Book Discussion

I love to read and it has been often said that I will read anything, well almost anything. If I had more time, I would read more books for sure, but I do try to read 10-15 books a year. I know that 10-15 is not a lot when I meet poeple who read 100-120 books a year. I find myself thinking, "how do you have the time!?" However, for me I think good quality over quantity is the key. I try to get into the book and really try to take the time to think about the plot, the characters, the ideas or the message of the book over just trying to get through it so I can move on to the next book. So with that being said, for today's post I would like to talk about some books.

First, I would like to acknowledge Demon Copperhead by Barbara Kingsolver, one of my favorite authors. It was announced yesterday that her book, one of two fiction books, won and the first time that two fiction books have won in 105 years. I have to confess though that there are very few books that I start and do not finish, but as of right now Demon Copperhead is one of those novels and it isn't because it is poorly written. I would say because it is so well written that is why I can't finish it. Barbara Kingsolver has stated that the book is giving a voice to the people of Appalachia, a group of people often ignored and overlooked.

Now, I did not grow up poor or in Apalachia, but in the Missour Ozarks and I have to say that the Ozarks share a lot of similarities with Apalachia. A lot of the Ozarks Hillbillies came from Apalachia. As I was reacding about the poverty, how people talk and act throughout the book, it felt like I know these people or this group of people so well because I grew up in a similar area. I also have a bachelor's degree in Social Work and have worked with children, know about the foster care system, poverty and because of that my heart broke for Demon. I also could picture the exact scenes, the total disregard for the environment (but when you are in poverty, saving the environment is not your priority). I also have seen and experienced some form of abuse in my life that made this hard to read as well. Anyway, I got to about halfway and said to myself, "I can't read this anymore at the moment. It's too hard." I think at some point in the future I might pick it up and try to read it again. So even though Demon's life is/was completely different from my own, it still felt a little too close to home if that makes sense.

I am currently reading Chilean Poet by Alejandro Zambra and have just finished the first part. Now here is a sexy book that takes place in Chile. The first part was about the main character Gonzalo and about his high school girlfriend Carla and how they were sex crazed high schoolers and when they finally had sex it changed everything because Carla found sex to be painful and how Gonzalo was left in despair after that and they broke up. Then they got back together, but then eventually at the end of part one break up again, but then apparently they meet nine years later and that is the basis of the novel. I say it is a sexy book because the first part was centered around this sexual relationship between Gonzalo and Carlos and how having sex eventually led them to go different ways. Gonzalo wants to be a poet and we start to see some of his early poems in part one. I think it will be an interesting read. Unlike Demon Copperhead, the life of Gonzalo seems very different from mine!

The next book that I am currently reading with a fifth grader that I tutor is Wonder by R.J. Palacio that I have read once or twice and have seen the movie. If you have not read the book, I would encourage you to. It is about a boy named August who was born with a lot of birth defects I guess and has a severly disformed face. The book is about him going to school in the 5th grade for the first time and what he learns about himself and others that is quite heartwarming and an example for all of us on how to try to get through challenges.

Finally, I should mention a book called Carbon Neutral Indiana: A practical guide to climate optimism by Daniel Scott Poynter who I have briefly met on a Zoom call and have exchanged several emails with. He is the founder of an organization called: Carbon Neutral Indiana and his book is all about what people in Indiana are doing to try to combat climate change and gives advice on what every day people can do too. I have some skepticism about the optimistic tone the book takes and some of the good things the book mentions, but I know that in Indiana is hard and at this point just spreading awareness is key. I wanted to mention this book beca use I have two copies and I am happy to share or give you one if you are interested in reading it. If you know me, just let me know and if not, reach out to me through this page.

This concludes my discussion on books for this post. I look forward to talking much more about books I am reading and also about the novels I have written or am in the process of writing!