Recommendation: Great read if you enjoy a psychological thriller

This novel sucks you in within the first chapter and it does not disappoint! A modern, psychological thriller, this book focuses on the ethics of fidelity – but there is so much more woven into the pages of this book. The split-view narrative is addicting and This, perhaps, may not be a book that changes your life, but it is one that may make you reflect on your past – as it did for me.

There are various themes I can cover from this book – the #MeToo Movement, mental health – but since I have already done those, I will focus on fidelity. In the novel, a young woman enters a study and the psychiatrist chooses her to continue the study outside of a clinical setting and in the real world. You learn that the purpose of the psychiatrist’s study is personal – she is grooming the young female participant to seduce her husband to prove, once and for all, whether he his previous infidelity was a slip, or whether it is part of his character. If you have ever been a woman (or man) scorned, you can begin reading the novel relating to the psychiatrist, Dr. Shields. With money at her disposal, she is able to orchestrate certain situations to test her subject – her husband – while insuring the loyalty of her participant, Jess.

How common is infidelity? Well, depends if you are a man or a woman. Men are more likely to cheat than their female counterparts, with 20% men and 13% women reporting they have cheated on their spouse. This gap only widens as adults get older. Cheating is also closely related to divorce. Of those marriages where a spouse cheated, 40% end in divorce, while only 17% of marriages end in divorce with couples who have not dealt with infidelity (https://ifstudies.org/blog/who-cheats-more-the-demographics-of-cheating-in-america).

Can a marriage last after infidelity? The answers are as unique as the couples themselves. In the novel, Dr. Shields is testing her husband, Thomas, to see if he is unfaithful again, even though they are separated. Most would agree this is not a healthy way to overcome infidelity in a relationship. But with time and counseling, couples can overcome such a transgression. Dr. Scott Haltzman, author of “The Secrets of Surviving Infidelity,” states that while 4 in 10 marriages deal with infidelity, less than half end in divorce (https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=195533059).

One thing to consider is that, as with any research, people are not always willing to be honest about their marital transgressions. So the statistics that researchers have gathered may not be accurate. The takeaway, especially in light of this book, is that everyone deals with cheating differently and it may mean different things for your relationship. But the strong message in this book, and generally good advice, is that you need to rely on yourself first, no matter what is thrown at you.

Author:          Liane Moriarty

Recommendation:          Pass

Do you ever read a book and think to yourself: the author is trying to stay relevant? That’s exactly how I felt reading this book. Moriarty tries to throw in too many “buzz words” and the book felt like she is trying to reach a young audience while having a middle-aged woman be the main character.

The premise of the book is that nine individuals choose to visit Tranquillum House for a ten-day retreat to better their lives. Each has a different goal in mind, but Tranquillum House promises to transform their lives.

I don’t want to spoil any of the book for anyone because, if you decide to read it, there are a lot of moments that you do not expect – and I really enjoy a book that takes me by surprise. There were several moments in this book that elicited that reaction from me, so I certainly don’t think it was a waste of time to read. The reason I am giving this book a Pass is because I don’t believe it has any significant impact on literature or society. It’s a fun read for when you just need to shut off your brain and relax for a bit.

With that said, I think the book does a good job talking about mental health. You learn early on in the book that the family who is visiting Tranquillum House lost their son to suicide. This is the obvious mental health subject – the young teenage son who fell victim to his own depression. But each of the characters exhibits their own battles with mental health – some more than others. From aging, to career loss, to transitioning from living paycheck-to-paycheck to winning the lottery, each character has their own internal battle that affects their life more than they know.

I always applaud authors who are willing to touch on mental health. While I think our society is moving more towards talking openly about mental health and treatment, the topic still tends to feel taboo. The reality is that many people live and struggle with mental health. The National Alliance on Mental Health states that 18.5% of adults in the U.S. experience mental illness in any given year (https://www.nami.org/learn-more/mental-health-by-the-numbers), most of those stemming from anxiety-related issues. In the state prison population, that number rises to over 24%. One statistic that I found particularly interesting from the National Institute of Mental Health, is that women experience mental health issues at much higher rates than men – at 21.7% versus 14.5% (https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/mental-illness.shtml). I do wonder, however, if that is because women feel more comfortable seeking help for mental health than men. From my own experiences, and this is strictly anecdotal, I find my female colleagues to have sought the help of a therapist much more frequently than my male colleagues. Again, this may be due to women feeling more comfortable discussing those issues, or it may be because men have an easier time dealing with mental health issues on their own and aren’t as interested in seeking professional help. No matter your situation, seeking mental help is not a sign of weakness. It is, in fact, a benefit not only to the individual, but also to those that are personally close to them.

Title: To Kill a Mockingbird

Author: Harper Lee

Recommendation: A Must-Read

Review: To Kill a Mockingbird is required reading in most middle and high schools in the United States, although that is starting to change due to people’s discomfort with the language used in the novel, specifically the use of the N word. I don’t remember my experience when I first read this book in high school, but I do have to be honest and say that the language used in the book has made me uncomfortable when reading it this time around. Does this mean the book should be banned? I definitely don’t think so – I think it is important for people to step outside of their comfort zone and have difficult conversations about racism in this country. The book addresses not only blatant racism – white people’s treatment of black people in everyday circumstances – but also institutional racism – the discrimination of black people in justice system.

But the racist topics in this book have been discussed extensively before, so I would like to focus on the book as it pertains to the #MeToo movement – sexual harassment and the consequences that come of it.

The book centers around the trial of a black man accused of raping and assaulting a white woman. It’s a “He Said/She Said” trial with few witnesses, but it becomes clear that Mayella Ewell, the white woman, was not the one sexually assaulted but it was she, in fact, who tried to kiss a married black man, Tom Robinson. Tom’s testimony admits that he not only tried to block her advances, but he also had to run from the scene of the “crime,” making him guilty in the eyes of the town of Maycomb, so that he could avoid a perhaps worse fate in the hands of Mayella’s father, Bob Ewell. Bob accuses Tom of raping his daughter and the jury convicts Tom at the trial.

Tom’s fate is one that men in the United States are becoming more fearful of – being put on trial for sexually assaulting a woman. Statistics show that approximately 8% of rape accusations turn out to be unfounded, according to a 1996 study by the FBI (https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/1996/96sec2.pdf). The FBI study is from over 20 years ago, but other, more recent studies, echo the same statistics. Depending who you are, 8% may seem like a large percentage or a small percentage. I, personally, think it is a small percentage, especially if you consider how many rapes and sexual assaults go unreported. Women are often discouraged from reporting rape for various reasons – they may not have enough evidence, they were drunk, they may have led the person on by flirting. The truth is, that our society still has a “boys will be boys” mentality and women are discouraged to disrupt it. This is slowly changing, as we see with the #MeToo movement, and men are afraid that the pendulum may swing in the other direction – of women overreporting sexual assault and something which may have seemed innocent previously is now a crime that could potentially carry heavy consequences for the man.

To Kill a Mockingbird shows this reality at its worst. Tom, accused and convicted of rape, is sent to the chair. Atticus Finch, his attorney, tells Tom that they have a good chance at appeal – but not a great chance. Atticus did not want to instill false hope in his client and instead chose to be honest with Tom. Tom, not wanting to take a risk at the hands of white men (since in the 1930s, only white men were allowed to sit on juries), decides to escape prison and is shot down by the prison guards, thus ending his life.

Had Tom been a white man, he would have never been accused of raping Mayella. Had he been a white man, he may have gotten a fair trial. Had he been a white man, he may have believed in the justice system and awaited his appeal.

This book is still a classic, despite the changing times and our sensitivity to the language used in it. For us to be uncomfortable by the use of the N word so casually in this book is a sign that we, as a society, understand the wrongs that have been made in our history. We should continue having these difficult discussions and using this novel as a starting point in schools to not only discuss our difficult history, but also to address how we can make a better future for everyone. We should use this book not only to discuss racism, but also the current discussions going around sexual assault.