The Book Thief by Zusak

I can only take so many Holocaust novels. I went through a phase where I read quite a bit of YA Holocaust literature: Boy in the Striped Pajamas, Number the Stars, Tell No One Who You Are, Diary of Anne Frank. Great for teaching---lots of discussion, lots of conflict.

But every story makes my heart hurt again, so I have to psyche myself up to read another one.

But there was this long road trip that we took . . .

And there was a copy of The Book Thief by Markus Zusak at Costco . . . .

And the book was amazing. So obvious that it's not Zusak's first work. So obvious that he knows what he's doing with dialogue and character.

It's art, this book. It's brilliant. It's worthy of all the hype it's received.

If you haven't read it, yet, do.

I would love to teach it. Discuss it. Read essays written about it, even poorly written essays by 8th graders finding their own voice and their own humanity.

Last note:

Death as the narrator. Brilliant!

Olsen's Standing here, Ironing

I'm sure it was required reading when I read Tillie Olsen's short story "As I Stand Here Ironing," where a mother reflects on the choices she made in raising her daughter Emily, and the consequences of those decisions.

It's a short story, even for short stories, and I got so into it that I barely breathed through the first reading. Then I mentally wrestled through the second reading. Then I handled Eric the baby and went on a long walk so I could deconstruct the text while walking by myself.

I have a different perspective now, twenty years later, reading the text at this phase in my life, where mothering little children is what I do all day and all night.

I am ever aware, now, that the way I treat my children is shaping the people they are becoming and how they perceive themselves.

I'm aware of that. Which is what I bring to this text that I didn't know when I was twenty years old, sitting in a literature class where I probably had nothing to say when the professor asked, "So, what did you think?"

So it's a different text this time, and I am a different woman reading it.

So I took a long walk and thought about mothering and just what it is that I'm doing and trying to do and how I want to tread gently and kindly in my children's lives.

As I walked back near home, I heard the baby fussing from the open upstairs bedroom window. It was the time of the night where he wants his mommy and he wants to eat. And I could hear that he wasn't really seriously crying, just sort of starting to get worked up.

So as I walked in the door, before I went to the baby, I hugged each of my other kids and smiled at them. Gave them each a full dose of my attention before I dashed off to do something else.

Go find a copy. Then tell me what you think. It's a quick read, really, ten minutes. There are lots of anthologies that have it, but I used Points of View, Revised Edition by James Moffett.

If I could convince a book club to read it, I'd do it. Pair it with Gilman's The Yellow Wallpaper, which I'd love to discuss that with intelligent women and analyze the wallpaper as a symbol for depression.

Here's just a teaser for one little tiny thing I'd love to discuss, from Ironing,

In this, the mother is recalling that her daughter was a good child who did more than should be expected of a child, even at a very young age. The mother asks herself, recalling this, "What in me demanded that goodness in her? And what was the cost, the cost to her of such goodness?"

See? That's a good start for discussion right there.

I don't think this story is just for mothers. It's for anyone who has been a mother or a daughter. Or anyone who has been a child or been a parent. So, everyone who has ever had a family with imperfect people in it.

You know. All of us.

The Light Between Oceans by Stedman

Someone asked what my latest book recommendation was and I told her; it's The Light Between Oceans by Stedman. Then I leant her my copy, which is how I justify buying books these days, I'm going to lend it out, that's why I need a real copy.

So since she has my copy, I can't write the quotes out that were my favorites. And I won't waste your time with plot summary---just look on Amazon.

What I can say is that I liked the book, Stedman did a great job for a first novel, and there are some great passages about love and forgiveness that I've been thought rumbling. And it's made me ponder things like:

1. When we love someone to know well enough what their breaking point is, and we watch as they are pushed past it and then they break and act badly . . . well, we should have seen that coming and we better forgive them already.

2. In a perfect world no one grieves, mourns, gets depressed, or can't see clearly. Too bad we don't live there, we're stuck loving each other despite our imperfections.

3. (And this is what I've really been pondering a lot . . . ) My observation in real life is that people react to difficult experiences in one of two ways:

a) They either close themselves off to other people---no one else has suffering. No one else knows pain. No one else went through what they did, so no one else hurts.

or

 b) They grow in compassion for all people who suffer, even if their pain isn't exactly the same.

I'd say, try the book. Good prose. Good story. A little emotional manipulation and plot twist whiplash, but Stedman's new at this, so we should cut her some slack.

And the overall theme of the book: People hurt. Let's forgive. People make bad choices. Let's forgive. Stick it out, don't bail, and forgive, forgive, forgive.

Alexandria with Bettany Hughes

The baby is now two months old.

Here's what I do during the day: sit and feed the baby.

Here's what I do during the night: sit and feed the baby.

Makes Netflix Instant Queue really appealing. And there's only so many episodes of "What not To Wear" and "Yes to the Dress, Bridesmaids" that I can take.

So I decided to ping off the documentary list and watched Alexandria with Bettany Hughes, which chronicles the history of the great city Alexandria. Which I knew nothing about.

But 48 minutes interesting minutes later, I was entertained and educated about Alexandria and the influential female mathematician, Hypatia, who lived there.

If you have the slightly, littlest, most minuscule amount of interest in Alexandrea, Alexander the Great, Hypatia, or this time period, this is worth watching.

Would be great in a history class, home or public.

Genetics Book for Kids: Found One!

I asked a while back if anyone knew of any genetics books for kids, and the authors of one such book responded on my blog.

And so I bought the book. It seemed only fair.

It's called When Will Broccoli Taste Like Chocolate: Your Questions on Genetic Traits Answered by Stanford University Scientists by Bodian and Starr. It's is written deliberately in engaging prose and the authors try to tone down the academic speak.

So after I glanced at it, I handed it to the most reliable kid book critic I know: my kid. The one who had the questions about genetics in the first place. And it keeps being moved, and read, in different parts of the house. So I think we have a winner.

I have to say that I think most of concepts in this book are over his head. But he's 8. So the fact that it interests him at all is what impresses me. I think it's a great addition to our book shelf, and any home library bookshelf (homeschoolers and school kids alike) where the kids are interested in genetics.

Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot

So if you're ever going to go into labor anytime soon, and you want something that will be a conversation starter on the table beside you while the medical staff come in and out, read at least part of The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks by Rebecca Skloot and take the book with you.

Or if you just want a good book, and you aren't going to have anything to do with labor any time soon, you can try it too.

The book is about the cells of the cancerous tumor of Henrietta Lacks. Rebecca Skloot is a fine writer and fine researcher and the book is well-written, interesting, and it clips along at a nice pace.

Seriously? A book about a woman's cells?

You'll be surprised. It's pretty good.

Because these cells became the basis for heaps of medical research and breakthroughs.

I think it could also go on that ever-evasive quest for something clean enough for a church book group.

But anyway, I had this out on my hospital table during my labor/pitocin/edidural waiting game, and I had one nurse, one doctor, and at least one researcher (all women) come through before the baby was born. And each saw the book there and said, "Hey! That's a great book!" or said, "Do you like it? That's on my list."

Which made me seem like an intelligent mommy patient and we could talk about something other than the obvious.

It's always nice to appear an intelligent, rational mommy before the labor pains really hit and I'm pushing the baby out and screaming like a banshee.

Portrait of a New Mom at Three Weeks Postpartum

So I had the baby. Insights and stories abound on being the mom of a baby again and of being the mom of four kids. We'll see what I can get written. But here's one to start . .

This morning before Eric went to work, he took the boys to school and my little lady to a playdate (May the heavens bless the women who let my daughter come play in the mornings so I can sleep!). When he came back to switch cars and leave me with the van, he found me in the dining room:

Wearing yoga pants and a t-shirt
Hair in a ponytail
Baby in the crook of my arm while I stood there, bouncing him to sleep
While I was eating oatmeal with my other hand, all the while bouncing the baby.

I laughed and said, "Hey Dear. Here you see the portrait of a new mom."

Yes, especially since the baby was Mr. Personality and Mr. Social from about 1 to 3:30. AM.

And that is how it is. Party on, Tired Mom.