Quoth the Raven

The Book Thief

I still recall, albeit in vivid detail, the day I stumbled upon The Book Thief. It was a sun filled day in June, the exact date was the 12th of June 2008, just one day after my father's funeral.

When I jumped in the driver's seat of my rental car on that bright, but sorrow filled morning, I had no idea where I was going, how long I would be there, or that I would find myself perusing aisle upon aisle of a book shop looking for a special kind of book; a book that would transport my soul far, far away from the place that I currently found myself. In hindsight, there was no other book that I could have reached for on that day. Really, no other book could compare. No other book could hold within its pages the power to make me feel someone else's pain so profoundly. To be able to experience, again, the anguish that is only experienced when a loss is so great, so all encompassing. I would later learn that The Book Thief not only stole that which belonged to someone else, but that this particular thief could also give back by bringing solace to those who are suffering, as I suffered and to a far greater extent the anguish that Liesel Meminger surely suffered as the main character in The Book Thief. To compare our lives would appear to trivialize a time in history that I pray will never be repeated, a time that Liesel managed to live through, while someone more frail may have taken their own life.

But I did not know any of this on that particular day, what I did know is that I wanted only to escape, to get in my car and just keep driving. That if I drove far enough and for long enough, that the pain would be blown from my soul, much like the loose strands of hair reaching across my face as the wind forced itself through my car window. Not unlike the frail, but persistent hands of one determined to play a game of tug-o-war, in spite of my refusal to play.

I drove and I drove. I would keep on driving until I reached the ocean, the only place that could give me any hope of solace from the turmoil. I found I had reached Torquay and even then I continued to drive until I came to the edge of the ocean and it was there that I found the strength to walk. I continued to walk until I had covered miles and miles of sandy beach, and with each step many tiny grains of sand would walk with me as they found a new crevice to fill within my sneakers. I walked until I could walk no further and then I sank to the ground and let the tears fall.

If this were a Hollywood movie this is where the scene would end, most likely with the closing lines 'The End' moving from left to right across the blackened screen. However, life does not allow us such finality, not for those of us who are left behind to mourn. In time I found the strength to evenually leave behind the comfort of the beach only to find myself wandering around the local shops, none of which held my interest. Nothing did, until I stumbled upon the book shop. To be perfectly honest, I find the task of physically walking around a book store to be quite taxing and can only surmise that it was fate that enabled me to do so on this, of all days. I decided that I was searching for a book, however, the title and the author were elusive to be until I found it and after searching for what seemed like hours, without success, I turned and there on the shelf sat The Book Thief, seemingly challenging me to purchase it - and I did. 

Now I must add that although I have an image of the American printing, it was the cover on the Australian printing that aroused my interest. It was the more haunting image with the snow covered scene and the cloaked individual that enticed me to purchase this book. I feel that the Australian cover is a more accurate depiction of the plot within its pages. It was this image that caused me to come face to face with the unfortunate character of Death that is deeply ingrained through out this book; a character I am all too familiar with.

Although I initially began to read The Book Thief in June, the timing was not right and it would be the beginning of October before I found myself reaching for it, wiping the dust from the cover and finding myself in a place where I was able to be engulfed in the lives of Liesel, Hans, Max and the other special characters that lined Himmel Street, and the pages of The Book Thief.

'I am haunted by humans' - The Book Thief

Possible Side Effects

I have just finished reading Augusten's Burroughs latest novel 'Possible Side Effects' and I must say that the only side effects that I had to deal with were the constant flow of tears blurring my vision from laughing too much. The books was another great read from Augusten. For those who are fans of Running with Scissors you would know that the movie was just released. Yes, I am a fan but no, I have not yet seen the movie due to time constraints, but I definitely will be seeing it - maybe even this weekend. I just hope that the movie is as good as the book, but somehow I doubt that it will be. I saw a short preview via Amazon Fishbowl and my heart sunk just a little. I really doubt that I am going to be impressed with the actors/actresses chosen to play the key roles and am fearful that it will be a little too Hollywood-ish. Only time will tell...

Running with Scissors - Augusten Burroughs

I finally managed to find the time, or should I say make the time to read this book. Like many avid bibliophiles I tend to collect more books than I am able to read. So though I had good intentions and had contemplated reading this book many months ago. Did it happen then, obviously not, otherwise I would have told you all about it. But now I can say like many others before me that I have read a book by Augusten Burroughs.

I love this man. I love his writing style and that he has the ability to draw the reader into his, at times, crazy world. I initially was full of contempt for Augusten's self absorbed mother who I felt never deserved to be a part of his world. But I soon came to see that through no fault of her own she was a sufferer of mental illness, and the illness certainly dictated many of her actions and the ill conceived decisions she would make concerning Augusten.As you will learn - if you read this book - Augusten would spend most of his life in the Finch family who, believe it or not, end up making Augusten's life with his mentally ill mother and alcoholic father appear normal.

There a couple of times throughout the book that I felt there was way too much disclosure - namely some of the sex scenes - but on the other hand I felt this just made the acts that often involved the 13yr old Augusten and his 33 yr old pedophile boyfriend even more disturbing.

Now don't get me wrong 'Running with Scissors' is definitely about more than dysfunctional families - well actually that is about all it is, but you would not believe just how hilarious living on the edge can at times be. I recall a few occasions where I could not turn the page and read on as I was shaking too much with laughter. Or the other time when I was desperate to keep reading the book but could not as the tears of laughter that were running down my cheeks were making it impossible for me to read.

While reading this book I often found myself shaking my head and wondering why no one intervened in this boy's life - no one who was semi normal - but it also forces me to respect this boy who managed to become a successful advertising executive; a recovering alcoholic; and a best selling writer.  Sometimes good things do come from seemingly bad situations, and for those who wait - or go out and grab it.

Now I really must go and finish Augusten's next novel 'Dry' about the continuing saga that was, and continues to be his life...

 

Nepotism:

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search

Nepotism means favoring relatives or personal friends because of their relationship rather than because of their abilities. The word is generally used in a derogatory sense.

For example, if a manager employed or promoted a relative rather than a more qualified non-relative, that manager would be guilty of nepotism. Some biologists have suggested that a tendency towards nepotism is instinctual, a form of kin selection.

The word nepotism comes from the Latin word 'nepos', meaning "nephew". In the Middle Ages, some Catholic popes and bishops, who had taken vows of chastity, raised their illegitimate sons as "nephews" and gave them preferences. Several popes are known to have elevated nephews and other relatives to the cardinalate. Often, such appointments were used as a means of continuing a papal "dynasty". For instance, Pope Callixtus III, of the Borgia family, made two of his nephews Cardinals; one of them, Rodrigo, later used his position as a Cardinal as a stepping stone to the papacy, becoming Pope Alexander VI. Coincidentally, Alexander—one of the most corrupt popes—elevated Alessandro Farnese, his mistress's brother, to the cardinalate; Farnese would later go on to become Pope Paul III. Paul also engaged in nepotism, appointing, for instance, two nephews (aged fourteen and sixteen) Cardinals. The practice was finally ended when Pope Innocent XII issued a bull in 1692. The papal bull prohibited popes in all times from bestowing estates, offices, or revenues on any relative, with the exception that one qualified relative (at most) could be made a Cardinal.

Nepotism is a common accusation in politics when the relative of a powerful figure ascends to similar power seemingly without appropriate qualifications. For example, when U.S. Senator Frank Murkowski, was elected Governor of Alaska, he appointed his daughter, State Representative Lisa Murkowski, to fill the remaining two years of his seat and was accused of nepotism. (Murkowski won reelection on her own in 2004.) John F. Kennedy was accused of nepotism by some for his appointment of his brother Robert Kennedy as Attorney General. Families elsewhere have also dominated politics of their homeland, such as Tun Abdul Razak, the second Prime Minister of Malaysia, and his son, Najib Tun Razak, the current Deputy Prime Minister of Malaysia, and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, the first Prime Minister of Singapore, and his son, Lee Hsien Loong, who recently succeeded Goh Chok Tong as Prime Minister of Singapore. Many countries in Asia have this tilt towards dynastic rule. In India, the Nehru-Gandhi dynasty has been ruling India for most part since Independence while other people in India have always given preference to their kith and kin in various states in India. Similarly, Syria is supposedly a republic, but has been for intents and purposes an absolute monarchy since Hafez Al-Assad came to power, appointing his son Bashar al-Assad as his heir.

In Romania nepotism is very commonly used as a word describing a 'connection' (relationship) that allows a person to obtain a certain job. 'Nepot' in Romanian means "nephew". During communist rule, nepotism was often the only way of getting a good, well-paid job

The Tent by Margaret Atwood

Now that college is over and I have a life again - for two weeks but who's counting - I am desperate to get as much reading done as possible. Not that I didn't real while I was taking English 101, and it is not that the books I read weren't thoroughly enjoyable - I just want more!

So today I began reading 'The Tent' by Margaret Atwood. If you have ever read any of her previous books you will know what a captivating writer she is. Her latest book is made up of many short stories, antedotes, if you will about life.

Due to the fact that I have only managed to read five pages thus far I really don't have much to say yet, apart from the fact that it is an enjoyable and interesting read. But lets see what Amazon had to say:

Pithy and stinging, a master of deadpan humor and pinpoint satire, Atwood has made the brief monologue her own. As in her previous collection of miniatures, Good Bones and Simple Murders (1994), Atwood adeptly parodies fairy tales and fables, and offers unnerving twists on confessions, and vignettes, some accompanied by her playful drawings. One narrator recounts a recurring dream of dreadful clothes. Another concise tale perfectly encapsulates the divide between men and women. "Resources of the Ikarians," an account of the remarkably thuggish population of a small, out-of-the-way island, is caustic and hilarious. Impish and incisive, Atwood neatly dissects our habit of seeing the world in terms of "we" and "them," and our refusal to face the facts of environmental degradation. In the poetic title piece, she creates one of the most devastating visions ever penned of a writer's attempt to make a shelter out of words. "All observations about life are harsh, because life is," Atwood writes, and yet we persist, driven by desire and hope, and buoyed by stories. Donna Seaman

Quote for today

“Love anything and your heart will be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact you must give it to no one, not even an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements. Lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket--safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. To love is to be vulnerable.”

C.S. Lewis quotes (British Scholar and Novelist. 1898-1963)

Quote for today

This is the highest wisdom that I own; freedom and life are earned by those alone who conquer them each day anew.

- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe. German Playwright, Poet, Novelist and Dramatist. 1749-1832

Quote for today

Do the thing you fear to do and keep on doing it... that is the quickest and surest way ever yet discovered to conquer fear. - Dale Carnegie American lecturer, author, 1888-1955

The value of words

Don't you love the way some words flow from your lips when spoken? Even the sound they make as they roll of your tongue is enough to excite the avid reader. I have decided to document a word, here and there. Some may sound great, or just look great on paper, or maybe it is the definition that moves me? But you will know about it. This urge may also been inspired by the fact that I am taking an English class at the moment, and I feel that my vocabularly is seriously lacking.

So the word I choose for today is:

asinine:

Function: adjective
Etymology: Latin asininus, from asinus ass
1 : marked by inexcusable failure to exercise intelligence or sound judgment <an asinine excuse>
2 : of, relating to, or resembling an ass

Text: showing or marked by a lack of good sense or judgment <it was asinine to run into the street like that>

The Journals of Sylvia Plath - finally finished!

I finally finished this wonderful journal by Ms Sylvia Plath; evocative and on occasion disturbing, but always exploding with passion. This woman was born to write; she awoke in the morning and the first thing on her mind was to write, and the art of writing would permeate her soul until her head fell on the pillow at the close of the day. Writing was what sustained her, enveloped her, and being a successful writer was what enabled her to get up in the morning.

To continue to write in the face of the many rejections she received from numerous publishing houses would at times prove too much for even her to bear, but stand she did, and continue to write - by golly she did. What else could she do but write. In the end the exceedingly high standards that she set for herself became too high, too far reaching for even her. In the end she would come stumbling down from that great height, and the fall would be too much for even her to recover from.

In the end this life and the great expectations she imposed upon herself were all too much. A tragic end was inevitable.

But we all know that although this may have been the end of the struggle that was Plath's life; this was really just the beginning of her being recognized as the brilliant writer that she always was. How unfortunate that like many great writers/artists this success came too late for her to revel in the glow of this much sort after recognition.

Plath will continue to live on through her work, and continue to inspire women, like myself to endure this struggle that we call life, and to reach for the stars.