Book Review: Underbara dagar framför oss

Underbara dagar framför oss (Wonderful Days Ahead of Us) by Henrik Berggren

Publisher: Norstedts förlag

Category: Biography

Challenges: Nordic Challenge, Memorable Memoirs

My Thoughts: 25 years ago today then Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme was walking home from the movies with his wife. As they walked a man came up and shot Palme and injured his wife. Christer Petterson was convicted of the murder but on appeal was acquitted. No one else has ever been tried for the murder. Palme has acquired somewhat of a mythical reputation in Sweden.

The murder of Olof Palme is my first political memory. I wasn’t quite five yet. My abiding memory of this time is that I thought he had a funny name (Palme sounds like palm tree in Swedish) and that his successor was nicknamed The Shoe (he had a very long face) and that all the adults went around looking serious.

I wanted to love this book. And at times I did. And it is the phrase “at times” that is key here. The book is funny. At times really funny. It is in some respects highly informative. But at the same time it has many faults. The first part of the book when the author writes about Palme’s family and childhood are really good and full of information about both Palme in particular and Sweden in general. But here some of the problems start as well. The author doesn’t seem to trust that his reader has any background knowledge of Swedish history. Sometimes this is a good thing, I certainly learned a lot. But at the same time it means that he goes off on various tangents to do with Swedish (and to some extent Finish) history. As a lover of history I find this very interesting but at the same time I kept wanting to know what this actually had to do with the man Palme.

Here perhaps lies my biggest problem. The book is a fascinating mixture of modern Swedish history. All manner of cultural and political figures that have shaped Sweden in the last century make appearances. And they are all interesting characters, but at times more emphasis is put on these supporting characters than Palme himself. His time as minister for education is boiled down to the student protests in the late 60s. Despite the fact that this was a time of educational reform on many levels. The coverage of his opposition to the Vietnam war felt very fractured at times as did the time he spent in opposition. These were all issues that still today shape the Swedish identity and I think they weren’t give the space they deserved.

Although I have big issues with the book the further I get from reading it the more I realised I learned. As the anniversary of Palme’s murder comes closer media and individuals spend a great deal of time discussing his murder and his life. We spent most of our lunch break at work on Wednesday discussing both the polarizing figure Palme is and was as well as the murder itself. The colleagues with whom I had the discussion are all quite a bit older than me and I doubt I would have been able to follow the discussion had I not read the book. They were adults when Palme was in power, I was a small child. So I found myself recommending the book as we talked. And on reflection I will always recommend it, but only as a survey of the time when Palme lived, not necessarily as a biography of Palme, if this makes sense.

Unfortunately this book has not yet been translated to English.

Copyright ©2011 Zee from Notes from the North. This post was originally posted by Zee from Notes from the North. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Challenge Sign-Up: Memorable Memoirs

I did Memorable Memoirs in 2010 and I really enjoyed it so I am throwing my hat in the ring once more. I’ve got at least one book lined up: Underbara dagar framför oss (Wonderful days ahead of us) which is a biography of former Swedish Prime Minister Olof Palme. I hope I will be able to fit in a couple of other ones but I don’t know which ones yet.

Copyright ©2010 Zee from Notes from the North. This post was originally posted by Zee from Notes from the North. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.

TSS: 2010 Challenges Round-Up 1

So the year is coming to an end. Time to sum up the reading done. Since much of my reading has been for challenges I am going to start by wrapping up those challenges I have not yet written wrap up posts for. Since I took part in quite a few challenges I’m doing them in batches (also I am still living in a somewhat vain hope that I will get a few more books read before the end of the year and thus get in a few more challenges done).

My start of challenge post
Level: Suffragette (8 books, at least 3 non-fiction)
My List of Books:
Fiction

1. My Ántonia by Willa Cather
2. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (short story)
3. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
4. Madicken by Astrid Lindgren 
5. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
6. The Forbidden Daughter by Shobhan Bantwal 
7. The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
8. Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers

Non-Fiction

1. Mias Systrar (Mia’s Sisters) by Maria Eriksson and Kerstin Weigl
2. Lilla Feminist-boken (The Little Feminist Book) by Sassa Buregren
3. Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton
4. Mystics, Mavericks, and Merrymakers by Stephanie Levine
5. Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife by Peggy Vincent 

I enjoyed all the books I read for this challenge. The books that stayed with me the most though are Gaudy Night and Mystics, Mavericks, and Merrymakers. I read Gaudy Night on the recommendation of several bloggers and although I enjoyed the earlier books in the series this one pretty much bowled me over. I stayed up late several evenings to read it. I really couldn’t put it down. Mystics, Mavericks, and Merrymakers was interesting from a different perspective as I felt that it gave me a nice insight into a world that I didn’t even know existed. In addition to this from a very geeky perspective, I found reading the methodology and reasoning for the methodology to be quite interesting. I am definitely glad I took part in this challenge.

My start of challenge post
Level: Read 3 Books
My List of Books:

1. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
2. The Forbidden Daughter by Shobhan Bantwal 
3. Haunting Bombay by Shilpa Agarwal

My favourite here was beyond a shadow of a doubt Haunting Bombay. It was really quite spooky but also very interesting. I will admit that I was disappointed by The Namesake. I really liked Interpreter of Maladies by the same author but this book suffered from not having a proper ending. You can tell that this story was originally meant as a short story. This is a challenge I will be repeating in 2011.

My start of challenge post
Level: Read 20 Books
My List of Books:

1. Young Adult
   1. My Most Excellent Year by Steve Kluger
   2. The Bermudez Triangle by Maureen Johnson
2. T.B.R. **
   1. John Adams by David McCullough
   2. The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins
3. Shiny & New
   1. White Noise by Don Delillo
   2. A Fountain Filled With Blood by Julia Spencer-Fleming
4. Bad Blogger’s ***
   1. Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife by Peggy Vincent
   2. Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers
5. Charity
   1. The Life and Times of The Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson
   2. Emma by Jane Austen
6. New in 2010
   1. Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb 
   2. Indulgence in Death by J.D. Robb
7. Older Than You
   1. Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
   2. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
8. Win! Win!
   1. The Last Hero by Terry Pratchett
   2. The Forbidden Daughter by Shobhan Bantwal
9. Who Are You Again?
   1. Tracks by Louise Erdrich
   2. The Distance Between Us by Masha Hamilton
10. Up to You! Memoirs
    1. Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton
    2. True Compass by Edward M. Kennedy

I really enjoyed that this challenged made me read a wide variety of books. Since I have already spoken of my love for Gaudy Night I will comment on some other books I read for this challenge. I found True Compass to be absolutely fascinating. I am at times a bit of a political junkie and it was so interesting to hear about American politics in the last 50+ years from someone who saw it from the inside. Further this was an audiobook for me and I really enjoyed the narration. A Fountain Filled with Blood is part of the Reverend Clare Fergusson/Russ Van Alstyne series that I discovered at the beginning of this year and absolutely adore! I can’t wait for the next book in the series which is due out in April.

My start of challenge post
Level: Cashier at Ankh-Morpork Mint (3)
My List of Books:

1. Hogfather by Terry Pratchett
2. The Last Hero by Terry Pratchett 
3. Unseen Academicals by Terry Pratchett

I’ve loved Terry Pratchett for many many years and that particular love affair continues. Hogfather was a re-read that I enjoy reading around Christmas. The Last Hero was a beautifully illustrated book which I HIGHLY recommend. The illustrations elevated a great book to awesome. I enjoyed Unseen Academicals both because of its discussions of football (soccer) and it’s commentary on social classes. All of the books were fantastic.

My start of challenge post
Level: Read at least 4 Memoirs/Biographies/Letters/Diaries
My List of Books:

1. Freedom in Exile by the Dalai Lama
2. Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton 
3. Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife by Peggy Vincent  
4. The Life and Times of The Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson 
5. John Adams by David McCullough 
6. True Compass by Edward M. Kennedy

Since I’ve already talked about True Compass in this post I wanted to highlight two other books: Baby Catcher and John Adams. Baby Catcher was really interesting for me even though I have never given birth. The experiences of Vincent’s patients sound so incredibly different from all the birth stories I hear here in Sweden. Yes she has an agenda but still… John Adams was a very interesting look at American history. I have to admit that although I have a fair general idea of American history the two books by McCullough I have read have really helped me understand the history around the formation of USA. I highly recommend this book to anyone who is interested in history. This is another challenge that I am repeating for 2011.

Copyright ©2010 Zee from Notes from the North. This post was originally posted by Zee from Notes from the North. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Book Review: True Compass [Audio]

True Compass by Edward M. Kennedy

Narrated by John Bedford Lloyd

Publisher: Hachette Audio

Category: Memoir

Challenges: 2010 Challenge (Up to You), Memorable Memoir

My Thoughts: I am going to start this review by saying that politically I line up very well with Edward Kennedy and that might have influenced my thoughts on this book.

I really enjoyed this book. One of my all time favourite shows is The West Wing and for me it was fun to see the amount of incidents that were taken from reality. I also really enjoyed learning more about American politics. It made me realise how little I actually knew about the history of American politics. I actually wish that there had been more of this in the book. Much of the book is taken up with campaigning and then the big pieces of legislation or confirmations. I would have liked to have heard more about the day to day work as a Senator. I liked the behind the scenes information that someone who served in the Senate for so long could provide, because no matter how you feel about him politically there is no denying that he has served for a long time.

I know that there was some criticism about the fact that he only briefly touches on the many scandals that have peppered his life but I appreciate the fact that he feels that commenting on scandals only feed them, I actually wish that more politicians took this view. And Kennedy does make this very clear very early on. This is not a book where he apologises for what he has done, he tells what happened and that is that.

One of the things that I took with me from this book was Kennedy’s unfailing wish to do good. Although he had lived a privileged life (one he fully acknowledges) he wanted to help those less privileged, not because it was politically expedient but because it was the right thing to do. I know that not everyone feels that this is the way to go, but as I said earlier politically I agree with this. And even if you don’t agree with his political ideas I don’t think he can be criticised for his motivations.

I also enjoyed getting his opinions on the different political leaders of the modern era. To get a more personal view on the different Presidents during his time in the Senate was illuminating.  Although he doesn’t always agree with the different decisions they make he does allow that they had good intentions (most of the time). Here I do have one small criticism of the book, I felt that sometimes he highlighted his own importance over that of others, but I think this is often the case when it comes to biographies, and it is somewhat tempered by the fact that he does acknowledge his own faults.

I listened to this book in audio and I am very happy with this decision. John Bedford Lloyd really brings the book to life, you almost feel as if you are sitting with Kennedy in his house in Hyannis Port, MA, listening to him tell the story. It lent a certain reality to the stories, I especially enjoyed a story about Kennedy’s mother while he is stationed in France with the Army and a pair of dancing shoes. I was sitting on a train listening to that story and I think people around me thought I was insane, I was giggling so much. Although this book is a serious book, it is also a very funny book, little anecdotes like this one are peppered throughout the book and make it an enjoyable listen/read.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and wouldn’t mind reading it in hard copy so that I can take notes. I highly recommend it to anyone interested in politics, American history and people in general.

Purchase True Compass in audio from BookDepository

Copyright ©2010 Zee from Notes from the North. This post was originally posted by Zee from Notes from the North. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Book Review: John Adams

John Adams by David McCullough

Category: Biography

Challenges: 2010 Challenge (TBR), Memorable Memoirs

My Thoughts: This book left me with two overarching thoughts: 1) Nothing has changed in politics in the past 150 years. 2) Those who use the term “this wasn’t what the Founding Fathers intended…” really need to study some history, ‘cause the Founding Fathers couldn’t and didn’t agree on almost anything.

I really enjoyed this biography. I enjoyed getting to know John Adams and Abigail Adams both through McCullough’s narrative and through the great use of primary sources, primarily letters written by the different people in the book. I enjoyed learning more about a period in history of which I (to my embarrassment) know very little. I enjoyed the vivid portraits painted by McCullough.

As I mentioned I enjoyed getting to know John and Abigail Adams and I felt that although McCullough is clearly a fan of Adams he still managed to give a fairly balanced view. Or at least he manages to point out the faults that Adams undoubtedly had. However, he is far more critical of Adams contemporaries than he is of Adams himself. As much as I enjoyed reading the book, I would like to, in the future, read a biography written by someone else, in order to get a more balanced view. I would also like to read biographies written about the rest of the “cast”. They all seem to be fascinating characters.

As someone whose favourite subject in school was history I was very pleased with the extensive use of primary sources used by McCullough. This was clearly helped by the fact that Adams was a prolific letter writer, in the closing pages of the book McCullough remarks that in a letter exchange between Adams and Jefferson, Adams wrote at least two letters for every one of Jefferson, often more than that. And Jefferson wasn’t Adams only correspondent. At various points in his life Adams corresponded with his wife, his children, his in-laws, his grandchildren and various friends, acquaintances and enemies. In addition to writing many letters Adams also kept diaries and notebooks, wrote pamphlets and reports, not to mention being on the committee charged with drafting the Declaration of Independence. McCullough therefore had a large amount of primary sources from which to learn about the man. In addition to all this written material Adams also argued with his books, in his books. Yep (and I hear some of you gasp out there) Adams WROTE in his books (you can guess how vindicated I feel here). Adams enjoyed arguing with his books in pen, at the source. 

As I said in my opening paragraph this book showed just how similar politics then are to politics now. Even in Adams time the different factions pursued campaigns of defamation of character centred around the different individuals political and/or religious affiliation (or lack thereof), their personal choices (who really cares who warms whose bed?) and other sundry political missteps. Part of me wanted to be really depressed at this intrigue and part was glad to know that at least we haven’t sunk from great heights (we are currently in the last two weeks of a general election campaign here, at let me tell you, politics on this side of the pond? just as muckslingingly disgusting).

Although the biography is about John Adams, it also heavily covers Thomas Jefferson as he had a large impact on Adams life, for good and for bad. And despite the fact that the hero of the book is most definitely Adams I felt some sympathy for Jefferson, even though he is portrayed as a bit of a clueless dandy at times. This sympathy is perhaps what really marks McCullough’s writing, all of the people are show at their best and their worst and this both heightens the hero status many of these people have, but at the same time makes them feel very approachable. And I must admit that I actually cried when first Abigail and later Adams and Jefferson passed away (partly I think it is because I was not at my best when reading those sections, but partly it was because these people, who died long before I was a twinkle in anyones eye, were real people to me now). I really wish I could have known these men and women, and I really hope that McCullough writes a biography about Abigail.  

At the end of the book there are extensive source notes as well as an extensive bibliography for the reader who wishes to continue their study of this time period and the people connected with it. In addition McCullough has also has several other books and audio series concerned with the same time period. I highly recommend 1776 as well (review from when I was a very baby blogger before this blog was really a book blog).

Overall I thought this was a very good biography. It gave me a good feel for both the man, John Adams, and the time in which he lived, as well as the historical events in which he was involved. In addition I felt like I learned something about humans and the human condition. I would recommend this book to others.

Purchase John Adams from BookDepository

Copyright ©2010 Zee from Notes from the North. This post was originally posted by Zee from Notes from the North. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Book Review: The Life and Times of The Thunderbolt Kid

The Life and Times of The Thunderbolt Kid by Bill Bryson

Category: Non-fiction (Memoir)

Challenges: 2010 Challenge (Charity), Memorable Memoir

Synopsis: Bill Bryson tells of growing up in the 1950s and 60s in Des Moines, Iowa while also looking at America at the time.

My Thoughts: I have to admit that I was a little bit disappointed with this book. I loved A Walk in the Woods and perhaps I had to high expectations. My problem with this book lay primarily in the fact that it at times felt repetitive. It also takes quite some time until we find out WHY it is called The Life and Times of The Thunderbolt Kid. That said, it was a perfectly pleasant read and a couple of the chapters and incidents that really captured me.

The first chapter that caught my attention was the one titled Boom! In it Bryson discusses the Red Scare and how it came about. In parts it felt like he was describing today with people being stopped at borders because they looked wrong or their passport might be suspicious. The fear and suspicion then feels eerily similar to the fear and suspicion that seems to exist in our society today. Makes me wonder if we ever learn anything.

The other thing that caused some connect with me was the similarities between Brysons stories of his childhood and the stories my dad tells of his. My dad is three years younger than Bryson and grew up in Philly. He occasionally tells stories of him and his friend roaming free in much the same way as Bryson and his friends did. They knew all the local cops (who used to bring them home in the evenings on a fairly regular basis, not for being in trouble but to stop them from getting into trouble). This connection made the book feel a bit more alive to me.

The final thing that kept me reading the book was one of the aspects that made me love A Walk in the Woods: the way Bryson manages to mix facts with the personal. Bryson through facts and figures lends a certain amount of authority to the deeply personal stories he tells and this makes the book feel very alive. So…Although I doubt I will read this book again it hasn’t put me off Bryson, I have a bunch more of his book lined up.

I purchased my copy from Myrorna the Charity shop run by The Salvation Army here in Sweden.

Purchase The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid from BookDepository.co.uk

Copyright ©2010 Zee from Notes from the North. This post was originally posted by Zee from Notes from the North. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Book Review: Baby Catcher

Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife by Peggy Vincent

Category:  Non-fiction (Memoir)

Challenges: Memorable Memoirs, 2010 Challenge (Bad Bloggers), Women Unbound

Synopsis: Peggy Vincent tells of being a midwife in California from the early 70s until the early 90s. In those years she caught over 2000 children and she has some hilarious, sad and interesting stories to tell. She also tells the tale of the poor care women sometimes get at the hands of the medical profession, for something that is actually perfectly normal.

My Thoughts: Although this book has been on my radar since I read Eva at A Striped Armchair’s review late last year I didn’t start reading it until this week. The week my little sister is due with her first. Isn’t it strange how some books, despite being on your bookshelf for months don’t move to the top of the TBR pile until just the right time. Yes my sister being pregnant had something to do with me reading this book, but she has been pregnant for 9 months now, why did I choose to read the book now? I really don’t have an answer for it, but it did fit well right now.

Before I go any further I am going to warn sensitive readers that there is a strong risk that this post might veer into TMI territory. It is just that kind of book, and I am just that kind of person.

This book had me laughing, crying and angry all within a few pages. It also made me count myself lucky that I live in Sweden and not the US. One of the ongoing themes in the book is the constant battle midwifes have to engage in with regards to the medical community. Here, in Sweden, midwifery is firmly entrenched in the medical community. I have never seen a gynaecologist, my sisters pregnancy has been monitored by midwifes the whole time. That is the norm here. For your woman business you see a midwife, whether it be pregnancy, birth control or the pap-smear it is the local midwife. Now everything isn’t rosy when it comes to midwifery here, my sister has had some bad luck. Because midwifery is part of the regular health care here we will not have the same midwife at the birth as does our pre- and post-natal care. And the midwife at the surgery where my sister is registered quit, then her partner buckled under the pressure of a babyboom and a new management that were, well not very good. So at the end of a pregnancy that has not always gone smoothly (poor thing had hyperemesis) she ended up with agency midwifes. So although Vincent talks about midwifery being more excepted in other countries, it is not always a rosy picture here either. That said I think I prefer our system, at least there isn’t the antagonism that there is in the states. And we don’t have the insurance issues.

All that said though, the events that caused me to see red and rage against the medical profession would, to my knowledge NEVER happen here. Vincent tells a story at the end of the book of a woman who comes into the hospital and wants to have a midwife present. She wants a birth on her terms. The doctor on duty decides that she is progressing to slowly and starts her on pitocin and breaks her water while Vincent is attending another woman. All because HE doesn’t want to be woken up should there be need for a caesarean. To my (slightly limited) knowledge births here are rarely medicated. Births are allowed to take the time they take. I was so angry I actually had to put the book down for a while.

However most of the stories Vincent tell don’t have that component of anger. Most of them are simply lovely stories about the strength of women and the camaraderie that birth brings out in the women present. It is also a story of family. I recognized Vincent’s children in myself. Although my mother isn’t a midwife, she is a nurse and so is my sister. Dinner conversations in our house, like those in Vincent’s house would probably horrify most people, but in our house they are completely normal.

Overall I really enjoyed this book and I would definitely recommend it.

Purchase Baby Catcher from BookDepository.co.uk

Authors website

Copyright ©2010 Zee from Notes from the North. This post was originally posted by Zee from Notes from the North. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Book Review: Living History

Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton

Category: Memoir

Challenges: 2010 Challenge (Up to You), Memorable Memoirs, Women Unbound

My Thoughts: I’ll admit I didn’t actually know that much about Secretary of State Hillary Clintons life before she became the First Lady so I found this book to be informative as well as fascinating.

One of the reasons I read this book was for the Women Unbound challenge and I have to say it sounds like Secretary of State Clinton has done a lot of work for women, for many many years. I really do admire her for sticking with a cause for so long and for the work she has done to highlight issues that matter to women around the world. Personally I am very much for the “teach a person to fish” approach that she seems to support. She talks about the advantages of microloans for quite some time in the book, I do wish she had been a bit more specific about how it works and more on what type of things the women who get them do.

It was interesting to see how her political ideas had grown and changed as she grew up. I always find it interesting to see where peoples political ideas come from, especially if they aren’t exactly what their parents ideas are. Her discussion of the social justice issues that informed much of her thinking seemed particularly important for her, which I find important for today’s debate regarding where social justice fits in with society.

Many of the issues she touches upon are still issues in today’s American politics (and the politics of other countries). She discusses the polarization of American politics, something that I find very evident today too. In addition to this, especially towards the end of the book she points out the fear based rhetoric used by many to increase this polarisation. I found this particularly relevant when discussing the health care reform she and the President tried to implement. Many of the tactics she described as being used then are the same tactics that have been used today.  It really made it evident that very little has happened in politics in the last ten years. It is still the same as it was then. And seeing it from someone on the inside was very illuminating.

One thing that really annoyed me was how she seemed to become lifelong friends with everyone she met. Really, every time she met someone new she seemed to say that they had become life long friends. It became tiresome after a while and made me wonder if they were really that good of friends. It came across as almost fake and rather insincere. Maybe I’m projecting, I have a hard time letting people in and count them as friends.

She strikes me as a woman with a great deal of self-awareness. She isn’t afraid to put her hand up and say “what I said was stupid”. She points out her own mistakes. She does say this is what I actually said or this is what I actually meant, yes. But she also realises that she made mistakes. I have always wondered why she chose to stay with her husband after what he did and this book made me understand it a bit more. I don’t think I would have made the same decision but I have a better understanding of why she did it now.

Overall it was a very interesting read and I felt I learned a lot about her as a woman and her as a politician, as well as about the political process (and I am a political junkie). There was a definite political bias but I don’t think this is unexpected. Although politically I fall on the liberal side of the scale I would like to read a memoir or two from someone on the other side of the aisle at the same time. Just to see the different points of view.

I read this book in translation and I was once again reminded why I really do prefer to read books in the original where ever possible. I am going to have to re-read this book in English one day. I think I might be due a bit of a ranty post about translation.

Purchase Living History from BookDepository.

Copyright ©2010 Zee from Notes from the North.This post was originally posted by Zee from Notes from the North. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Sunday Salon: Assigned Reading

What Caught My Fancy

Right now I am reading quite a few books that have been assigned to me. Books I have not chosen to read. Some of them have been on my TBR pile for years because they are books I feel I should read but that I have not gotten too. These are books that have entered the cultural discourse. Books I feel that as an English teacher it is important to read, so part of me is happy I have been assigned them.

Another part of me feels rather resentful. I don’t like being mandated to read. I especially don’t like being told that you need to finish the book by Tuesday. I like taking my time over books, or at least taking my own time over books. I rarely do well with others telling me what to do. I like guidelines, but not “you have to read X, Y and Z and you have no choice in the matter”. I always feel like I miss things in the books because I am rushed through reading them. I am reading them for a purpose, looking for a particular theme or comparing them to a theory on literature. I don’t get to experience the book on its own merits. I have to appreciate it on someone else’s agenda.

At the same time, I know that from a teaching perspective we must read the same books in order to have a good discussion. I know I should look at the books as if I am reading them for me, but still I can’t.

Does anyone else feel like this? Did you like assigned books in school?

Reading

Mrs Dalloway by Virginia Woolf. I’m reading this for my class on lit theory but it also fits the Women Unbound Challenge and the GLBT Challenge.

 

 

The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B Du Bois. This is my pick for this months Harlem Renaissance Tour hosted by The Classic Circuit and also one of my books for the POC Challenge.

 

 

Rapture in Death by J.D. Robb. This is my lighter read. It also works for the Thriller and Suspense Challenge and for the Flashback Challenge (at least for me).

 

 

Reviewed

White Noise by Don DeLillo. This was a book for my lit theory class and in all honesty I had very mixed feelings about it. It got its message across clearly, I’m just not sure I buy the message.

 

Freedom in Exile by The Dalai Lama. I originally read this for the Social Justice Challenge (January: Freedom of Religion) and for the World Religion Challenge, but it also works for the Memorable Memoir Challenge and the POC Challenge. I loved much of what he had to say about religion in our lives and how we should act towards each other. I also appreciated getting to learn more about the history of Tibet. Great read!

Fun Stuff

I won something! Never win anything! But I did win the January competition at the Suspense and Thriller 2010 Challenge!

So thank you very much!! I’m looking forward to the books, none of which I have read!

 

 

 

Copyright ©2010 Zee from Notes from the North.This post was originally posted by Zee from Notes from the North. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.

Book Review: Freedom in Exile

Freedom in Exile by The Dalai Lama

Category: Autobiography

Challenge(s): World Religion Challenge, Social Justice Challenge, Memorable Memoir, POC Challenge

My Thoughts: This book is the Dalai Lama’s memoirs, but also a history of Tibet and an overview of Buddhism.

I found this book to be very informative both with regards to the Dalai Lama as a person, his upbringing, education and life in general, the culture of Tibet and of Buddhism. What I loved the most was his view on religion in general. He firmly believes that ALL religion is valid. He is not about to go around converting people to Buddhism, but rather he feels that all religions offer the same basic tenants and that instead of trying to take followers from each other they should work together to make the world a better place. At one point when talking about a meeting with Father Thomas Merton he says:

“Above all, he helped me to realise that every major religion, with its teaching of love and compassion, can produce good human beings” (pg208).

Although I am not a religion person I wish that different religions would spend less time talking about how they are different and more about how they are similar. He goes on to say that he actually believes that because much of religion is grounded in culture it would be better for individuals to stay within the religion of their own culture:

“…I believe that, in general, it is much better for individuals to remain with their own traditions rather than change to one whose culture is basically foreign to them and not part of their daily experience. After all, I have always felt that the aims of all religions are essentially the same: namely to make us better, less selfish and ultimately happier human beings. That is the key, the point to the religious life. It is therefore better, in my opinion, for people to retain their traditional values, including their religion” (pg307)

I found it refreshing to hear a religious leader state the importance of cultural ties to religion and why it might be better to work together towards a goal but within our traditions.

In addition to the religious aspect of the book I found the historical aspects fascinating. History was my favourite subject in high school and we studied a fair bit of modern Chinese history then (post-boxer rebellion) so many of the Chinese that he met and talked to were familiar to me. It was interesting to see a slightly different perspective on Mao and the other leaders of China. I had primarily had a western perspective previously so this was new.

My previous study of this period in history has meant that I am familiar with the basic tenants of Marxism. I do agree with the Dalai Lama in that I can see much good in Marxism but that it has been seriously distorted in the world. I can also see why he feels that Buddhism is compatible with Marxism.  I do wish that he had not assumed quite the familiarity with the tenants that he does, it would have been good if he had included an overview for those who are not as familiar.

In addition to this he also touches upon the problem of being a minority in a country. Many Tibetans live in minority communities around the world (although primarily in India) and the importance of keeping their cultural heritage. He is adamant that the education of children is of primary importance in this and therefore he supports every effort to teach children. As a future teacher I can only agree.

The Dalai Lama comes across as a very humble and admirable man. He is quick to acknowledge his own faults and shortcomings, especially when he was a child, but he also presents a man with a great deal of humour and curiosity. I think, apart from his tolerance for other religions, the aspect of him that I admire the most is his genuine wish to talk and understand as many people as possible. He wants to know what others think. He believes that everyone has a valuable opinion on their life and that that opinion is worth considering. I think that is the most important lesson for me from this book.

I felt that these were the strongest points in the book, the historical and religious aspects of his life. I did find it hard at times to follow along with who was who. Many of the names have their honorific titles in them and they are the same. This is of course my own western bias in not recognising them (had it said Mr. X or Reverend Y I am sure I would not have had the same problem) but this meant that it took me longer to read the book than it normally would. I kept having to flip back and forth, really I should have kept a list. :D

I would definitely recommend this book to someone who is interested in religion, history, religious freedom and the life of a man who shaped much of the discourse regarding religious tolerance around the world.

Copyright ©2010 Zee from Notes from the North.This post was originally posted by Zee from Notes from the North. It should not be reproduced without express written permission.

2010 Challenges

All Challenges that end in 2010 live here. It will be update throughout the year as I finish books.

My start of challenge post

Level: Suffragette (8 books, at least 3 non-fiction)

My List of Books:

Fiction

1. My Ántonia by Willa Cather
2. The Yellow Wallpaper by Charlotte Perkins Gilman (short story)
3. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
4. Madicken by Astrid Lindgren 
5. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
6. The Forbidden Daughter by Shobhan Bantwal 
   

Non-Fiction

1. Mias Systrar (Mia’s Sisters) by Maria Eriksson and Kerstin Weigl
2. Lilla Feminist-boken (The Little Feminist Book) by Sassa Buregren
3. Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton
4. Mystics, Mavericks, and Merrymakers by Stephanie Levine 
   

Wrap up post

 

My start of challenge post

Level: Read 5 books

My List of Books:

1. The Babysitters Club: Mary Anne Saves the Day by Ann M. Martin
2. A Horse Called Wonder by Joanna Campbell
3. Anne of Avonlea by L. M. Montgomery
4. Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder
5. Madicken by Astrid Lindgren

Wrap up post

 

My start of challenge post

Level: The Unshepherded Path

My List of Books:

1. Freedom in Exile by The Dalai Lama
2. Mystics, Mavericks, and Merrymakers by Stephanie Levine
3. The Unlikely Disciple by Kevin Roose 

Wrap up post

 

My start of challenge post

Level: Read 3 Books

My List of Books:

1. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
2. The Forbidden Daughter by Shobhan Bantwal

Wrap up post

 

My start of challenge post

Level: Lambda 4 Books

My List of Books:

1. Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf
2. En komikers uppväxt (A Comedian Growing Up) by Jonas Gardell

Wrap up post

 

My start of challenge post

Level: Literati 6 Books

My List of Books:

1. Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb
2. Madicken by Astrid Lindgren
3. The French Lieutenant’s Woman by John Fowles
4. Rapture in Death by J.D. Robb
5. Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
6. En komikers uppväxt (A Comedian Growing Up) by Jonas Gardell

Wrap up post

 

My start of challenge post

Level: Cashier at Ankh-Morpork Mint (3)

My List of Books:

1. Hogfather by Terry Pratchett
2. The Last Hero by TerryPratchett

Wrap up post

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My start of challenge post

Level: Read 12 Books

My List of Books:

1. Immortal in Death by J.D. Robb
2. The Girl Who Played with Fire (Flickan som lekte med elden) by Stieg Larsson
3. The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet’s Nest (Luftslottet som sprängdes) by Stieg Larsson
4. Rapture in Death by J.D. Robb
5. Vengeance in Death by J.D. Robb
6. Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb
7. Ceremony in Death  by J.D. Robb
8. In the Bleak Midwinter by Julia Spencer-Fleming
9. Murder at the Vicarage by Agatha Christie
10. A Fountain Filled With Blood by Julia Spencer-Fleming
11. Out of the Deep I Cry by Julia Spencer-Fleming
12. To Darkness and To Death by Julia Spencer-Fleming

Wrap up post

 

My start of challenge post

Level: Read 20 Books

My List of Books:

1. Young Adult
2. T.B.R. **
3. Shiny & New
   1. White Noise by Don Delillo
   2. A Fountain Filled With Blood by Julia Spencer-Fleming
4. Bad Blogger’s ***
5. Charity
6. New in 2010
   1. Fantasy in Death by J.D. Robb
7. Older Than You
   1. Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery
   2. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky
8. Win! Win!
   1. The Last Hero by Terry Pratchett
   2. The Forbidden Daughter by Shobhan Bantwal
9. Who Are You Again?
   1. Tracks by Louise Erdrich
   2. The Distance Between Us by Masha Hamilton
10. Up to You! Memoirs
    1. Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton

Wrap up post

 

My start of challenge post

Level: Read at least 4 Memoirs/Biographies/Letters/Diaries

My List of Books:

1. Freedom in Exile by the Dalai Lama
2. Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton

Wrap up post

My start of challenge post

My List of Books/media:

January: Freedom in Exile by Dalai Lama

February: None

March: Mias Systrar (Mia’s Sisters) by Maria Eriksson and Kerstin Weigl

April:

May:

June:

July:

August:

September:

October:

November:

December:

What Actions did I take:

January: None

February: Entry into Water Race

March: Donate to BRIS

April:

May:

June:

July:

August:

September:

October:

November:

December:

Wrap up post

My Start of Challenge Post

Level: Level 4: 10-15 POC books

My List of Books:

1. Freedom in Exile by the Dalai Lama
2. The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois
3. Tracks by Louise Erdrich
4. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri
5. The Forbidden Daughter by Shobhan Bantwal

Wrap up Post

The Memorable Memoir Challenge: Intro Post

A few weeks ago Melissa at The Betty and Boo Chronicles wondered if there was a memoir challenge for 2010. Apparently there wasn’t but now there is, she is hosting it. YAY! I was already planning on reading memoirs as my category for the 2010 Challenge because I want to read more non-fiction in general this year and memoirs in particular. This gives me even more of a reason.
Here are the details:
1. The Memorable Memoir Challenge will be hosted here on The Betty and Boo Chronicles.
2. The challenge will run from January 1, 2010 - December 31, 2010.
2. Memoirs, letters, diaries, and autobiographies count as reads for this challenge.
3. Overlaps with other challenges are allowed. Audiobooks and e-books are also allowed.
4. Participants are encouraged to read at least 4 memoirs/diaries/letters/autobiography books in 2010. Of course, more are fine!

I have a list  because that is just me
Freedom in Exile: The Autobiography of The Dalai Lama by The Dalai Lama
Baby Catcher: Chronicles of a Modern Midwife by Peggy Vincent
True Compass: A Memoir by Edward Kennedy
Living History by Hillary Rodham Clinton
John Adams by David McCullough
Wild Swans : Three Daughters of China by Jung Chang
Please come and join in!