What I've been reading

Between all the traveling we've done lately, and all the nights I've spent on the couch or in bed feeling less than great, I've done quite a bit of reading. In no particular order, here's a little taste of what I've had my nose in.

The Memory Keeper's Daughter

This is a novel that I loved at its beginning, detested in its rising action, and adored at its denouement. Despite my range of emotional reactions, it was a page turner. I was surprised. Edwards has a remarkable talent for putting indescribable experiences into just the right words. Her descriptions of being a new parent, finding clothes that fit a week after delivery, nursing, loving, and trying to keep things together were nostalgically perfect. She weaves a compelling story of an unthinkable secret that affects two families. One family is completely devastated as a result of this secret. And juxtaposed to the devastation is another family that flowers in love and security. The narrative warns of fear and selfishness simultaneously glimmering with redemption and hope. The characters are real, hence my detestation at watching some of them change and degenerate because of their choices. I took a new look at my interpersonal relationships, as well as my own fears insecurities that I allow to influence my choices.

The Remains of the Day

This was a re-read that I try to get in every year or so. Its one of my favorites. Ishiguro won the Booker Prize (the most prestigious literary award in the UK) for this novel. Its narrative style is very unique as the story is told in the past tense times two. Stevens, the protagonist, is in the midst of a big change and he takes a journey through his past as he travels to meet an old friend. The reader is constantly being thrust from his memories to the situations he is encountering along his trip. The fantastic effect of this style is that we are seeing everything through Steven's paradigm and Ishiguro challenges us to read what has been written between the lines. What unfolds is a quietly tragic tale of a life lived for the wrong cause. I learned so much about myself when I first read this. It was like holding a magnification mirror up to a piece of me I had never wanted to see. But it was liberating to acknowledge this part of myself, because I was able to change it. I realized that I had given myself certain titles, like Stevens. He was the quintessential butler, and allowed this title to rule his behavior to the point that he wasn't consciously making his own choices. Similarly, I had defined myself by titles like 'straight A student', or 'go to girl' and I was shocked to see how much I allowed these titles to occasionally rule over my choices and skew my priorities. The lesson is learned anew every time I read it, as I am constantly adding new titles to my identity. This was my first time reading the novel as a mother, and I had a list of things to work on when I finished.

Fitzwilliam Darcy, Gentleman

An Assembly Such as This

This is a novel in three parts that my mom sent to me. She has read several Pride and Prejudice (or P&P as we true fans call it) re-works and sequels, and proclaimed this her favorite. I was skeptical at first, but once I was in, I couldn't put the book down. I LOVE IT! Though, I've only read the first installment, and half of the second. It brilliantly tells the P&P story entirely from Darcy's point of view. Aidan weaves in and out of Austen's narrative, quoting dialogues exactly. But every action point has a new light shining on it as we approach it from Darcy's perspective. The novel as a concept makes a ton of sense to me. Its almost like Austen intended to go back some day and write the 'He Said' companion to this 'She Said' novel. There is so much of Darcy's life and situation that don't get explored- he is such a darn enigma! This novel is laced with historical information and laugh-out-loud comical interactions that put a lot of meat onto Darcy's character. It cleverly explores the sources of Darcy's seemingly abrupt and inconsistent behaviors. I was worried that reading a work like this would taint my original P&P experiences, but on the contrary, this series has only enhanced so far.

The Nazi Officer's Wife

I read this one for book club. I've read several books about the Holocaust, and this one was decidedly different. It is the true story of how Edith Hahn Beer, a Jew from Vienna, survived the Holocaust by assuming a false identity and ultimately marrying a Nazi. It was fascinating to read about how the Nazi's and the war were viewed as they spread across Europe. It was also heartbreaking to be involved in her story as she struggled through complete rejection as a Jew in a Nazi world, only to be rejected by other Jews in a post Nazi world because she didn't go to a concentration camp. Through all of her heartache, she was ambitious and optimistic. She completed law school and practiced as a judge. She experienced motherhood. She had true joy and happiness in her life. I would laugh and turn the page and cry and turn the page and laugh again. I definitely recommend this book.