Book Review: Dear Fahrenheit 451

Dear Dear Fahrenheit 451,

I saw you there across the room (okay, on the library search engine when I looked up Bradbury's book), and immediately felt smitten. You struck me as oh-so-clever and unique. Your style so interesting and appealing. What an original angle to write love letters and break-up notes to books. You can tell my appreciation; after all, "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery" (wait, am I mediocre to your greatness?? if you know the full quote). You made me feel like we were old friends sitting around gossiping about the books we've known. I played along, even though it seems we don't run in the same circles. 

That voice, so conversational. But, oh my! What a mouth you have on you! Didn't you ever hear that saying, "cursing is the sign of an unimaginative mind?" I cut you some slack because, hey, I wanted to hear what books you loved and what ones you spurned. Besides, it is far easier to skim past vulgarities in a physical book as opposed to an audio book. Alas, the crass profanity should have put me on alert. Was I surprised that your list included er0t1ca?

Still, we had some good times, didn't we? Ah, the laughs at the ancient book on calculator fun. You had me playing right along when you introduced the quiz about celebrity book titles. I felt we bonded over our mutual traumatization from Misery. Plus, we do share that same love for the thesaurus. You sparked my interest in a few of your friends/titles: The Goldfinch, Whatever Makes You Happy, and Amy Falls Down. Heck, I even told my sons about you (sharing the hilarious term "s'mlesses").

But, at the end of the day, I still think I'm leaving you on the library shelves. It's not you; it's me. I just think we're too different. After all, it is like Edmund Wilson said (thanks for sharing his quote with me): "No two persons ever read the same book." I think what you look for in books and what I'm looking for may just be too different to mesh. If I see you again, I'll probably wave, but don't take offense if I turn away to hang with my own friends. At least you won't end up with 1 thumb down (my designation when I wish I could just get back the time invested). You're bound to hook up with someone else who can appreciate you for all you have to give. If nothing else, I'm sure librarians will swoon over you.

Thanks for a few tender moments in the stacks.

Wendy 

Book Review: Fahrenheit 451

Susan Orlean, in The Library Book, highlighted Ray Bradbury's claim of being library-educated. I relished her story of how he composed Fahrenheit 451 on the typewriters for rent at a library for 10 cents per half hour. (Aside: As a writer, I'm sure the timer on the typewriters increased Bradbury's productivity and drove him to get it down in a timely manner.) And I determined then to remedy my oversight of that book. Oh, I had heard about it. Had even received recommendations several times, but it never made it into my lap until now. Thankfully, my library had an audio version of the classic. After listening to it myself several weeks ago, I discovered my son's class is reading the book. Thus, I am listening to it all over again during our drives to and from the ranch. I am grateful for further conversations it may prompt with my son.

In case you've ignored recommendations and or held off, Fahrenheit 451 offers a future society where firemen don't put out fires. Instead, they burn forbidden books. Fireman Guy Montag and his wife Millie have been living anesthetized lives, the ultimate goal in that society. Millie clamors for yet another wall-sized screen so she can view her shows. Then a neighbor girl awakens within Guy a desire for books and knowledge. Flouting his own role, he hides several books in his ventilator grill. Then he shares his secret. Before he knows it, he is called upon to burn his own house and books. In a desperate attempt to avoid arrest, Guy flees on foot. He joins a group of intellectual fugitives who have memorized important books in the hope that society will once again recognize their value.

In reading this tale, I felt one finger pointed at me and several pointing in the opposite direction, supporting my perspectives. I have, myself, complained about the content of books, wishing away the foul language, the explicit sex scenes, the constant inclusion of immorality posed as good. It is hard not to desire sanitized versions when so much filth proliferates these days. I decry that progression. Yet Bradbury's argument actually supports my feelings. If current publishers (as Bradbury himself acknowledges in the afterward sections of this 2004 production by Books on Tape) censor what they provide the public in books and stories, they are altering an author's presentation to make it more palatable for their viewpoint. In one instance, Bradbury claims they rejected one story because it contains "only men, no women."

What a predicament we are in! Isn't it censorship when so many literary agents will only accept and promote books that contain elements to fit their agenda? Publishers, too, feel a need to encourage society in particular directions, so they proliferate literature that supports their worldview. I believe they are even injecting content that authors have not included, making sure they fairly represent certain groups, controlling content to make sure it is politically correct. Literature has always reflected the mores of society. Is it any wonder that as our society slips further and further into rebellion against God and His directives, so our books reflect this decline?

Fahrenheit 451 reveals the battle that rages within me. Even though I readily admit the value of some books that contain what I find offensive, I personally want to censor out the profuse garbage in modern books. Yet, I equally agree that censorship is harmful (especially the opposing censorship that seeks to justify and control what perspectives are pushed in books). Bradbury has so many good things to say at the end of this book (although I did not have time to go back and listen to jot down his well-articulated ideas). Needless to say, this is a book that will generate plenty of thought. 

Books are doors into the mind of another. They help us expand our understanding of the world. Like all good gifts from God, we can handle them for good or for ill. My goal is to use books in a way that is God-honoring. I am grateful for the opportunity to make my own choices about what I read, and equally grateful that books offer such a wide variety to consume. I don't think I'd have it in me to burn a book, even one presenting an argument that conflicts with my personal perspectives. But, when I look at our current society, I fear we are heading further on the road to censorship, as any opposing perspectives are clamped shut so that only "acceptable" narratives are presented.

Book Review: Ex Libris

This book is gorgeous! I may have been the first to obtain our library's copy. It would look lovely on a coffee table - if I had a coffee table, ha! Here is the back-cover description:

"In Ex Libris, the Pulitzer Prize-winning literary critic Michiko Kakutani shares her enthusiasm for more than 100 books: novels and memoirs by some of today's most gifted writers, favorite classics worth reading or rereading, and nonfiction works that illuminate our social and political landscape and such pressing issues as climate change, medicine, and the consequences of digital innovation. With Dana Tanamachi's richly detailed illustrations that evoke vintage bookplates, Ex Libris is a timely reminder of why reading matters more than ever."

I have only read a fourth of the titles on Kakutani's list. Moreover, I do not share her political perspectives. Still, this book provided a thrilling peek into many noteworthy titles and increased my ever-growing list of books-to-read. It enticed me to add titles like Sherwood Anderson's Winesburg, Ohio, Roz Chast's Can't We Talk About Something More Pleasant?, Dave Eggers' A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius, Laura Hillenbrand's Seabiscuit, Mary Karr's The Liar's Club, Lorrie Moore's A Gate at the Stairs, and Donna Tartt's The Goldfinch. Her descriptions are delightful and her bookish-enthusiasm breathtaking.

Book Review: Age of Opportunity - Highly Recommend

When children are young, parents guide and control so much. Ah, the warm memories of their little hands tugging on my shirt begging me to read a book or soothe a pain. My boys are no longer in that stage where they seek my intervention and guidance. They may still need it, but they think they are above it. Indeed, it often feels like they believe they know everything (as when I recently discovered my youngest still up at 2 a.m.). 

I tell you, parenting teens is tough! So many emotions swirl around me when I consider the precious years I have left with my two youngest sons. I waver between relief and remorse that in only a few years they'll be out of our home. This limited amount of time is both a blessing and a challenge. How will I ever get these two prepared for the world they will enter when they leave us? How can I slow down time to savor each available moment?

Paul David Tripp's instructive book, Age of Opportunity: A Biblical Guide to Parenting Teens, encourages parents not to view the teen years as something to survive, but to view them as an opportunity for investing growth. I love Tripp's perspective. He reminds parents that the very things that incense us about our teenagers reflect sin issues within ourselves. He asserts his core truth as "Our teenagers are more like us than they are unlike us.... All of the spiritual needs we will recognize in our teenagers are in some way identifiable in us." Yes, on plenty of occasions, I have approached my heavenly Father with the attitude that I know everything, including what is best for me.

I agreed wholeheartedly with Tripp's insights, especially in regard to parenting my particularly rebellious teenager. The other day, I read a post on Facebook about a respected psychologist whose teen son took one fatal experiment with a drug. She was an educated and informed parent. He was a good kid. Yet, still, the encounter with fentanyl stripped them both of the lives they expected to live. It incensed me when I read one particular commenter's callous remarks. This woman (from her vast realm of experience, obviously) blamed the parent. Her first comment was, "Why is a teen allowed access to drugs?" It was as if every response emboldened her further: "What [about] DARE... or good old-fashioned values of 'just say no' - so many parents are out of touch with their kids. 100 percent the parents' fault if the kid is underage." This commenter admitted her children are 9 and 4. May she never receive the boomerang from her insensitive and judgmental words.

As onlookers have watched our rebellion issues, they have asserted it is a matter of enforced rules and parental control. This author counters that argument and supports my perspective: "It is a short-term victory at best to control the behavior of a teen whose heart is not submissive to God.... The rules-and-regulations approach that focuses on keeping the teenager 'out of trouble' will ultimately fail because it does not deal with the heart.... All such parental interventions are attempts to produce what only God can produce. They... produce... fruit that decays as soon as the pressure is removed."

So what does Tripp suggest? Above all, we should demonstrate the grace that God bestows upon us when we sin. We should guide our children into biblically based views on life and culture. He also highlights three strategies: project parenting, constant conversation, and leading your teenager to repentance. John and I both continue to pray for godly heart changes in our sons, the changes only God can produce. The drives to and from my prodigal son's ranch job have been such a blessing. He is often a captive audience, and it allows me to pursue that constant conversation. 

I loved that Tripp points the parent reader to reflect on their own sin-tendencies and to view every challenge as an opportunity to demonstrate and display God's grace. This was a reminder I needed to hear. It shifts anger at rebellion into calmer understanding and a more humble response. I recommend this book to anyone who struggles with parenting teens. Plus, here is a link to the video that first introduced me to Paul David Tripp - The Gospel Coalition presentation called "Mirror of Sin and Means of Grace: Parents Are Works in Progress, Too." Highly recommend it!  

2021 - First Quarterly Review

To assist my blog readers, I summarize my reading four times a year, providing a brief description, the page count, and a grading scale (5 thumbs up - Highly Recommend, 4 thumbs up - Enjoyed, 3 thumbs up - Good, but not as satisfying as I'd hoped, 2 thumbs up - Meh, and 1 thumb down - Regret, wishing I could get back the time invested). I read the following books during the first quarter of 2021 (for my full review, click on title):

Freezing and Thawing: New and Revised Stories from the Midwest by Kyle L. White - From a letter of recommendation for Autumn to minutes from an insomnia meeting, White presents equal parts humor and introspection. A gem from a Midwest poet I call a friend. 130 pages, 👍👍👍👍-1/2

Four Umbrellas: A Couple's Journey into Young-Onset Alzheimer's by June Hutton and Tony Wanless - Tender and tragic tale of two writers and their journey through the deterioration brought on by Alzheimer's. 224 pages, 👍👍👍

Audacious by Beth Moore - Moore's manifesto for reaching all women with the message of the gospel so they can audaciously love Christ. 174 pages (I listened in audio form, 4 CDs, 5 hours), 👍👍-1/2

Floriography: An Illustrated Guide to the Victorian Language of Flowers by Jessica Roux - Beautifully illustrated coffee-table book highlighting the Victorian practice of using flowers to communicate sentiments. Simply wanted more. 226 pages, 👍👍-1/2

Prayers for Prodigals: 90 Days of Prayer for Your Child by James Banks - 90 prayers, supported by Scripture, to bolster and encourage the hearts of parents with wayward children. 240 pages, 👍👍👍👍

Reaching Your Prodigal: What Did I Do Wrong? What Do I Do Now? by Phil Waldrep - After numerous parents approached Waldrep in despair over their child's choices, he determined to study the problem and offer wisdom for parents in this troubling predicament. 256 pages, 👍👍-1/2

Acedia & me: A Marriage, Monks, and a Writer's Life by Kathleen Norris - Writers often struggle with the emotional malaise that accompanies isolated work that is often viewed as wasted time and energy. This form of sloth (sin?) impacts the emotional and religious experience of a writer. 334 pages, 👍👍👍👍-1/2

The Midnight Library by Matt Haig - Between life and death, Nora Seed encounters a library full of books that will allow her to rewrite her regrets, but will she be able to find a life worth living? Intriguing and life-affirming! 304 pages (I listened in audio form, 7 CDs, 9 hours), 👍👍👍👍-3/4

The Cloister Walk by Kathleen Norris - A poet reflects on lessons from monastic life. Beautiful writing but differed on some points. 385 pages, 👍👍👍

The Loneliness of the Long-Distance Cartoonist by Adrian Tomine - A cartoonist's honest memoir about seeking success with his creative work. 162 pages, 👍👍-1/2

Rhythms of Renewal: Trading Stress and Anxiety for a Life of Peace and Purpose by Rebekah Lyons - A compendium of suggestions to help regulate your life and relieve stress and anxiety. Nothing new, but great storytelling to support ideas. 224 pages (I listened in audio form, 5 CDs, 5-1/2 hours, 👍👍👍👍

How to Write One Song by Jeff Tweedy - A songwriter encourages would-be-songwriters in the discipline, play, and word-dancing required for penning lyrics and melodies. 158 pages, 👍👍👍

The Hungering Dark by Frederick Buechner - While written half a century ago, this book of essays (sermons?) by Buechner could have been penned today - same darkness, same hunger for God's holiness to intervene and wipe away our tears and doubts. 125 pages, 👍👍👍👍

Someone Like You by Karen Kingsbury - A stand-alone novel, starring characters from Kingsbury's famous Baxter family, exploring ethical and emotional ramifications of embryo adoption. 301 pages (I listened in audio form, 7 CDs, 8 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

Yes to Life: In Spite of Everything by Viktor E. Frankl - A concentration camp survivor's thoughts on the meaning we can derive from suffering and the importance of each and every life. 115 pages, 👍👍👍👍

Winter is Scissors: A Winter Companion by Kyle L. White - My friend Kyle's book of 31 daily readings "extending the metaphor that winter cuts." 76 pages, 👍👍👍👍

Halfway to Forever by Karen Kingsbury - This follow-up to Waiting for Morning, traces the expectations and obstacles in two families patiently awaiting the addition of children. 354 pages (I listened in audio form, 10 CDs, 11-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

Destiny of the Republic: A Tale of Madness, Medicine and the Murder of a President by Candice Millard - A step back in time to watch a madman murder, a president fall, a doctor usurp, and a scientist invent. Excellent! 354 pages (I listened in audio form, 8 CDs, 9-3/4 hours), 👍👍👍👍👍

We Dream of Space by Erin Entrada Kelly - Bird, Fitch, and Cash bear the fall-out of their parent's animosity. Aligned with the Challenger mission of 1986, the book explores the typical struggles and dreams of middle-schoolers. 389 pages, 👍👍👍👍-1/2

Pianos and Flowers by Alexander McCall Smith - 14 short stories prompted by old photos. 192 pages, 👍👍-1/2

The Library Book by Susan Orlean - A thorough telling of the San Francisco Library fire of 1986 and a love song to books and libraries. 310 pages (I listened in audio form, 10 CDs, 12 hours), 👍👍👍👍

Ready Player Two by Ernest Cline - A masterful sequel that ups the ante a hundred-fold. A riveting ride of a book. 371 pages, 👍👍👍👍-1/2

Book Review: Ready Player Two

I'm always hesitant to open the cover of a sequel to a bestselling book, fearing the author will not live up to the mark of the first. Ernest Cline did well in Ready Player Two. This sequel, as I told my 14-year-old, is Ready Player One on steroids. The OASIS kicks up a notch and is more addictive than ever. Halliday comes through with another quest with unbelievable odds and consequences. The bad guy's threat is not just the loss of a game, but possibly the loss of Wade's life and countless other lives.

I loved dipping back into the constant 80s references (many I recognized, some left me clueless). However, I did note that at one point in the book, Cline uses a sentence he may have ripped from a negative book review. Sorrento asks, "Don't you kids ever get tired of picking through the wreckage of a past generation's nostalgia?... I mean, look around. The entire OASIS is like one giant graveyard, haunted by the un-dead pop-culture icons of a bygone era. A crazy old man's shrine to a bunch of pointless crap." Still, I spent my teen years in the 80s, so I enjoyed that aspect of the romp.

I enjoyed contemplating the benefits and drawbacks of technology. While I didn't love the ending, the book was a thoroughly riveting read. I struggled with the first 100 pages, but once the background was set and the bad guy made his appearance, I had to fasten my seatbelt. It was a good thing I started the book on a weekend (only 3 days from the due date), because I read the last two-thirds of it in one day. Couldn't put it down.

If I had hesitations about letting my teen read Ready Player One, I had even more with the sequel. It is not a clean read. All the boxes are checked for the things people seem to expect in their literature these days. Since Sean preferred the movie to the book for Ready Player One anyway, he may wait for Ready Player Two to come out in movie form (although, I doubt the movie will be any cleaner).

Book Review: The Library Book

Occasionally, an audio book cannot convey the whole meaning of a book. Each chapter of The Library Book by Susan Orlean starts with a list of titles, authors, and call numbers. The lists include books about topics springing up in the chapter. Since I wanted to see these listings, I went back to the library to check out the hard copy and discovered it also offered photos. If "a picture speaks a thousand words," I was missing out on plenty. My recommendation: read the hard copy instead of listening to the audio book. Plus, they should have selected someone with a wider language background to narrate the book (the author stumbled through pronunciations of German and other languages).

That consideration aside, I relished this book about the 1986 fire at the Los Angeles Public Library. As the Booklist review declared, it was "A riveting mix of true crime, history, biography, and immersion journalism." The author describes each individual in great detail. Orlean's physical descriptions were vivid and her personality descriptions delightful. As a book-lover, her homage for books resonated. Although the subject could have netted a much shorter book, Orlean expands on the topic to present a multi-faceted tale. The reader not only considers books, libraries, and librarians, but also tackles the emotional aspects of burning books and the wider functions of public libraries.

Perhaps my favorite chapter of all focused on Ray Bradbury. Orlean introduced Bradbury, who considered himself "library-educated." His fondness for books led to his novel Fahrenheit 451, another book about burning books. I not only dashed off to the library to pick up the hard copy of Orlean's text, but also snagged a library copy of Fahrenheit 451. Orlean appropriately sums up that section by revealing that all of Bradbury's books burned in the L.A. library fire. Ironic! 

This is a love song to books and those who keep them. The importance and power of books is emphasized again and again. She writes: "You don't need to take a book off a shelf to know there is a voice inside that is waiting to speak to you, and behind that was someone who truly believed that if he or she spoke, someone would listen.... Even the oddest, most particular book was written with that kind of crazy courage - the writer's belief that someone would find his or her book important to read. I was struck by how precious and foolish and brave that belief is, and how necessary, and how full of hope it is to collect these books and manuscripts and preserve them." Books and libraries are essential. They will endure no matter what technological advances threaten to displace them.