How To Be An American Housewife

     I finished "How To Be an American Housewife" about five days ago. It was an easy read, but I found it really enjoyable. I've always been facinated by Japanese culture and have been fortunate enough to have a father-in-law that served his mission there, as well as several years of working experience.

     I didn't really connect with the mother daughter thing because me and my mom have a great relationship and I've never felt like she was nagging me. I had a much harder relationship with my father, so I had to try to imagine it from that angle. I thought it was interesting how the conflicts seemed to be rooted in the different ways that each character was raised. I suppose that each generation has differences in how it was raised, but the characters also had to cope with different cultures as well.

     There where things that I didn't know about Japan that where interesting to find out. Like the class system. That was new to me, but it made me think of our 'unofficial' class system in the states. It would be like a wealthy middle class child marrying a dirt poor hillbilly, at least thats how I looked at it. I also wonder if it is still considered great luck to marry an American service man in other countries.

     I really liked the father, but I found some incontistancies when it came to how they described him being Mormon. For instance, when they first meet, he is buying a pack of cigarettes in a hotel gift shop. I don't know about you, but I don't know any 'good' Mormon that smokes. Also, there was a reference to purgatory in connection with Mormon beliefs, except that Mormons don't believe in purgatory. I wonder how much research the author actually did on the Mormon religion. Other than that, he seemed like a pretty normal American guy.

     The brother kind of bothered me, just because I have a few brothers that act that way. They where spoiled from birth, and now they expect to be taken care of despite being adults. I saw in the brother alot of the character flaws that drive me crazy about my own brothers. He just seemed really distant to the rest of the family.

     The person that I connected most with was 'Sue'. I have always felt like an odd duck in my family, and when I went to Seattle I felt like I was home, even though I had never been there. Obviously Japan is a little bit different, but I could still connect with that feeling of belonging. I also know how it feels to work your butt off day in and day out, and feel like your going nowhere. Like your stuck, and just need to be satisfied with a mediocure life. I hope that one day I can get the courage to change my life and do what I want to do.

     Overall, this book was as much about finding one's own way as a story about mother and daughter. I connected much more with 'Sue's' story, but found that her mother's story was just as interesting and as important to the story. I found this book easy to read and enjoyable, so I would definately pick it up.

The Book Hoarder

Jane Eyre

      When I initially started "Jane Eyre" I planned on not liking it. I was under the impression that it would be full of boring conversations, in much the same way as "Pride and Prejudice" as well as other Jane Austen novels. It was different right from the begining, but I still found it lagging in the begining and though I felt for the plight of 'Jane' as a child, I was bored with the consistancy of her misery. It was almost depressing. It took a little while, but the book began to show glimpses of joy. I was relieved because I had had enough of the 'woe is me' atttitude of the book up to that point.

     In the second part of the book I was totally absorbed with the blossoming love that began to develop between 'Jane' and 'Mr. Rochester'. I knew that it would not end well. The book put in alot of onimous events, and it was clear that 'Mr. Rochester' was hiding a big secret. I was kind of shocked that 'Jane', being as smart as she was portrayed, did not tie the unusual events to something that my come between her and the object of her desire. I think it was horrid of 'Mr Rochester' to wait until the day of his impeding wedding to 'Jane' to suddenly spring on her the surprise. I was so mad at what he had done to her. I will not go into the specifics, but having been in a somewhat similair (yet different in it's own way) situation myself, I felt for 'Jane'. It is hard to explain to someone that hasn't been in a similair situation to explain the complete horror at having your heart completely broken, and feeling completely betrayed to the bone.

    After the before mentioned(or unmentioned) event, 'Jane' searches for solace in a differnt place. This too I can understand whole heartidly. I too tried to escape, to make a 'change of scenery' if you will. Like 'Jane', I too found my new accomidations adaquit and almost happy life, but there is always that longing for something lost. Eventually, both of us returned to a place we called home, but this is where our stories differ. She returned to her betrayer, I would not for all the world have done that. I'm sorry, but once that trust is so broken, in such a profound way, even the most humble among us cannot forgive.

     I realize that I am not 'Jane', but I connected so intimately with her story (as an adult) that the emotions in the book flowed through me as if they where my own. As I said before, I did not intend to enjoy this book, but having discovered it's secrets, I think I found a new favorite. I know that not everyone will connect with it in the way that I did, but I hope that they will at least give it a try. This is definatley a read.

The Book Hoarder
           

Utopia

 I finished reading "Utopia" and needed a day to digest it. This book was really amazing to me. So many of it's points can pertain to our current society as well as our past (and the past of other societies as well). This book is broken down into two sections. Each section seems to be conversations, but the second one is more the story of place called Utopia, and not really a first conversation.

 In the first conversation, 'Raphael' is having a conversation with a well known lawyer in england at the table of a cardinal. They discuss what motivates people to commit crimes and how they way society is run can often influence the fluctuation of crimes. In reality, it seemed like they where discussing the 'evils of capitalism', and 'Raphael' made some pretty good points. I won't outline exactly what those points are, as I feel it is important for any civil minded person to read this book. I will say that it really opened my eyes to the differences between how we claim people should be treated and how they really are.

 The second conversation takes place between 'Raphael' and 'More'. This is the part of the book where 'Raphael' explains the society known as Utopia. Several of the points seemed like they would logically work, except for the one thing he doesn't take into account when considering this society, and that is the power of human greed. Utopia is basically a communist society, with a few differences, like the freedom of religion. It is based off the idea that if everyone works equally so that everyone is given exactly what they need (not what they want), then everyone can acheive true happiness. The idea is great, and seems very logical to me, but when societies have tried this in the past, it always ends in disaster. The reason they end in disaster? Human greed. The ingrained drive for more. I'm not saying its not important to keep pushing the limits. I think that we should push the limits in science and research and intellectual studies, but at what cost do we push the limits when it comes to optaining material and monetary riches. Is it really whats important in life? I guess thats for you to decide.

 I would say this is a definate read for anybody interested in political theory, or really philosophy in general. Hope you enjoy!

The Book Hoarder

Water For Elephants

(spoiler alert)

 I recently finished "Water for Elephants" and found it mostly charming and interesting. However, I think that some of the more 'sexually charged' situations kind of took away from the book as a whole. In reality there was only one part that really bugged me, but I didn't feel like it was all that important to the story.

 This story is one of those that goes back and forth between narratives. I often find that distracting, and this book was no different. I understand why the author had the chapters of  'Jacob' as an old man, especially when setting up for the rest of the story, but overall, I felt it added little in the way of understanding or plot.

 The other thing about this book, is that I found it rather pradictable. I already knew what was going to happen before the story even started. The only question that was even answered through reading the book was who killed 'August'.

 I would recommend reading this book, but don't expect any great life changing revelations. It's your basic boy meets girl that is married to paranoid schitzophrinic and falls in love. It is a good light read, a guilty pleasure if you will, to clear your mind after reading something heavier. I found it was just what I needed after reading crime and punishment, but not the great litterary work of art I had been led to think it was. Enjoy!

The Book Hoarder

Crime and Punishment

(Spoiler Alert)

       I just finished "Crime and Punishment" and am so throughouly vexed by the whole idea of this book that I am not certain where to start. I was under the impression that this book was about how one crime could be forgiven if it meant that a million good deeds came from it, but once again I was mistaken. The main character (Rodya) comes up with a theory that if someone is destined for greatness that he is 'allowed' to dispose of all those who opose him. Being young and idealistic, he assumes that he must be one of those great people and decides to murder a local pawn broker in order to continue his education and elevated his status. He ends up botching the whole 'experiement' and  through  the whole book you are led to believe that Rodya is being tormented by his concious and that is why in the end he decides to turn himself in. I was greatly disappointed to discover that it was not that afterall, but the fact that he could not over come his crime and move on that seemed to be 'The Real Crime' to him. The fact that his ego and pride had been eternally wounded is what bothered him the most. Even after he goes to Siberia for the crime of murder he is still under the impression that the real crime is his weakness of not being able to get over murdering another human being. I felt totally cheated. What exactly did Rodya learn?

    It is odd though, that this particulair act, prompted him to be so generious to others in his life. Even those that he was barely acquainted with where blessed by is generosity and selflessness leading up to his confession. I suppose, in a way, he was trying to justify his crime by doing good unto others, but how do you justify murder?

   The other thing that really bothered me about this book, is the way that the women where betrayed. Once again they are seen as bargining chips that the men can use as they see fit. They are described as meek and mild. At one point, one of the female characters (Sonya) is forced into prostitution in order to feed her family, and by doing so is looked down upon by society and the other more 'sophisticated' characters. Serously? Of course it was a man (her father) that demanded that she do such a thing, but does he get the blame for her 'uncleanliness'? Of course not!

   In my opinion Sonya is the real hero of this story. It is through her that her family is taken care of, and it is through her that Rodya starts to discover his humanity. Without Sonya the whole story would be one big pissing contest.

   Overall, I would say that this book is one that should be read, but not with any expectations. I suppose to througoughly enjoy it, one must put aside their values and their morals and try to look at it from a totally hypothetical view. Otherwise, it just makes you really angry at the world.

Always,
The Book Hoarder

PS I couldn't get my spell checker to work, so I apologize for my atroucious spelling errors.

The Help Continued

    I have finished 'The Help'. Although at first I seemed to be having a hard time connecting to the story, in the end I couldn't put it down. There are so many more dinamics to this story than I originally gave it credit for. Choosing to do the right thing isn't always easy. In this story, the main character (that is white) looses all her friends, boyfriend, and status because she feels that treating someone different because of their skin color is wrong.

    I discovered that the thing I was missing was right in front of my face all the time. The story is about not having prejiduces against people (for whatever reason) and that is something I feel very strongly about. It is an awesome example of rising up against adversity and sticking true to your own beliefs, despite what society might say.

   I realize that if this book was written 40 years earlier, there would be alot of controversy, but at this time, in this day it still feels appropriate. It reminds all of us to keep what we believe close to our hearts and remember who we are. I encourage everybody to look at their lives, and look at who influences their desicions, then make the promise to yourself that you will act according to your own concious and not to what society believes is right.

  I know that from now on I will take a look at my life, and stand up for what I believe to be true. I'm not saying its not ok to disagree about these things, but have enough respect to relize that just because someone might not agree with you, it doesn't make that person bad or evil. I guess I'm just trying to say that this book taught me to stand up for what I believe in, while still showing respect to other people and their ideals.

Thanks,
Book Hoarder

The Help

    "The Help" is the first book I decided to write about. I am currently reading it, so I haven't finished it yet, but it has me somewhat perplexed. It takes place in 1960's Alabama and follows the story of two african american maids during the begining of the civil rights movement. I understand the concept of the book and I know that it is meant to be moving, but I'm having a hard time connecting with this story. I was born and grew up in a predominately white town some 20 years after the movement has ended, so maybe I don't understand the signifigance of this story. I have tried to use my own experiences to relate. I have looked at the people in my generation that have been persecuted, like the gay community and how I feel about that, but this just seems different. It's not a good comparison and I'm not sure why I can't find anything in this book to relate to.
   On a totally unrelated note, I have a hard time reading the parts that are in the voice of the maids. It is meant to have the same slang and southern drawl that they would actually have, but my crazy correct grammer brain screams in frustration. I know this seems stupid, but anytime I read a book that doesn't have proper english or that the author does not use imaginative and different ways to tell the story I get really frustrated and bored. I wouldn't disregard this book simply based on the grammer. That is just a personal issue that I need to find a way around. In reality this book is well written and shows (I think) in a very realisitic way how people lived and felt about what was going on around them.
     In all I would say check it out. It might seem more rewarding to someone that grew up in this era or has a more diversified childhood. It is well written and you can tell that the author thought out each character. They all have their own specific personalities and parts to play. I have yet to see how the story plays out, but I am excited about finding out.
   If you have any thoughts or comments about a way to for me to find a connection, I would enjoy the imput.
Thanks,
Book Horder