Its a new year and you can bet your buckets I have made a list of New Year's resolutions. I always try to keep my resolutions super simple and, hopefully, achievable. This year was no exception. Do 30 minuets of cardio exercise three times a week, do my visiting teaching each month no matter how awkward and shy I feel, and help my soon-to-be-kindergartner improve her literacy. My last goal was to recover some of the literary muscles I had allowed to go to seed in my now almost 7 years as a stay-at-home mom. I had thought about making a goal to write for an hour every day (which I may still attempt to do) but then I saw a friend wearing a sweatshirt from the Extreme Book Nerd Challenge our local library puts on each year. I had wanted to do it last year, but it was already October and I had just had a baby (no way). I asked my friend about it and she was all praises and pride so I decided that would be my mental/professional challenge for the year. Read 50 books from 50 different categories in 50 weeks. To prove we have actually completed the challenge we are supposed to keep a log of the books we have read. I was totally going to just grab a blank composition book and use that, but I couldn't find one and I forgot to pick one up at the store today. So here we are. I'm using my never visited, rarely updated blog as my reading journal. So here we go.
I had registered for the challenge online and briefly glanced at the category list before loading everyone into the car to run errands. We went to the library to pick out books and for me to make my first challenge selection. Unfortunately, Mike was on shift and school had been cancelled because of the subzero temperatures so I had all 4 kids with me and no extra hands. Having made their selections, I herded my band to the third floor where loud children bring a lot more attention. Trying to move fast, I saw a selection of comedy and satire books on display. I vaguely remember that as one of the categories. I grabbed a book with a sort of silly looking cover on it and then herded us all back down stairs and out the doors (stopping to say "hi" to the fishies in the zen garden on the way).
I was really hoping this book was a comedy (life is stressful and I could use a few laughs) but its a satire. I should have known. It was displayed along side a Sherman Alexi novel. I know satires are often considered funny, but they just never are for me (The Princess Bride being the one exception). That's not to say I didn't enjoy the book. I actually liked it quite a bit, especially the ending. The house was the best. Not only was it a good metaphor for the state the family's relationships and Bernadette's personal state of mind, but I found the idea of a house being overrun by blackberry bushes totally crazy. I had a roommate from Portland once who said they were the worst kind of weed imaginable. They don't grow out here in Idaho and I think they taste good in ice cream so couldn't see how anyone wouldn't want them growing in their garden. The most ridiculous part about this story is probably the most realistic. (Respect the blackberry bush.)
I was both irritated and pleased with the portrayal of the religious in this book. Maybe its because I'm deeply religious myself, but it drives me nuts that the only image I ever seem to see of conservative Christians in the media is of hypocritical narcissists who use the name of Jesus to make others feel guilty and themselves feel superior. I promise, people like that are in the minority. The greatest irritation and greatest pleasure in this regard was with the character Audrey Griffin's transformation. She started off as a really uptight, shallow bible thumper, but in then end had a sort of awakening that helped her see the reality of where her actions stood in comparison to Christ's. And she actually went out and did something about it. She did what she could to repent. Most authors like to leave that stereotype 2D. This was a pleasant change.
My favorite part was the relationship Bee had with her mother. I felt like Semple managed to catch the essence of a daughter's love for an imperfect mother so well. The loyalty and patience that character showed was touching. I certainly feel that kind of love and loyalty towards my own mother and pray that my children will find it for me (hopefully sooner rather than later).
The story was good; well paced and decently written. I enjoyed it well enough thought I didn't find it as funny as I had hoped (which is why I am saving that category for a different book). The challenge seems to be off to a fairly decent start.
No comments:
Post a Comment