Winter Book Review

Because I spent years studying Early Modern British Literature in graduate school (that’s 1500-1800 for those of you who’d like to get specific), for a long time I had neglected contemporary fiction. What’s more, my undergraduate survey classes really didn’t help me keep up with the most current literature, either, and for that I’ll place slight blame the disconnect and slow-paced nature of the shining ivory tower of academia.

This week I went out to lunch with a friend, Rosi, who I truly admire for her free spirit and unique artistic insights into the world. As we sat in Squatters Brewery eating hummus, between a roaring fire and windows that revealed a raging, blowing snow storm, we talked about the novels that we’ve most recently read that have stayed our psyches since we’ve closed the cover. I came away from that meeting with a new list of must-reads that I feel an urgency to get to.

I thought I’d share with you three contemporary novels I’ve read this winter that have meant a lot to me. All of them have met me with mystery and familiarity, with family and with warmth. I’ve been immersed in them, and I’ve become a part of their stories.

The first is Peace Like a River. Someone lent this to me, but I didn’t pick it up for several months. By the time I started falling in love with this book, I forgot who had introduced me to it. I made calls to family members and friends, all of whom had never heard of it, before I finally asked Rachel, who was the elusive benefactress. Leif Enger, the author, is a writer on NPR, and I’ve enjoyed his short pieces. This novel tells of a family whose son has become an outlaw, but through their bonds and determination, the father and remaining two children experience unexpected miracles and beauty in their journey to find the prodigal son. It’s a relatively clean and benign piece, and I love the narrative told through eleven-year-old Reuben and the enchantment he finds with the American West, even in the 20th century.

The second is The Magician’s Assistant by Ann Patchett. She’s famous for Bel Canto, which is now on my reading list. My father-in-law gave me The Magician’s Assistant for Christmas, and I started reading it that day. It’s a wonderful real-human story of a woman who married her gay stage partner after performing with him for 20 odd years. She then lived with him and his partner, nursing them in their illnesses until both passed away. The story begins with the aftermath of her husband’s death, and her discovery of his past. The tolerance, the forgiveness, and the real human emotion were astounding to me in this unique family drama. In addition, this story drives itself. I thought I was barely into this novel when I realized I was over half way through. The ending left me very satisfied and warm, but I had a hard time shaking the story and preparing myself for something totally new.

The third is my current read, The Shadow of the Wind by Carlos Ruiz Zafon. It’s a great piece that takes place in Barcelona, Spain. So far it’s a bit of a bildungsroman, told from the point of view of an eleven-year-old boy who is enchanted by books, novels, writing, and appreciates their mystery but soon falls prey to typical adolescent fears and desires. It’s sensual, mysterious, and insightful for those of us who find magic in a story each time it’s told. And I love reading something that takes place in Europe, and the closeness that those countries and cultures have to each other. I did all my grading last night for my night class so that I can devote my entire evening to immersing myself back into this novel when I get home today.

What about you? What have been your recent amazing novels?

Two Omega Cats

Or "Blanket Buddies"

Or "Aja Gives Up"

After nine days, we've gone from total hatred to just complete worn-out acceptance.

I've got to find something else to post on. I was just telling my coworkers this morning I'm really turning into a crazy cat lady with only one obsession. Please, winter, end! I need to get out and hike!

Outtakes: Oh no! It's on Video

I was sorting through all the pictures we have stored on our camera and found these three random videos that have been taken on accident. The video setting is only a couple of clicks away from the still photo setting, and I think it often gets set there when the camera's being handled. I've noticed that this only happens when I'm behind the camera. Apparently Kevin always checks the settings first, smart guy.

First, there's Aja.

Then, there's Christmas morning at the in-law's.

And lastly, there's Kevin on a hike up at Albion Basin.

New Hiding Spot

New Arrival

Last week I had a wonderful birthday. I had two family parties, two fantastic dinners out, and a lot of fun. Thank you for those who remembered, and for those who didn't know, there's an explanation--I don't like telling people about my birthday or making a big deal out of it. Part of the reason is that it is just a regular day for everyone else.

Kevin really made it a special day for me, and later that night we went out with my parents to Market Street, which is in my top three for favorite restaurants. Then we went out to visit a foster home for kitties. The reason, I'd like to announce, is that we have a new arrival just in time for my birthday week. Introducing Phoebe!

Phoebe is a Maine Coon, like Aja. She's about four months old. Her mother was a feral cat, and the litter was discovered in November. Each night rescue workers put out traps and captured the mother and her kittens. Phoebe was the last to be captured, so she spent a night or two outside in the snow by herself before succumbing to the traps. She'd been at a foster home ever since, and she was the last of her litter to be adopted.

I signed the adoption papers for her Thursday and we picked her up Friday after work. So far it's been a hairy 24 hours. When I initially expressed an interest in Phoebe, the folks at the rescue warned me that her foster people thought she was exceptionally shy. This makes sense since she's been wild, but since I've had lots of cats and experience, I was up for a more challenging adoption. She struggles when we hold her, although she purrs easily enough. Last night she and Aja met. At first they just sniffed noses, then Aja began growling, and then both of them broke into hissing. I think it's going to take a few weeks to calm down these two mad kitties.

Last night we gave Phoebe the entire basement while Aja happily slept up in the bed with us. When we went downstairs this morning to find Phoebe, she was gone. We searched the basement no less than six times over during the day today. We rearranged all our junk in the spare bedroom several times. Finally, I at last found Phoebe after pulling out the bottom drawer in a dresser. As Kevin says, cats are good at not being found when they don't want to be found. Since that time, we've been cuddling with her and trying to get her to eat.

Despite everyone getting used to each other and the little scare today, I'm so excited for this adventure. As I've told Kevin, we've got a good home and a lot of love to give. I'm thinking we can help this shy kitty out where a lot of people couldn't. I'll let you know how it goes!

The Buddy

To an aunt like me, it doesn't get better than this. Unfortunately, you can't hear the reason I took this video to begin with--he was absolutely squealing with delight. It's a crappy mobile phone video, but it's very precious to me. And no, I'm really not bouncing him around like that to try to get him to spit up.

Midwinter (Tribute to Christina Rossetti)

Snow on snow, snow on snow

Quiet farmhouse

Cat in sunbeams

Girl in hat, woman in blankets

Fuzzy, sleepy

Lighted tree

Top Withins

My friend Heidi lives in England, and recently took a trip out to Top Withins. Those of you familiar with the Bronte sisters will recognize the feeling of this place. She took this picture, which has fascinated me since. I could look forever at this tree.

Saturday Night

Christina gave a full post to last Saturday night when we got together with our husbands. Kevin and I love keeping company with the Christina and Dave--we always have such fun discussion, complete with good stories and light sarcasm. It was a blast to have dinner, play games, and celebrate Christina's birthday. What's more, these are the first pictures of the inside of our home--you can even see our photograph of Courthouse Towers in Arches, as well as our other friendly visitor: Poe.

Book Review: Eat, Pray, Love

I read Elizabeth Gilbert's memoir, Eat, Pray, Love a few months ago after Rachel introduced me to it. I didn't intend to do a book review here, but this is the type of book that I've kept with me for months, and after Christina reminded me of it yesterday, I figured that I had to do it.

Read is not really the correct word, as I listened to the audio book read by Gilbert herself. She was amazing, adjusting her sound for the voices of the people in her life, and capturing the subtle ironies that I found delightfully amusing.

Apparently, this book has captured the attention of many women. I confess I don't watch Oprah, and haven't had much of a chance to keep up on how this book has impacted others. But I can talk of how this book resonated with me like a week spent with a cosmic twin turned spiritual mentor. Gilbert tells her story of how she came to spiritual crisis, and how she worked herself out of it (through eating, praying, and loving) over a few years time and exotic journeys. Never before had I heard of a woman being so confessional--so honestly forthright--about the demons that haunt her, and then to have such a clever and witty way of examining them. As a childless woman at an age where everyone around me is desperately "baby hungry" (odd term, isn't it?), I stood refreshed at her confession of not wanting children--at least not at according to everyone else's time table--and the sincerity in which she felt and dealt with the issue. Her coming to terms with God, and with meeting God for the first time (and second, and third), was beautiful to me in its openness and liberality.

The Autumn Wolrd of Calvin and Hobbes

Calvin and Hobbes was the comic strip that I felt a special connection to as I grew up. I'm a cat person myself, so there was always a love for Hobbes, and I think the many sides of Calvin are quite reflective of the complex human psyche. My favorite strips, however, occurred in the woods that Calvin wandered, and in which he made his existential ruminations. I envied him for existing in a world where wilderness was so close to his home, as in the Salt Lake valley we usually have a distinction between our wilderness, our foothills, and our residential areas.

On my last trip to Chicagoland (really, they call it that), I stayed in an area that reminded me of Calvin's world. Here small lanes divide up the woods, and houses appear almost randomly throughout the forests. I took the afternoon to drive around and experience autumn here, and I even saw a large owl.

At the home where I grew up, we had our own bits of wilderness. We had a stack of oak trees in the back yard in which my dad made a platform tree fort; there was an old mountain road that cut into the hill above our neighborhood that provided a place for us to get great views and spot wildlife; and there was the mouth of a canyon with all that comes with it: the creek, a reservoir, and an old mill. I suppose that's not a bad start to imaginative childhood wilderness, but when I look at this picture, it reminds me that there's something special to actually living right in the woods.

Fall in Big Cottonwood Canyon

Admittedly, this comes a little late, but here are our fall pics from Big Cottonwood Canyon. Despite the drought, which drains the trees and dulls their color, we still found beautiful patches this fall. Isn't it odd how it just creeps up in little patches?

Genius at Work

I use the grade-level readability tool in Microsoft Word at work all the time. It evaluates my vocabulary and sentence complexity and tells me how difficult a particular document is to read. As I am usually required to design things to reach and eigth-grade reading level, I'm distraught over this new reading rating on my blog. As I teach technical writing at the university level, I believe good writing (technical writing, at least) is very simply conveyed. It looks like I need to work on practicing what I preach, assuming that this tool is real.

But you can't take the little girl out of the grown-up lady

As long as I had to dress up at work, I thought I'd do something I'd love.

Happy Halloween!

October Update

Thanks to the few of you who told me you were missing my blog. This month has been crazy. This week I'll make my fourth trip to Chicago for work in the last 9 weeks, for starters. I've got the Delta flight schedule memorized between O'Hare and Salt Lake International. I've also been without a decent bedroom for... what is it... three weeks now? Kevin and I have been painting, and today we're getting our floors sanded in both bedrooms. The pale blue carpet in the living room (new when we moved in) is going to have to stick around for a few more years. Even if it is "so eighties."

First, Chicago. Well, if you can imagine how fun it would be to sit next to multi-level marketers for three hours on a plane, then you can start to imagine how fun my last trip was. Combine that with flight delays, exorbitant printer's costs, some unusual client experiences, and 20 minutes of local network news taping me in airport security for their B-roll is what I had to look forward to. I seriously do not like to be taped on camera.

To cope with all the stress and clutter, I made it up Little Cottonwood Canyon Thursday night. The October moon was full and beautiful, and it lit up the snow-covered cliffs. I went all the way to Alta, but of course the road up to the Albion Basin parking lot was closed. I unrolled my windows and let that cold woody air in. I decided I have to get a cabin one day.

I'm in the mood to write today because tonight I'm going to one of my favorite events--the family pumpkin carving party. My brother and sister-in-law host it with their beautiful kids, and this year we'll be joined by my other brother's family and my sister's new baby. Halloween is so much more fun with kids around.

And last, but not least, tomorrow Kevin gets sworn in as an official attorney and member of the bar. I feel as proud as Bridget Jones. Congrats, Kev.

Fiery Furnace from Above

This is something we use in my family for reminiscing. If you can see it, enjoy!

Cedar Breaks Photo Journal

Wildflowers at Devil's Castle Peak

Kevin and Dad with summer wildflowers in front of Devil's Castle Peak at Albion Basin. We invented our own hike up toward the mountain and back toward Cecret Lake. My dad says this is his new favorite hike.

Underwater Pictures

I think this is the last of the Hawaii posts. Kevin bought a disposable camera in a waterproof case for us to take to Hawaii so that we wouldn't ruin our other camera. Here are the highlights from the roll:

Our first snorkel spot by the Aquarium on Maui

Some fish

Angel fish and a rainbow fish

Sea turtles

A playful couple

And...

Some kind of Sea Monster.

Day 7:Pearl Harbor

We had to plan our last day in Hawaii more carefully, because our flight left at 10:00 at night, and we didn't want to be wearing wet swimming suits home on our red eye flight. Kevin read about a short drive up the mountain from Honolulu that was supposed to be sort of like the Road to Hana on Maui, so we decided to do that. First, though, we stopped by Leonard's bakery for the second morning in a row to get some malasadas diliciosas. Some of the best baked Hawaiian goods are from Portuguese sailors, including Hawaiian bread, but these malasadas were something else: sugar, cinnamon sugar, or banana, coconut, or chocolate filled. Here's a great shot of me and the Leonard's bakery dumpster.

And here we are driving up the road to Round Top, above Honolulu.

And this is what the road was like as we drove around. It sprinkled on us a bit, and the whole place smelled like flowers. I'd love to live up here!

In the afternoon we decided to go to Pearl Harbor. It's free to get in, but Kevin and I decided it was worth it to spring for the $5 audio tour as we went through the museum and waited our turn to see the film and ride the boat out to the Arizona memorial. I think the audio tour was totally worth it. I'm a bit of an NPR-junkie, so I've grown accustomed to learning through listening to compiled audio snippets and vignettes told by those who experienced these attacks over 65 years ago.

I'd been to Pearl Harbor once or twice before, but this time it had a lot more meaning to me. Before I was so young that I accepted history as fact and didn't question why things happened the way they did. But this time I was immensely curious to know why the Japanese thought it would be a good idea to bomb the U.S. (we had stopped selling them oil and had closed off the Panama Canal to them, so they thought they'd take out our Pacific fleet and then quickly take over all of the resource-rich French Asian territories before we had time to regroup), or why we hadn't detected the planes coming in (we thought they were our own planes coming from California), or why Japan joined with Germany and Italy (with the invasion of France, these French colonies were ripe for the picking by Japan).

Here's what remains of one of the gun towers of the sunken USS Arizona.

This was also a neat experience for me because my grandpa served as a colonel in WWII in Asia, and despite that I've always studied and learned more about the European side of the war, and here I got to immerse myself in a totally new perspective.