The Help, by Kathryn Stockett (2009)
The Help is a phenomenal book about Southern life in the 1960s, just as the Civil Rights movement is coming into fruition. The novel, which is set in Jackson, Mississippi, follows the daily lives of three women through their own voices.
Aibileen is the black maid of Elizabeth Leefolt. Elizabeth is a disinterested parent who leaves, not only the care of her house to Aibileen, but also the childrearing of her daughter Mae Mobley. Elizabeth ignores her own child, leaving her confused and distraught. Aibileen loves Mae Mobley and subtlety tries to teach her, through stories, how to treat all people equally.
Aibileen has spent her life raising other people’s children, only to see them turn on her once they reach adulthood. Although Aibileen attends their weddings, she must do so dressed as a maid.
Although Aibileen has worked for Miss Elizabeth for some time, she must use the house, ie, “white” bathroom. Elizabeth’s friend, Miss Hilly, informs Elizabeth, in Aibileen’s hearing, that the “colored” carry diseases, and that she should install an outdoor bathroom just for Aibileen. After the bathroom is built, the white ladies expect Aibileen to be thrilled to have her own facility.
Minny is another black maid. She is a close friend of Aibileen and about 16 years younger than her. Her perspective on tending to the needs of the white folk is considerably different than that of Aibileen. She has worked for some abusive women and has unfairly been accused of stealing silverware. In addition, she is in an abusive marriage and is trying to raise several children of her own.
She lands a job with Miss Celia Foote. Celia married up and hasn’t been accepted by the other women in Jackson. She cannot cook and secretly hires Minny to work for her and teach her to cook. Celia’s husband, Johnny, does not know that Minny has been hired, something that makes Minny very nervous.
Eugenie “Skeeter” Phalem, has just graduated from college and has returned home. It would be unthinkable for her to venture out on her own. She is tall and not conventionally beautiful. Her mother dreamed for her to marry a prominent man and become a good Southern wife. Skeeter, however, dreams of being a writer. She makes contact with an editor at a publishing company in New York who tells her to practice her writing skills.
Skeeter lands a job at the local paper writing a cleaning advise column. The only problem is that Skeeter has no knowledge of cleaning houses. For this, she begins conversations with Aibileen, who provides the background information for her columns.
Because Skeeter doesn’t have a boyfriend, her mother and friends try to set her up with a wealthly playboy. Skeeter longs for her beloved maid, Constantine, who left under mysterious circumstances. Skeeter is told that Constantine decided to move to Chicago, but she gleans bits and pieces of information with her budding friendship with Aibileen, that makes her realize that the move was not voluntary.
Skeeter becomes awakened to the growing civil unrest in Mississippi. Her friends don’t want things to change, but Skeeter suddenly wonders what life is really like for the black maids. She slowly gains the trust of a dozen maids who tell their stories, which she compiles into a book that is published to coincide with the Civil Rights March in Washington, DC.
The Help is a phenomenal book that explores moral values, friendships and racism. It is a book that is hard to put down and tells a powerful story.
Read: November 22, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Saturday, November 21, 2009
Books Set in a Global Environment
The Book of Names by Jill Gregory and Karen Tintori (2007)
The Book of Names is the Jewish answer to Dan Brown’s The DaVinci Code.
According to Jewish tradition, within each generation, there are thirty-six righteous souls. No one knows who they are, but they are essential to the existence of the world. If they all die, the world as we know it ceases to exist. This book plays on this theme.
The main character is David Shepherd, a political science professor who is also the son of a senator. When he was a young teenager, he, along with two teens, was in a tragic fall from a roof-top. He survived, but one of his companions, Crispin Mueller, was in a coma for months. David has lost track of Crispin, but assumes that he ultimately died from his injuries.
Years later, David remembers his near death experience and recalls voices and names being called out to him. He records these memories in a notebook. He later becomes involves in the hunt for the Book of Names ~ an ancient text that legend has originated with Adam and Eve. By Kabbalistic tradition, this book contains the names of each generation thirty-six righteous individuals, known as the Hidden Ones.
David discovers that most of the names that he has “remembered” are actual people who have recently died under mysterious causes. At the same time, world events start to escalate that could be interpreted as the beginning of the end ~ war in Afghanistan, tsunamis in the Pacific, terrorist attacks …
As David seeks to identify the Hidden Ones, he finds himself face-to-face with the Hidden Ones mortal enemies, the Gnoseos, a secret anti-religious cult whose goal is to kill all the righteous ones, thereby destroying the world. David’s quest becomes personal when he realizes that one of the surviving thirty-six in his generation is his beloved stepdaughter, Stacy.
Of course, there is a love interest, as sabre Yael HarPaz joins in the search for the Gnoseos.
The book is a page-turner, but not of any real substance. It seems like it was written with a movie in mind. Not a bad book, but not intellectually stimulating, either.
Read: November 18, 2009
The Book of Names is the Jewish answer to Dan Brown’s The DaVinci Code.
According to Jewish tradition, within each generation, there are thirty-six righteous souls. No one knows who they are, but they are essential to the existence of the world. If they all die, the world as we know it ceases to exist. This book plays on this theme.
The main character is David Shepherd, a political science professor who is also the son of a senator. When he was a young teenager, he, along with two teens, was in a tragic fall from a roof-top. He survived, but one of his companions, Crispin Mueller, was in a coma for months. David has lost track of Crispin, but assumes that he ultimately died from his injuries.
Years later, David remembers his near death experience and recalls voices and names being called out to him. He records these memories in a notebook. He later becomes involves in the hunt for the Book of Names ~ an ancient text that legend has originated with Adam and Eve. By Kabbalistic tradition, this book contains the names of each generation thirty-six righteous individuals, known as the Hidden Ones.
David discovers that most of the names that he has “remembered” are actual people who have recently died under mysterious causes. At the same time, world events start to escalate that could be interpreted as the beginning of the end ~ war in Afghanistan, tsunamis in the Pacific, terrorist attacks …
As David seeks to identify the Hidden Ones, he finds himself face-to-face with the Hidden Ones mortal enemies, the Gnoseos, a secret anti-religious cult whose goal is to kill all the righteous ones, thereby destroying the world. David’s quest becomes personal when he realizes that one of the surviving thirty-six in his generation is his beloved stepdaughter, Stacy.
Of course, there is a love interest, as sabre Yael HarPaz joins in the search for the Gnoseos.
The book is a page-turner, but not of any real substance. It seems like it was written with a movie in mind. Not a bad book, but not intellectually stimulating, either.
Read: November 18, 2009
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Books Set in the United States
The Wholeness of a Broken Heart by Katie Singer (1999)
The Wholeness of a Broken Heart is the story of several generations of Jewish women. Each chapter is narrated in a voice of one of the women. Central to the book is Hannah Felber, a young woman with a strained relationship with her mother, Celia.
Hannah was named after her great-grandmother, Channa, who was born in Poland in 1880. Channa describes the struggles she dealt with in Poland and her life in America. She marries Meyer Horowitz and has a fairly happy life. Her daughter, Ida, marries Moishe, a hateful man who makes her life miserable. Moishe was spared being conscripted into the Russian army when his mother, Leah, traded his life for that of her daughter, Raisl. Leah allowed a cossack sleep with Raisl in exchange for getting Moishe to America. Raisl became pregnant and Moishe never spoke kindly to his sister again. He was aware of the exchange, but could not forgive her.
Celia, Hannah's mother, is unable to form a strong bond with her daughter after she grows up. Hannah struggles with this this loss and relies on the comfort of her grandmother, Ida, who blossoms once Moishe does.
Through each woman's voice, we go back and forth through time and discover the secrets and events that form the personalities of each woman.
This was a delightful book.
Read: November 8, 2009
The Wholeness of a Broken Heart is the story of several generations of Jewish women. Each chapter is narrated in a voice of one of the women. Central to the book is Hannah Felber, a young woman with a strained relationship with her mother, Celia.
Hannah was named after her great-grandmother, Channa, who was born in Poland in 1880. Channa describes the struggles she dealt with in Poland and her life in America. She marries Meyer Horowitz and has a fairly happy life. Her daughter, Ida, marries Moishe, a hateful man who makes her life miserable. Moishe was spared being conscripted into the Russian army when his mother, Leah, traded his life for that of her daughter, Raisl. Leah allowed a cossack sleep with Raisl in exchange for getting Moishe to America. Raisl became pregnant and Moishe never spoke kindly to his sister again. He was aware of the exchange, but could not forgive her.
Celia, Hannah's mother, is unable to form a strong bond with her daughter after she grows up. Hannah struggles with this this loss and relies on the comfort of her grandmother, Ida, who blossoms once Moishe does.
Through each woman's voice, we go back and forth through time and discover the secrets and events that form the personalities of each woman.
This was a delightful book.
Read: November 8, 2009
Books Set in Pakistan
In Other Rooms, Other Wonders by Daniyal Mueenuddin (2009)
In Other Rooms, Other Wonders is a collection of eight short stories, connected through the loves and lives of the rich Harouni family and its employees. The stories are set in Punjab, a district of Pakistan.
K.K. Harouni owns a farm in the countryside, but lives in Lahore, away from his wife. He has allowed Chaudrey Jaglani manage his farm, misplaced judgment on his part. Jaglani is corrupt who sells off portions of the farm and pockets the money. Female employees try to sleep their way into money only to be tossed away when they are no longer useful. Male employees are equally as corrupt. In the opening story, Nawabdin the Electrician steals electricity from the electric company. His most prized possession is his bicycle, which makes him the envy of his village ~ a possession that he is willing to kill for.
These stories paint a bleak portrait of Pakistan. How much of it reflects life in the country today?
Read: November 15, 2009
In Other Rooms, Other Wonders is a collection of eight short stories, connected through the loves and lives of the rich Harouni family and its employees. The stories are set in Punjab, a district of Pakistan.
K.K. Harouni owns a farm in the countryside, but lives in Lahore, away from his wife. He has allowed Chaudrey Jaglani manage his farm, misplaced judgment on his part. Jaglani is corrupt who sells off portions of the farm and pockets the money. Female employees try to sleep their way into money only to be tossed away when they are no longer useful. Male employees are equally as corrupt. In the opening story, Nawabdin the Electrician steals electricity from the electric company. His most prized possession is his bicycle, which makes him the envy of his village ~ a possession that he is willing to kill for.
These stories paint a bleak portrait of Pakistan. How much of it reflects life in the country today?
Read: November 15, 2009
Saturday, November 7, 2009
Books Set In Medieval France
Maggie Anton has written a series of books about the three daughters of Rashi. Salomon Ben Isaac, better known as Rashi (Rabbi Shlomo Itzachak) was born in 1040 and died in 1105. He is one of the most famous Talmudic scholars of his age. He had no sons, but taught his daughters Talmud during a time when women were not typically educated.
Rashi lived in Troyes, France, and established a Yeshiva there. He also had a vineyard to support his family, his wife and three daughters. Anton carefully researched this time period to incorporate not only biblical knowledge and Rashi’s writings, but minute details of life in France during this time period. Each book describes superstitions, sexual rituals and marital relations, the celebration of Jewish holidays, childbirth and life-cycle events.
Rashi's Daughters: Book 3: Rachel, by Maggie Anton (2009)
Rachel is Rashi’s the youngest and most beautiful daughter. She is madly in love with her husband, Eliezer.
This book is set during the First Crusade. Marauders of the First Crusade massacre nearly the entire Jewish population of the Germany city of Speres, where her father began his Talmudic studies. Eliezar is a merchant who travels frequently to Spain, where the Sephardic Jewish tradition is vastly different from that in France. Eliezer wants Rachel to join him there, but she fears life there. In France, she has the freedom to pursue her religious studies and maintain her business of wool manufacturing. In Spain, she will be forced to stay out of the public eye. Marital customs are also vastly different in the Sephardic community. Eliezar takes a second wife. When Rachel learns of this, she is, of course, saddened. This give Anton an opportunity to explore the Jewish laws regarding divorce.
Read: November 6, 2009
Rashi's Daughters: Book 2: Miriam, by Maggie Anton
Miriam was Rashi's middle daughter. The love of her life died after they were engaged, but before they married. This created a sort of "widowhood" for Miriam. Miriam eventually marries a man who is filled with longing for other men. Thus, Anton explores homosexuality during this time period. Miriam and Judah eventually settle into a loving but sexless marriage, after the birth of their four children.
Miriam becomes a midwife, a trade she learned from her Aunt Sarah. In addition, she learns to become a mohel. The community, however, is not ready for a female mohel, so she must rely on family members to have sons to preform circumcisions.
Read: April 13, 2009
Rashi's Daughters: Book 1: Joheved, by Maggie Anton (2005)
Rashi's eldest daughter was Joheved. Anton explores daily life of women during the latter part of the 11th Century. She discusses love and sex in the context of marriage as well as the laws of niddah, or the separation between man and women during and after a woman's monthly period. Joheved is also responsible for assisting in the family's wine trade. Anton provides details of the practices of vintners at this time in history.
Read March 9, 2009
Rashi lived in Troyes, France, and established a Yeshiva there. He also had a vineyard to support his family, his wife and three daughters. Anton carefully researched this time period to incorporate not only biblical knowledge and Rashi’s writings, but minute details of life in France during this time period. Each book describes superstitions, sexual rituals and marital relations, the celebration of Jewish holidays, childbirth and life-cycle events.
Rashi's Daughters: Book 3: Rachel, by Maggie Anton (2009)
Rachel is Rashi’s the youngest and most beautiful daughter. She is madly in love with her husband, Eliezer.
This book is set during the First Crusade. Marauders of the First Crusade massacre nearly the entire Jewish population of the Germany city of Speres, where her father began his Talmudic studies. Eliezar is a merchant who travels frequently to Spain, where the Sephardic Jewish tradition is vastly different from that in France. Eliezer wants Rachel to join him there, but she fears life there. In France, she has the freedom to pursue her religious studies and maintain her business of wool manufacturing. In Spain, she will be forced to stay out of the public eye. Marital customs are also vastly different in the Sephardic community. Eliezar takes a second wife. When Rachel learns of this, she is, of course, saddened. This give Anton an opportunity to explore the Jewish laws regarding divorce.
Read: November 6, 2009
Rashi's Daughters: Book 2: Miriam, by Maggie Anton
Miriam was Rashi's middle daughter. The love of her life died after they were engaged, but before they married. This created a sort of "widowhood" for Miriam. Miriam eventually marries a man who is filled with longing for other men. Thus, Anton explores homosexuality during this time period. Miriam and Judah eventually settle into a loving but sexless marriage, after the birth of their four children.
Miriam becomes a midwife, a trade she learned from her Aunt Sarah. In addition, she learns to become a mohel. The community, however, is not ready for a female mohel, so she must rely on family members to have sons to preform circumcisions.
Read: April 13, 2009
Rashi's Daughters: Book 1: Joheved, by Maggie Anton (2005)
Rashi's eldest daughter was Joheved. Anton explores daily life of women during the latter part of the 11th Century. She discusses love and sex in the context of marriage as well as the laws of niddah, or the separation between man and women during and after a woman's monthly period. Joheved is also responsible for assisting in the family's wine trade. Anton provides details of the practices of vintners at this time in history.
Read March 9, 2009
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)