tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-40432732837834890082024-03-12T19:10:57.919-04:00Babbling BooksMusings of an enthusiastic reader.Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.comBlogger363125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-12728751883364886452021-01-16T12:06:00.000-05:002021-01-16T12:06:56.821-05:00The Golden Bowl By Henry James<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CcIfvkYD9XQ/YAMZR5-IhpI/AAAAAAAACqA/16BDNSXpqoMkNzff1cyTGk9HiPpzMKgywCLcBGAsYHQ/s499/51Es849jOyL._SX331_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="333" height="455" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-CcIfvkYD9XQ/YAMZR5-IhpI/AAAAAAAACqA/16BDNSXpqoMkNzff1cyTGk9HiPpzMKgywCLcBGAsYHQ/w305-h455/51Es849jOyL._SX331_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="305" /></a></div>The Golden Bowl</span></i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> is the third Henry James novel that I have read. This is a classic story of marital infidelity. Though the two other books that I have read by this author had lots of inner introspection as well as analysis of characters and relationships, this book takes the prize for that sort of thing. This novel is characterized by pages and pages of analysis of people as well as their actions and motivations. Thus, while the plot is interesting it is not fast moving. James has fashioned a brilliant and unique work of literature that lends itself to slow and deep reading. I thought that this was excellent and I got a lot out of it, but this novel is not for readers who are looking for any kind of event driven story. This was written in 1904.</span></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">This novel is mostly about four people. Adam Verver is a fabulously wealthy American who is a collector of rare and fine objects and art. Maggie is his daughter. Maggie becomes engaged to Prince Amerigo. The Prince is a member of Italian royalty but he has no money. Before he knew Maggie, the Prince has fallen in love with a young woman named Charlotte Stant. The pair broke off their romance due to the fact that they were both poor. It turns out that Maggie and Charlotte are old childhood friends. At the time of the marriage neither Maggie nor her father know of The Prince and Charlotte’s earlier affair. Shortly before the wedding, The Prince and Charlotte go in search for a wedding gift for Maggie. Though they do not buy it, they come across a crystal bowl that is finely wrought but cracked. The bowl, which the novel takes its name from, becomes very important in terms of both plot and symbolism. A few years into the first marriage, Adam Verver proposes and marries Charlotte. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The proximately is too much for the ex – lovers and The Prince and Charlotte eventually take up an affair with each other. Eventually Maggie discovers the liaison. As is typical of James’s characters, she communicates her knowledge to her unfaithful husband in a subtle way and quietly makes it known to him that she expects the affair to end. One of her prime motivations is aimed at preventing her father from finding out about the unfaithfulness of his spouse. All this is presented very slowly and very subtly.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The most important thing to say about this book, as I mentioned above, is the way that it delves in to the minds and actions of its characters. This is a deep and meticulous dive into the motivations and psychology of people. I would estimate that about 70% of the pages of this book are dedicated to this examination. Many other books are deep psychological studies. In fact, James himself has written other novels that dug into things in a similar way. It is the degree that this bookwork does these things that makes it so distinctive. I have read <i>The Portrait of a Lady </i>and <i>The Turning of the Screw</i> previously. Both those works displayed some if these characteristics, but not to the extent that this book does. In fact, nothing else that I have ever read comes close to the detailed examinations of life that James pulls off here. This makes this book a unique and special work of art. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Something that goes along with all this is the complexity and unexpected aspects to the characters themselves. There is a sense that both Maggie and her father found partners partially because of their great wealth. I would have been easy for James to have portrayed them as unpleasant characters in order to illustrate this. However, on the contrary, they are very appealing people. They are thoughtful, kind and show absolutely no arrogance despite their wealth. In the end, though their wealth was used as kind of a hook to find partners, they are still attractive despite the riches. To me, this is complexity. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The characters are different and complex in other ways too. At one point Maggie is considering that fact that she does not have strong feelings of jealousy,</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">She might fairly, as she watched them, have missed it as a lost thing; have yearned for it, for the straight vindictive view, the rights of resentment, the rages of jealousy, the protests of passion, as for something she had been cheated of not least: a range of feelings which for many women would have meant so much, but which for her husband’s wife, for her father’s daughter, figured nothing nearer to experience than a wild eastern caravan, looming into view with crude colours in the sun, fierce pipes in the air, high spears against the sky, all a thrill, a natural joy to mingle with, but turning off short before it reached her and plunging into other defiles. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The above quotation is typical of much of the book. This analysis and introspection builds layers upon layers of complexity into James’s characters. As I mention above, the reactions and motivations of these characters are often unusual. This is exemplified by the fact that while bothered by her husband’s and friend’s affair, Maggie is really not jealous. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The nature of the relationships are also unusual. Maggie and Charlotte are childhood friends. The fact that Charlotte marries Maggie’s father and technically becomes her step - mother is odd and the characters even mention that it disconcerts them a little. The fact that the unfaithful pair had fallen in love and wanted to marry in the past is also something that is not common in stories of infidelity. Maggie and her father also have an unconventionally close relationship and both her them neglect their respective spouses as a result.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">James’s sentence structure is unusual and can be called awkward. Admittedly, I did not really know enough about writing to describe exactly why James’s sentences are so difficult, aside from the fact that they tend to be long. However, a little reading online indicates that many find him difficult because he uses subordinate clauses to excess.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The above quotation is one example. Another occurs when The Prince is contemplating his position in English society. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">He found it convenient, oddly, even for his relation with himself—though not unmindful that there might still, as time went on, be others, including a more intimate degree of that one, that would seek, possibly with violence, the larger or the finer issue—which was it?—of the vernacular.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">To ease oneself into a book like this, a reader might want to start with <i>The Portrait of a Lady</i> or another James entry first. This may help assist reader with the unconventional prose style, as well as the novel's other peculiarities. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">This is a unique book for the reasons mentioned above. The deep and intricate musings are very interesting. It lends itself to slow and patient reading. Along with the depths that James plumbs here, the the book is a fascinating look at a handful of complex characters and relationships. However, I would only recommend reading this is one were prepared first. Folks going into this should not expect a plot driven story. Instead, it is a slow read about people. One also needs to be ready for James’s prose style. For those who are prepared for this, I would strongly recommend this as an original work of art that is like no other book that I have read.</div></span><p></p>Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com86tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-15289306078289421342021-01-02T13:05:00.000-05:002021-01-02T13:05:34.917-05:009 Year Blogiversary!<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ClDjno_e9Xk/X_C0AgHDalI/AAAAAAAACpk/tL59A3f4hRQyqSVru4Pm-cR1kzxTqZDQgCLcBGAsYHQ/IMG_1982.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="394" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-ClDjno_e9Xk/X_C0AgHDalI/AAAAAAAACpk/tL59A3f4hRQyqSVru4Pm-cR1kzxTqZDQgCLcBGAsYHQ/w296-h394/IMG_1982.jpg" width="296" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span>B</span><span>abbling Books is nine years old today! This anniversary brings a mini – crisis in my blogging activities but optimism for the future. The mini – crisis that I refer to will be evident to anyone who has been following this blog, that is, I have not been posting much.<br /></span></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The reason that I have not put up a lot of entries in the past few months in twofold. The reasons are also related. The first is that I have been working more and more hours at my job. These hours have been escalating. I have been working more in the past few weeks then I have worked since my blog started. In fact, I remember that 9 years ago, I started my blog shortly after a work project ended that was taking up a lot of time. At the time, I figured that the extra hours could be devoted to blogging. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The second reason is something that happens from time to time. I have been stuck in a period of what I will describe as lower motivation. Much of this low motivation is part of the natural cycles of ups and downs. However, another related factor is the fact that about two months ago the keyboard on my desktop computer died. I replaced it with something that I had lying around, but something that I thought would be a good choice. It was a Macally keyboard that was a large piece of hardware. I thought that its size and apparent sturdiness would be good for writing. However, in retrospect it it turns out that using it was an unpleasant experience. Among other things it led to a lot of typos and missed key strokes. I have replaced it with an Apple Magic Keyboard which is ironically much smaller but much easier and pleasant to write with. I did not realize that this poor keyboard experience was keeping me away from writing, but once I replaced it, writing blog posts became a positive experience again. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I must admit that had my busyness at work coincided with a period of higher motivation for blogging, that I would have still managed to post more. I am naturally a very slow writer, so the combination of these two factors has really slowed down my posting. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The really good news is that, while the long hours at work were caused by several factors, the biggest driver of time at work was a project that was just concluded on January 31<sup>st</sup>. I should be working a lot less now. I am hoping that this freeing of my time will be also help spur more motivation to write blogs.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Thus, I am optimistic that I will be posting more frequently going forward and that 2021 will be a good year for blogging. I am looking forward to the future. Have no fear, Babbling Books should still be around for a while. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">As I do every year, I want to thank all my wonderful commenters. I am grateful to everyone who has taken the time to comment and engage in my comments section. Interaction with other bloggers in our comments sections is one of the main reasons to blog in the first place. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Happy reading and blogging in 2021 everybody!</span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com67tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-13001328378448741922020-11-14T12:11:00.000-05:002020-11-14T12:11:32.784-05:00Doctor Sleep by Stephen King<div style="text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UG8eF-j1d7w/X6cGbc5Cc0I/AAAAAAAACoI/OykgRGKSuIAvDGnCia9l-QkFFDWefruFQCLcBGAsYHQ/s293/Unknown.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="195" height="410" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-UG8eF-j1d7w/X6cGbc5Cc0I/AAAAAAAACoI/OykgRGKSuIAvDGnCia9l-QkFFDWefruFQCLcBGAsYHQ/w288-h410/Unknown.jpeg" width="288" /></a><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i>Doctor Sleep </i>is Stephen King’s follow up <i>The Shining</i>. Though I recently reread <i>The Shining</i>, this was the first new - for - me King novel that I have read in decades. I thought that this book was an excellent horror tale. It included a compelling plot, good writing and some in intelligent action and suspense elements. The book also played with some interesting themes. Some of the characters were somewhat complex, however, this book was not the deep psychological study that <i>The Shining </i>was. This was first published in 2013.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></p></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">My post on <i>The Shining</i> is <a href="http://briansbabblingbooks.blogspot.com/2020/09/stephen-kings-shining.html">here</a>. Early on in this book we learn about the future of Danny, Wendy Torrance and Dick Hallorann, who were major characters in the first novel, in the years that followed their escape from the horrors of The Overlook Hotel. This story chronicles how Danny, who still has psychic powers, had fallen into a life of alcoholism and violence in the 1990s. However, in the early 2000’s he settles down in a small New England town, where he quits drinking, cleans up and makes real and reliable friends. There is a lot here about Alcoholics Anonymous. King is a recovering alcoholic so I assume he knows a lot from experience. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">After his reformation, Danny gets a job as an orderly in a home for the dying. There, he is known to comfort those in their last hours so well, he gets the nickname “Doctor Sleep”. Over the years Danny also established a psychic connection with Abra Stone, a young girl who also shows strong psychic or Shining powers. The reader is also introduced to a traveling group of nomads known as The True Knot. These are nearly immortal, vampire - like characters who travel America in motorhomes as they kidnap and torture children. The children’s dying agonies release something called “steam” that The True Knot feeds upon to maintain their powers. This group is led by a charismatic woman known as Rose the Hat. Abra eventually psychically tunes in to one of the True Knot’s grisly murders. She begins to poke into more of their doings with her mind. Rose begins to also psychically poke into Abra and eventually decides to start hunting her. Danny is drawn into protecting Abra. Psychic and real life confrontations between Danny, Abra as well as their allies and The True Knot ensue. Eventually a final battle is fought at the site of the now destroyed Overlook Hotel. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br /></div></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The book is full of observations about human nature, life death and all sorts of other things. There are themes floating around that involve responsibility, guilt, mortality, etc. All this is fairly typical of King. This is not there deep psychological dive that <i>The Shining</i> was but there are some interesting things going on with the characters. Abra in particular is somewhat complex. She is mostly an intelligent and likable teenager. However, she has a temper. At times she enjoys using her powers against The True Knot a little too much. While this group engages in monstrous behavior and is out to kidnap and harm her, she begins to revel when using her powers to hurt its members. She also occasionally lets her temper drive her power in other situations. At one point Danny comments to her, </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">No lecture and no moral. Just blood calling to blood. The stupid urges of wakeful people. And you've made it to a time of life when you're completely awake. It's hard for you. I know that. It's hard for everyone, but most teenagers don't have your abilities. Your weapons. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Despite some issues, the reader is left with the impression that Abra will take a virtuous path and not allow the dark aspects of her personality to dominate. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">The True Knot and Rose are also interesting. When dealing with humans, the group are a bunch of monsters. They torture and murder children. Their actions are sociopathic. However, among themselves they behave morally and ethically. They also exhibit genuine, warm emotions between themselves. Rose is actually a good leader. She does not lead by using fear. Instead she leads mostly by persuasion and charisma. She feels compassion and love for the other members of the group. This connection between members is not cultish but resembles the emotional bonds between old spouses and friends. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">After a gunfight between men Danny and his allies and members of the True Knot, one of the group, named Snake, lays dying. He comments,</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">“ We didn’t choose to be what we are any more then you did. In our shoes, you’d do the same. …</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i><br /></i></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">“Your people slaughter pigs and cows and sheep. Is what we do any different?”</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Perhaps King is saying it relates that otherwise good, seemingly balanced people can tolerate and participate in bad actions? This was a factor when it came to slavery and the Holocaust. Is King suggesting that current day people might be engaging in a little of this?</span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">There are multiple references and call backs to <i>The Shining. </i>For, instance at one point Danny is on a job interview and wonders if his father ever did the same thing. It turns out that the earlier novel began with a job interview for Jack Torrance. Over the course of the interview there are parallels with that earlier interview. There are lots of such references to the earlier book. It all cumulates in the end when the ghost of Jack Torrance plays a decisive roll in the final battle against The True Knot. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This novel is expertly written within the bounds of popular literature. King is very good at writing horror, intelligent action and portraying characters with enough complexity to retain interest. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I thought that this book had a few flaws. In several points of this novel, Danny, Abra and their allies fight The True Knot both physically and psychically. The evil group seems to lose in most of these encounters and ultimately does not seem to be all that formable. A more effective group of antagonists would have strengthened the story. We also see the ghost of Dick Hallorann at one point delving out some simplistic but satisfying philosophy. The novel would have benefitted with more of him. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">There is a film version of this that was made a couple of years ago. Though King did approve of the movie, the film was a sequel to the film version of <i>The Shining</i>. This novel is a sequel to the novel <i>The Shining</i>. Thus, there are some fairly major differences between this book and the film, especially towards the end. </span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">While not quite up to The Shining, this was an exceptional horror book. King is a skilled writer and knows how to craft a story that works in many ways. There was some depth here as King freely shares his observations on all sorts of issues and plays with some interesting ideas. The characters were also mostly interesting and engaging, I would recommend this one to anyone who enjoyed <i>The Shining.</i></span></div>Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com62tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-38978960807434406472020-10-15T19:26:00.001-04:002020-10-15T19:26:35.812-04:00Madam Bovary by Gustave Flaubert<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><br /></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iWhAxJtpPFk/X4MtqZOBeVI/AAAAAAAACng/xS-2Cg0alKQvw8HZpFfVyk5Asuz8add-ACLcBGAsYHQ/51QZ6eMbYhL.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="322" height="519" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-iWhAxJtpPFk/X4MtqZOBeVI/AAAAAAAACng/xS-2Cg0alKQvw8HZpFfVyk5Asuz8add-ACLcBGAsYHQ/w336-h519/51QZ6eMbYhL.jpg" width="336" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>Madam Bovary</i> by Gustave Flaubert is a very famous French novel. I thought that this book was an excellent literary work that dug in to all sorts interesting themes in complex ways. As far as I could tell while reading a translation, the prose seemed distinctive and brilliantly crafted. The plot was also interesting. The novel was first published in 1856. </div></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The is the story of the title character, Emma Bovary.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">The reader is initially introduced to</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Emma’s future husband Charles Bovary, before he even knows her. Charles is a reliable but uninteresting doctor in a French village.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Charles’s domineering first wife dies. Simultaneously, Charles begins to provide medical treatment to Emma’s father and starts to develop a romantic interest in her. He begins to court Emma and the pair eventually get engaged and married. Though Emma is happy at first, she soon becomes bored with her marriage and what she considers a humdrum and unromantic country life.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">She wants to live a more glamorous and materialistic lifestyle with a more interesting man. Emma proceeds to spend lavishly on clothing, furniture and all sorts of frills. After she has a daughter, Emma engages in affairs with other men. First, with a local land owner and later with a handsome clerk named Leon.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">All this time Charles is oblivious to what is going on, even though Emma and her lovers are often indiscrete. Eventually Emma’s excessive spending catches up with her as debt collectors begin to move to sell the Bovarys’ possessions. All this eventually leads to calamity for the Bovarys.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There are other important characters including the village pharmacist, Monsieur Homais. This man </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">supposedly befriends the Boverys but his friendship is eventually shown to be false. He is pompous and pretentious and ultimately very successful. He uses people for his benefit and abandons them when he no longer needs them. He is also a rationalist who likes to have philosophical arguments.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I would describe the prose is this book as both soaring but also intentionally pretentious. That sounds contradictory but the language sometimes seems sublime while at other times it seems to be very exaggerated.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">Sometimes it seems as if Flaubert is skirting the line between the two.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">The over – the -</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">top language seems to be a reflection of Emma and her pretentious associates’ thoughts, personalities and feelings. Emma is often overemotional, phony and also sees the world in a kind of super - romantic state. Of course, I only read a translation of this book. I chose the Lydia Davis version because it seems to be very respected and multiple reviewers have commented that it is close to the original French. Thus, I feel fairly comfortable commenting on the language used in this book. A good example of this language occurs when Emma’s lover Leon is waiting for her in a church.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>At any minute now she would appear, charming, agitated, glancing behind her at the eyes that were following her, —in her flounced dress, her gold lorgnette, her thin little boots, all kinds of elegant refinements he had never tasted before, and with all the ineffable seductiveness of virtue yielding. The church, like a vast boudoir, was arranging itself around her; the vaults were leaning down to gather up, in the shadows, the confession of her love; the windows shone resplendent to illuminate her face; and the censers burned so that she might appear like an angel, amid clouds of perfume.</i></div></span><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i> </i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Despite the almost religious nature of the above, Leon’s hypocrisy and shallowness is illustrated when he fails to provide help or much support to Emma when she most needs it. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">The entire nature of Emma is at the heart of the book. She has the opportunity to live a comfortable life. Her husband, while not the most interesting man in the world, sincerely loves her, is hard working and is honest.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">However, her actions, as well as her thoughts as reflected in the novel’s language, indicate that she has been seduced into believing that she needs to live in world of indulgence and a kind of faux depth. There are obvious connections to romanticism in her outlook. In fact, some have described this book as an attack upon romanticism. Others have described it as a scathing criticism on bourgeois values. I am skeptical of attacks by the elite on the bourgeois or middle class that have been leveled throughout history. However, I think that Flaubert is on to something with his criticism of a certain kind of over - the - top, fake sophistication. With all that, though I did not live in the time and place that the author did, I suspect that, like today, many people lived life in a state of happy medium between materialism, over -</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">emotionalism and over - indulgence and more down to earth thoughts and pursuits. However, Emma has lost all sense of that balance.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">There is more complexity here however. The humdrum and unromantic life that Emma bristles over is also critiqued. Despite Charles’s virtues, he really is dull and hopelessly naive. Monsieur Homais seems to represent much of what is bad about of the middle class “average life”. Perhaps, Flaubert is looking toward a happy medium or perhaps he is just being critical of multiples aspects of the human experience. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">There is more going on here. For instance, there is an ongoing and debate that spans several years between Homais and the village curate Bournisien. The two men engage in a classic argument between science and rationality on one side and</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">and spiritualism and faith on the other.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span><span style="font-family: verdana;">This debate concludes for the reader when both characters eventually fall asleep in the midst of their argument. Obviously, there is much to this conclusion. This also provides one of the best and most amusing passages in the book.</span><span style="font-family: verdana;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><i>The pharmacist and the curé plunged back into their occupations, not without dozing off from time to time, something for which each would reproach the other every time they woke.</i><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> And then a little later. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Homais did not challenge these superstitions, for he had fallen asleep again. Monsieur Bournisien, being more resistant, went on moving his lips very softly for some time; then, imperceptibly, he lowered his chin, let go of his thick black book, and began to snore. They sat opposite each other, their stomachs out, their faces swollen, both scowling, after so much dissension united, at last, in the same human weakness;<o:p></o:p></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Flaubert seems to be mocking the over seriousness and repetitiveness of some of these discussions. At the same time, he seems to be illustrating how human commonality, even when it is in the form of weakness, is more important than these philosophical differences. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">I will mention that complex characters are not this novel’s strong point. Almost everyone from Emma and Charles to the villagers and Emma’s lovers are close to caricatures. I think that it is fair to describe them as symbols. Because we really get into the Emma's head, there may be hints that there is some real depth underneath, but there are only hints. With all that, the characters are enjoyable to read about. Despite her flaws, at times Emma seems sympathetic and I suspect that many readers want her to find a measure of happiness.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><o:p><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"> </span></o:p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">This has been called one of the greatest novels ever written. While I would not go that far, I thought that it was fantastic. The plot was engrossing. It bandies about all sorts of interesting ideas. The characters, m while not all that nuanced were entertaining to read about. The language, even in translation, is grand in a kind of ironic way. For those who like Nineteenth Century literature, I highly recommend this one. </span><span face="Calibri, sans-serif"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com57tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-453570067805347352020-09-19T13:19:00.000-04:002020-09-19T13:19:50.592-04:00George III by Jeremy Black<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"></span></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-usG2X0a-IpQ/X2J8oHxZjbI/AAAAAAAACmw/x80eMG4gikQYJbunzkeN79kb7pScZMj8ACLcBGAsYHQ/s500/51TvCt9ORPL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-usG2X0a-IpQ/X2J8oHxZjbI/AAAAAAAACmw/x80eMG4gikQYJbunzkeN79kb7pScZMj8ACLcBGAsYHQ/s500/51TvCt9ORPL.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IzoNF-cYAP8/X2J8qDaBw7I/AAAAAAAACm0/OwckXkexdyss9eddiO9XUoENwUXimIg-QCLcBGAsYHQ/image.png" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img data-original-height="320" data-original-width="212" height="400" src="https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-IzoNF-cYAP8/X2J8qDaBw7I/AAAAAAAACm0/OwckXkexdyss9eddiO9XUoENwUXimIg-QCLcBGAsYHQ/w265-h400/image.png" width="265" /></a></div></span></span></span></div><span><span style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><span style="font-size: large;">J</span></span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large; text-align: left;">eremy Black’s <i>George III </i>is a somewhat unusual look at the English monarch. This biography has a fairly unconventional structure and style to it. In some ways the book is a challenging read and seems to be aimed at a specific audience of people who already know something of its subject. With that, I personally found this work to be educational and interesting. Black is a Professor of History at Exeter University.This was first published in 2008. </span></div></span></span></span><p></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;">Though I am interested in many historical topics, my initial interest in George III stemmed from the fact that he was the British monarch who reigned during The American Revolution. The Revolution is the area of history that I am most interested in. Like any biography of this man, a number of pages here are dedicated to the Revolution. In fact, some versions of this book are subtitled <i>America's Last King</i>. I think that subtitle is a little misleading as this is a full biography that does not put special influence on the Revolution. I would guess that the subtitle is part of a marketing strategy as interest in the American Revolution is high in The United States. I am not complaining about this as I was looking to read a full biography. George was a generally interesting figure who is worth knowing about. </span></div><span><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">This is the second biography of George that I have read. I had previously read G<i>eorge III: A Personal History </i>by Christopher Hibbert. My commentary on that book is <a href="https://briansbabblingbooks.blogspot.com/2017/09/george-iii-by-christopher-hibbard.html">here</a>. Though I enjoyed Hibbert’s work and found it educational, I thought that, as that book is advertised, there was not enough detail about politics or national and international affairs in it. Black’s book, though very detailed in those areas, has its own quirks that I will talk about below. Thus, while I am glad that I read both books, I have not found a single, satisfying and comprehensive book on George III.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">George was born in 1738 and reigned as King from 1760 until his death in 1820. Great Britain was a constitutional monarchy at the time, thus, while George wielded real power, he shared that power with Parliament and other components of government. George was King during both The American Revolution and The Napoleonic Wars.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">There are many aspects of George’s life and reign worth focusing on. I cannot do any kind of comprehensive assessment within a single blog post. Instead, I will do what I am sometimes known to do and focus on a couple of things that I find interesting. One ironic point, in light of the fascination that so many people have about George’s mental illness, is how stable and balanced he was. He was also principled and ethical in comparison to most royalty of the time. In George’s time when almost all royalty had extramarital affairs, he fell in love with his wife, who he had married as the result of an arraignment, and had no affairs. At a time when so many members of royalty, including sovereigns, were known to gamble and drink to excess, he did no such thing. In a world filled with royalty and monarchs that had volatile tempers, were arrogant and petty he was known to be even tempered, not arrogant and often made an effort to put nervous visitors at ease. At the same he was almost never described as weak. Black writes,</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">George's personality as a mature man was already clear in some respects when he came to the throne. His sense of propriety, diligence and commitment had been honed by his upbringing. It was to be put under brutal pressure in the maelstrom of politics, and yet the personality that matured was an attractive one. King George was generally good-humoured, and a kindly, gentlemanly, often (but not always) generous, charitable, worrying person.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The above is consistent with other sources that I have read. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">I am not contending that George was perfect or saintly. This book, as well as other sources that I have read does not whitewash George. He was imperfect. For instance, he restricted his daughters’ freedom terribly, even by the standards of the time. He was known to be stubborn to the point where it caused him problems both politically and personally. He also supported some policies involving slavery and discrimination against Catholics that many objected to in his own time. However, he does stand out as a stable person who had a sense of ethics in a sea of bad characters. As for his mental issues, they occupied fairly brief periods during the prime of his reign. Unfortunately, they completely debilitated him during the last ten years of his life. These issues were probably caused by porphyria.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">On policy George was something of a moderate conservative. When he took the throne the power of the British monarchy was waning in the face of Parliament and other aspects of constitutional monarchy. He endeavored, somewhat successfully, to strengthen royal powers. He also sought to eliminate waste and inefficiency in government. He made serious mistakes as Britain and America fell headlong into the American Revolution and George presided over the losing side in that conflict. However, he also presided over the Britain’s early wars and opposition to Napoleon with some success and it can be argued that he helped keep Britain stable in the face of worldwide revolution. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">As I mentioned above, this book is somewhat unusually structured. It is only partially chronological. Multiple chapters focus on a specific part of George’s life. For instance, one chapter is dedicated to George’s family and personnel life, another chapter is dedicated to his mental illness. Some of the chapters do cover specific time periods such as the American Revolution and several Napoleonic Wars, however, even these chapters tend to jump around in time. In addition, the author focuses his concentration in unusual directions. He tends to delve into great detail when it comes to British politics but then ignores the big picture. For instance, Catholic Emancipation was an issue that continued to reoccur throughout George’s rule. This controversy arose because discrimination against Catholics was codified into law during George’s time. Many wanted to reduce or remove those discriminatory laws. There were moves within both Parliament and George’s ministries to relax these restrictions. George generally opposed emancipation. In various parts of the book the text goes into minute detail on the political wrangling behind all of this. Yet the underlying issues and history involving Catholics and discrimination aimed at them is skirted and never explored in any kind of comprehensive or satisfying manor. Likewise, unlike many other biographies that I have read, this book is very sparse when it comes to the background detail of people who were connected to George. There is a paucity of information about George’s family and associates. We get a detailed look at their interactions with George, but not much background. This is not to say that the book is not detailed. The work is comprised of 452 dense pages. It is just what Black concentrates on that is different. He is most interested in the workings of government and politics. When it comes to George personal relationships, as mentioned above, the work looks deeply into George’s actions and motivations, but reveals little about others. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">All this adds up to a book that almost presupposes that the reader is already knowledgeable about George and the time and place that he lived in. Black almost seems like it is trying to fill in and discuss details about knowledge that is already known by the reader. Personally, I have read other biographies and details about George’s life. I am also somewhat familiar with other details related to Great Britain and the rest of the world of the time. Thus, I was OK with this approach. However, I would have appreciated if more of this book concentrated on these omitted things. Also, this book would not be the first choice for someone who started off knowing little about George III or his times. In addition, Black’s writing style can also be a little challenging, his sentences are packed with information and sometimes worded awkwardly. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">This was a different kind of biography. I learned a lot from it. The book was well researched, and was interesting. Black appears to be a good and unbiased historian. I am glad that I read this. However, due to its odd attributes I would not recommend this to someone new to the subjects covered. I am still on the lookout for a more conventional and mainstream biography of George III.</div></span></span><p></p>Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com40tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-77974871752826287152020-09-06T12:21:00.001-04:002020-09-06T12:21:59.704-04:00Stephen King’s The Shining <p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JB1sM_HEnKc/X1T8JBCHMlI/AAAAAAAACmY/f1XVLFfl7vkOHWUhqsA5D3_Hcjbeq6EKACLcBGAsYHQ/s499/51D98iK9wXL._SX329_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="331" height="500" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-JB1sM_HEnKc/X1T8JBCHMlI/AAAAAAAACmY/f1XVLFfl7vkOHWUhqsA5D3_Hcjbeq6EKACLcBGAsYHQ/w331-h500/51D98iK9wXL._SX329_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="331" /></a></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Stephen King’s T<i>he Shining</i> was a reread for me. I first read this a very long time ago, probably in the late 1980s. I decided to read this book again after many years because I rewatched the film and then saw the movie version of its sequel, <i>Doctor Sleep</i>. I decided to read <i>Doctor Sleep</i> for the first time but I wanted to reread this book first. I was surprised at how much that I liked this novel the second time around. I found this to be an effective combination of horror and character study. This was first published in 1977.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">When I blog about a book, I do not usually like to talk about the film version as do not see much value in comparing books and movies. However, the 1980 Stanley Kubrick film is so famous and so many people have seen it that I need to share few thoughts about it here. King did not approve of that movie. While I thought that the film was brilliant, I understand King’s objections. This book, in addition to being a horror story, is also an effective character study. Much of the deep psychological insights that are present in the novel were only hinted at in the film. In particular, most of the complexity of the story’s adult main character, Jack Torrance, was lost. I think that movie version, like most Kubrick films was innovative, effective and is endowed with more positives then I could list here. It was not however, the deeply complex look into a person’s psychology that the novel was. There was a 1997 television miniseries version of the story that King was the executive producer of and that he approved of. I have not seen that version. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">For those who are unfamiliar with the plot, the story revolves around the Torrance family. There is Jack, his wife Wendy, and his son Danny. The Torrances are troubled. Jack is a young writer and teacher who still holds promise, but he has a drinking problem and has an issue with his temper. However, he is not a monster and is a complex mix of good and bad traits. Jack is a masterful creation as he is balanced between positive and negative. His drinking and temper have gotten him into trouble and he has lost a good teaching job as a result. He has let is family down in serious ways and their well - being is in jeopardy because of him. In one incident he inadvertently injured Danny when he was drunk. King gets into his head and he is sometimes, but not always, angry and cynical. He is also intelligent and perceptive. But he is not abusive and his wife and son do not fear him. In fact, he has a strong and warm relationship with Danny and an up and down relationship with Wendy. He has also quit drinking. He is self - aware and is never in denial and recognizes and acknowledges his problems and understands that he must overcome them. He is also wracked with guilt over his past behavior. He is a well - done and interesting mix of traits. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Danny is not only gifted with intelligence and perception, but he also manifests psychic powers. The boy is able to know things, read minds and see the future. Wendy is intelligent and capable of standing up for Danny and herself. Her character is stronger and more competent then it was in the film.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Jack takes the job of the winter caretaker at the Overlook Hotel in Colorado. The hotel is forty miles from civilization and once the snows begin the Torrances will be completely isolated from civilization. Before the family arrives at The Overlook, Danny begins to have horrendous and bloody visions about the hotel. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">On the last day that the hotel is open, as all the guests and staff are preparing to depart and the Torrances are settling in, the family encounters Dick Hallorann, who is the Overlook’s cook. Hallorann immediately recognizes Danny’s abilities which he also shares. The cook calls this these powers “Shining” based on old folk stories that Hallorann has heard from his grandmother. Hallorann also indicates that The Overlook is haunted and that there are bad forces at play there. He is headed off to Florida for the winter but indicates that if Danny gets into trouble, he may be able to psychically call out for help. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">As the winter sets in and The Overlook is cut off by snow, each of the Torrances begins to see ghosts and manifestations. These phenomena range from visions of past murders that occurred at the hotel to hedge animals that come alive. Both Danny’s psychic abilities and Jack’s character weaknesses stimulate and attract the evil spirits. The ghosts begin to play off Jack’s dark side encouraging him to drink, become angry, resentful and abusive towards his wife and son, and eventually to murder them. As things deteriorate Jack does become murderous, Danny attempts to call Hallorann for help. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">In think that the strongest aspect of this book is the nuanced and complex portrait of Jack. His drinking has been a problem for his family and himself. Jack walked into the Overlook on a knife edge between the positive and the negative, between good and evil. The evil that dwells at the hotel jumps right into Jack’s mind. Jack, who is at least self – aware, realizes, </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">everything became clear to him. It was not just Danny the Overlook was working on. It was working on him, too. It wasn’t Danny who was the weak link, it was him. He was the vulnerable one, the one who could be bent and twisted until something snapped.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></i></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The dark spirits in the hotel proceed to push Jack over the edge. One wonders how Jack and his family would have made out in life had they never gone to The Overlook. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">As for the book being scary or chilling, King does write a few very effective passages. For instance, when the Torrances wake in the middle of the night, in the completely cut off and isolated hotel and they hear then elevator running,</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">The illuminated clock on his nightstand said it was five minutes to twelve. The humming sound again. Loud and steady, varying the slightest bit. Followed by a clank as the humming ceased. A rattling bang. A thump. Then the humming resumed. It was the elevator.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">There are a lot of chilling and spooky moments in the book, but I found that them to be mostly laid back and moderate. Character takes center stage in this work. With that, the Overlook is a fantastic setting for all of this and the novel has a lot of atmosphere. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">I have always felt that King was not the most original novelist. At least for the books that I have read and films that I have seen that were based upon those books, his plots usually share a commonality with older works. Before this was written there were lots of stories about a person going to a bad place and being unduly influenced by that place. One strong influence here is Shirley Jackson’s The Haunting of Hill House. In fact, King pays tribute to that other work as it is mentioned in the text. What I think that King does vey well, is to retell these older stories in a very effective way. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">I thought that novel was better than I remembered it. It is a superb character study that evolves into a battle between good and evil inside one person’s head. The setting of the Overlook is also a perfect place to set such a tale. Fans of this type of story who have not read this book will probably get a lot out of it. I should also mention that as the novel nears its end the plot deviates from the 1977 film so those who only know that story can at least expect a different resolution. I think that many non - horror fans might also find this worthwhile. I plan to move on to <i>Doctor Sleep</i> soon.</div></span>Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-48322582866937729692020-08-22T10:03:00.000-04:002020-08-22T10:03:25.720-04:00The Bell Jar by Sylvia Plath<div class="separator"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5dXMVB5DUv4/XzrnkYz5a3I/AAAAAAAAClo/lFTCxAK7wtQLduSiWjuQWaCSJ_0yMKZeQCLcBGAsYHQ/w400-h400/51Agd5ompoL.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" width="400" /></span></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><br /></span></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: justify;">Sylvia Plath’s <i>The Bell Jar</i> is the story of Esther Greenwood. The novel looks into Esther’s life both before and after she experiences symptoms of mental illness. I found this to both an interesting character study as well as what can only be described as a realistic account of a person descending into mental illness. This is a short novel. My edition was only 189 pages long. This was first published in 1963 shortly before Plath’s death. For those who do not know, the tragic connection is that Plath committed suicide shortly after the book was published. Like Plath herself, the novel’s main character suffers from depression and makes several suicide attempts. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The book is told from Esther’s first - person point of view. This is a semi - autobiographical if not a straight up thinly veiled autobiography. Esther is a young, intelligent and vivacious college student. The book opens with her spending time as an intern for Ladies' Day magazine. Early on, the narrative covers Esther’s social life, dating life and work life. Many of her experiences are comical. Esther wants to be a poet when she is not dreaming of other life paths. Esther is perceptive, witty and sharp and as she doles out personal and social commentary freely. Later on, she starts to descend into mental illness and depression and she undergoes therapy, including shock treatments. The “Bell Jar” refers to the confining and stifling place that Esther feels like she is trapped in due to her depression. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Even during her mental decline, Esther is perceptive and poetical,</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #6aa84f;">I thought the most beautiful thing in the world must be shadow, the million moving shapes and cul-de-sacs of shadow. There was shadow in bureau drawers and closets and suitcases, and shadow under houses and trees and stones, and shadow at the back of people’s eyes and smiles, and shadow, miles and miles and miles of it, on the night side of the earth.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">I think that the above is very lyrical. The shadows are indicative of Esther’s melancholy tinged view of the world. Here they affect everything in a way that depression does for those afflicted.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">In a way this seems like two stories. Before Esther begins to experience symptoms of mental illness the narrative is a bit cynical but upbeat. The entire mood and tone of the book changes with Esther’s condition. It turns darker. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Esther has a cynical streak in her. She is also determined to retain a sense of independence and resists getting pulled in to marriage that will be limiting to her life. The world that is presented in the book gives Esther some fairly narrow choices as to who she is expected to marry. I understand her hesitancy. There is a sophomoric streak to Esther too. However, I think that this was realistic for a young person who is both intelligent and cynical. Her observations about the world are not exactly profound, but they are intellectually lively and often amusing. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Here she is commenting upon, what at the time was new film technology,</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i style="color: #93c47d;">I hate Technicolor. Everybody in a Technicolor movie seems to feel obliged to wear a lurid costume in each new scene and to stand around like a clotheshorse with a lot of very green trees or very yellow wheat or very blue ocean rolling away for miles and miles in every direction.</i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Later in the book Esther makes several attempts at suicide, gets institutionalized in a high - class facility and undergoes shock treatment. As Plath was writing from experience here, this part of the book seems very credible. As for Esther’s mental illness there are actually folks online today who try to do psychoanalysis. However, though this may not have been recognized at the time, the kind of issues that Esther has are clearly chemical in terms of brain function and the best treatment, though imperfect, now includes medication for most people. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><i>The Bell Jar</i> is very famous. Based upon word of mouth and what I read on the internet, I am going to make few generalizations about its popularity. I lot of young people read it and say they like it because they relate to it. It seems more popular with women than men, but a fair number of men love the book too. Of course, not everyone likes the book. Based upon reviews on Amazon and Goodreads it seems that people who do not like the book strongly dislike it. This is the first time that I have read it. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">I thought that this is very much worth the read. We get a peek into a young woman’s mind and opinions that are interesting, lively and funny. The descent into mental illness is worth it if only for the realistic observations. Plath’s tragic death adds poignancy to it all. Though the book might not quite live up to its near cult - like status, it is a worthy character study. Tragically, do to the author's real life experiences, the later parts of the book gain extra credence. I cannot help to wonder what other works Plath would have created had she lived.</div></span></div>Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-10027705293973238012020-08-10T18:40:00.000-04:002020-08-10T18:40:30.324-04:00The War of the End of the World by Mario Vargas Llosa<p class="MsoNormal" style="font-family: calibri, sans-serif; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><i></i></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bp2cPqtyH6w/XzFsOp9DVBI/AAAAAAAAClU/3lHt9BQveKQnjYq7pmKaa_7u6S6DY5-lwCLcBGAsYHQ/s499/51CjE12AOtL._SX320_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="322" height="499" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Bp2cPqtyH6w/XzFsOp9DVBI/AAAAAAAAClU/3lHt9BQveKQnjYq7pmKaa_7u6S6DY5-lwCLcBGAsYHQ/w323-h499/51CjE12AOtL._SX320_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="323" /></a><i></i></div><span style="font-family: verdana; font-size: x-large;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><i>The War of the End of the World</i> is the first book that I have read by Mario Vargas Llosa. This is a massive and sprawling novel that chronicles the real - life historical conflict known as the The War of Canudos which occurred in the last few years of the Nineteenth Century. The book is filled with interesting and complex characters. The plot is also compelling. The book plays with all sorts of ideas about ideology, fanaticism, violence, gender, religion among other things. My version of the novel was 750 pages long. Both the length and the nature of the story are epic. My translation was by Helen Lane. This seems to be the only English translation available. This was first published in 1981. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I will summarize the events of the book here, not the real historical events. However, a little internet reading leads me to believe that the book follows fairly closely to the actual history. In the time that this story takes place, a coup against Brazilian Emperor Dom Pedro II had occurred a few years earlier. A republic under the influence of military interests has been set up. In the back – country, around the town of Canudos, a messianic religious leader known as The Counselor has attracted first hundreds, then thousands, then tens of thousands, of followers. His group has a set of complicated set of beliefs. They are rooted in Catholicism and they are pro – monarchy. They reject many aspects of the modernity like the republic itself and secular marriage. They label the Republicans agents of the anti – Christ. The worship The Counselor as Godlike. Yet the also support a communal ownership of property and other radical beliefs. Even the characters in the book that hold differing belief systems from the rebels are a little befuddled by them. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Counselor’s followers are espouse lots of fanatical beliefs. Some of their ideas are shown to be harmful. However, most of the individual members, as is The Counselor himself, are portrayed for the most part sympathetically. Some have been turned away from violence and barbarism by The Counselor. Others have been rescued by him from abject oppression. Their behavior is far from perfect, but most of them act ethically and with humanity. For instance, despite the fact that the mutilate the dead bodies of their enemies, their leadership generally tries to avoid brutality towards living people. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Counselor attracts a very diverse group of people. In addition to the poor peasantry, he is joined by many ex - criminals and bandits, many of whom previously practiced savage brutality. When joining The Counselor, they have genuine religious epiphanies and renounce their past deeds. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Throughout the novel the Brazilian government sends a series of military expeditions to crush The Counselor's group. The first three expeditions are thoroughly routed by the increasing militarized and competent forces of The Counselor, who set up a base and established control of Canudos. Even an enormous fourth military expedition meets skilled and fierce resistance. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">It is a difficult to write about the characters in this book because of their large number. The narrative also often goes into their backstories. There are too many of them to thoroughly cover in single blog post. The book focuses upon the Counselor’s followers, the military, politicians and landowners who are trying to navigate between the two sides, and neutral peasants. I will try to talk about just some of the more important individuals here.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">There is a reporter who is only known as the nearsighted journalist. This man starts off covering the third military expedition but eventually finds himself in Canudos after the government’s defeat. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Baron de Canabrava is a local land owner. He is also conservative and anti – Republican like the rebels. However, he eventually finds himself in conflict with them and they eventually burn his estate. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">The Dwarf is a is a member of a traveling circus. Though his body is deformed, he shows empathy and humanity to others and is capable of establishing strong bonds with people. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Galileo Gall is a Scottish anarchist, and an atheist who despite the fact that he has many conflicting beliefs, wants to assist the rebels. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Jurema is a young woman who is raped by Gall who ends up helping the nearsighted journalist to survive. Throughout much of the book she is pursued by her husband who wants to murder her. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Colonel Moreira César is a cruel general from the Brazilian republic who generality believes in a militarized form of Republicanism. He is known for acts of brutality against civilians and prisoners. This officer was real historical character. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Rufino is Jurema’s husband. When Jurema runs off with Gall, he begins searching for the pair and becomes obsessed with killing them both. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">One common theme here seems to be that people become obsessed with causes, both personal and public, to the detriment of society and of themselves. The Counselor’s followers, though often portrayed sympathetically are zealots. Supporters of the government, such as Colonel Moreira Césarare true believers and are not hypocrites, but they are brutal as they murder and torture civilians and prisoners. Rufino’s quest for retribution descends into violent madness and leads to personal catastrophe. One of the most virtuous characters is Jurema. She is fairly simple and avoids ideology. She also cares and sacrifices for others and shows empathy. A connection forms between Jurema, the nearsighted journalist and the Dwarf may be the most important connection in the book. These three characters are more or less untainted by ideology and do not follow causes, </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">At one point the nearsighted journalist thinks about his relationship to Jurema and the Dwarf, </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">How was it possible for him to feel such a great affinity, such boundless love for those two beings with whom he had nothing in common, whose social background, education, sensibility, experience, culture were in fact altogether different from his? What they had been through together for all these months had forged this bond between them, the fact that without ever imagining such a thing, without deliberately seeking it, without knowing how or why, through the sort of strange, fantastic concatenation of cause and effect, of chance, accident, and coincidence that constitute history, the three of them had been catapulted together into the midst of these extraordinary events, into this life at the brink of death. That was what had created this tie between them. “I’m never going to be separated from them again,”</span></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #93c47d;"><br /></span></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">There is a lot to the above quotation. I think that mention of differences between the individuals, as well as their chance connection is important. In the end, what is most important is the shared experience leading to love. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: justify;">I think about Joseph Conrad’s <i>Under Western Eyes</i> where the ideology of all sides was shown to be poisonous and where genuine human compassion, charity and empathy was held up in high regard as being preferable to politics. In that way I think that in this way these two books are related. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">As mentioned above, the book describes monstrous brutality including murder, rape and sexual slavery. I found some of this disturbing. The narrative also includes descriptions of empathy as well as great acts of redemption. Sometimes the brutality is tied to the redemption as the former perpetrators of atrocities are changed and sometimes even come to terms with their former victims. Redemption is an important theme here and is connected with certain Christian beliefs in the narrative. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">Though I did not know anything about the conflict before, from the little I read online about the real War of Canudos, Llosa seems to have maintained a lot of historical accuracy here. It appears that much of the political and military maneuvering here is conveyed as it happened. I am a little uncomfortable with historical fiction that mirrors real life events. I am a stickler for history being portrayed as accurately and as objectively as possible and I think that novels are not the best way for this to happen. As historical documents, novels and history do not mix well and I always worry that people will try to learn history from fiction. In the end I am fine with these books as long as they are considered fiction and not history. I may eventually read a non – fiction account of this conflict.</div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">I have only scratched the barest part of the surface of this book in terms of characters, relationships, ideas and even the plot. There is so much going on here. I really just mentioned a few points that I have found particularly interesting. </div><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div> <div style="text-align: justify;">This is an extraordinary and epic novel. It is complex. It is full of interesting characters. It has an engaging plot. It seems to have a lot to say about the world. Almost any reader is likely to find all sorts of things to think about within its pages. This is the first time that I have read Llosa. I do not know what his other books are like but I will surely give them a try. </div></span><br /> Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-52167654352783577522020-07-17T16:59:00.000-04:002020-07-17T16:59:44.177-04:00A Brother’s Price by Wen Spencer<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cx5-pOQjbeQ/Xw-G8qjnbhI/AAAAAAAACkg/4eNOx-EPuyE-Xs6gHLGlhzIN4x5OOSGowCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/Unknown.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="293" data-original-width="173" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Cx5-pOQjbeQ/Xw-G8qjnbhI/AAAAAAAACkg/4eNOx-EPuyE-Xs6gHLGlhzIN4x5OOSGowCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/Unknown.jpeg" width="235" /></a><i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Brother’s Price </span></i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">by Wen Spencer is one of several novels that I have read over the past few years that center around fictional matriarchies. I had heard about this book and decided to read it as I find the concept behind these stories interesting. I also find it worthwhile to compare the different worlds that these various writers have created. One thing that I find intriguing about these books is that they allow authors to explore issues around gender and culture in unique ways. This was written in 2005. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I found this novel to be a very good depiction of an alternate world. It had an engaging plot. It has interesting and occasionally complex characters. I disagree with one the book’s primarily underlying themes, which is based on what many are calling blank slatism. However, it is all presented in a thoughtful way. I am OK if an author has ideas that I disagree with. In general, I do not think that this mars a novel unless the ideas are presented in too heavy handed a way or if they are presented unfairly. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The book seems to take place in an alternate reality Earth. Technological progress appears to be on the level if the late Eighteenth Century. Most governments are monarchies. Governments have precarious control of the countryside as bandits and rebels are common. The key difference from our world is that female births outnumber male births by about ten to one. Thus, families try to have a lot of children in order to produce some males. Family structures are completely different from our world. Each man is married to a family of multiple sisters. Usually a lot of sisters as families are large. When a boy comes of age, he is traded or sold by his family, to another family in exchange for another man who will be a husband to the family trading a brother. Men have almost no legal rights. The world is complex however. Some men have a say on who they will marry and some do not. Some men are treated as near slaves, others treated as inferiors in a benign way, others are treated with reverence and have positions of power within families. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The protagonist of the book is Jerin Whistler. His family is descended of heroic military women and still maintains martial qualities. They are mostly ethical women and Jerin is often treated as a near equal. However, economics and politics between families are complex and he fears that he will be traded to a family that he considers low class and who are violent. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is a dramatic change of events when the Whistlers rescue and shelter a member of the royal family being pursued by rebels. As the royal family and the Whistlers begin to mix, Jerin and royal family member Princess Ren begin to fall in love. Much of the balance of the novel involves the maneuverings of Princess Ren to arrange a marriage with Jerin over some social objections, and the kidnapping of Jerin by a rebel family who want to forcibly marry him for political reasons. There is also a missing royal sister as well as some past crimes of a deceased royal husband dredged up. It eventually all ties together. The plot is actually very engaging. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The strength of this novel lies in its world building. Spencer has fashioned a detailed and complex society here. Her universe is full of shades of grey. As mentioned above, the status of the men in the book is complicated. Many of the women characters, particularly the Whistlers and the royal sisters want to treat Jaren fairly, but sometimes political, social and economic concerns put them in positions where that is difficult or impossible. Some men, who are disadvantaged by the society’s structure, find ways to thrive and even exploit women. I think that this is a realistic refection of out real world with some of the social conventions flipped over. The author put a lot of thought around how the different standards of society might be turned around. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">At one point the royal sisters along with the Whistler sisters are confronted by the body of a raped and murdered man. They react with much more revulsion and then they react to dead women, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">They’ve killed a man.” It was not enough warning. Ren gagged at what they showed her. Arms tied behind his back, his trousers down around his ankles to expose scrawny hairy legs, paunchy stomach—no dignity afforded him in death... Blood had clotted on his face and nose, had pooled in his eyes, and his ears…Her women had uncovered the grave, and they stood silent, staring at the body. The younger Whistlers hung back, their fierceness stripped by their shock, unable to even look at the man. Her eyes furious, Eldest knelt beside the corpse and covered his nakedness with her coat. Ren didn’t want to look at the body, even with it decently covered.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In the real world, this is reflective of how people will sometimes react more strongly and differently when atrocities are perpetuated against women. I should mention that most of the novel is not this grim. While the book contains some violence and brutality, it is mostly a mix of world building, adventure, social commentary and romance. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I mentioned that an underling theme of the book seems to be blank slatist. When it comes to gender, this view is that there is no difference in the behavior of large groups of men verses the behavior of large groups of women that is not caused by culture. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In this book the women are much more violent then the men. Many women are sexually aggressive. A significant minority of women act like sexual predators who exploit and harass men sexually. The men tend to be coy and generally want to save themselves by avoiding sexual relations before marriage. Women tend to dress plainly where the men adorn themselves elaborately. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think that when it comes to many of these role reversals, while presented in an interesting way that the author thought about, the author gets some things wrong. Evolutionary psychology, as well as the fact that certain differences between the genders manifest themselves universally across cultures and time, indicate that there are biological differences at the root of some of these behavior in the real world. Thus, it seems implausible that women would be so sexually aggressive while men behaved so modestly in this world. The same is true of violence. There are many good sources for this. I would point folks to books such as Richard Dawkins’s <i>The Selfish Gene,</i> which I wrote about <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://briansbabblingbooks.blogspot.com/2012/03/normal-0-false-false-false-en-us-ja-x.html" style="color: #954f72;">here</a></span>, Steven Pinker’s <i>The Blank Slate, </i>which I wrote about <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://briansbabblingbooks.blogspot.com/2016/02/the-blank-slate-by-steven-pinker.html" style="color: #954f72;">here</a></span>, Richard Wrangham’s <i>The Goodness Paradox, </i>which I wrote about <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="https://briansbabblingbooks.blogspot.com/2019/04/the-goodness-paradox-by-richard-wrangham.html" style="color: #954f72;">here</a> </span>or Steve Stewart-Williams's, <i>The Ape that Understood the Universe, </i>which I wrote about <span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color: #0563c1; text-decoration: underline;"><a href="http://briansbabblingbooks.blogspot.com/2020/06/the-ape-that-understood-universe-by.html" style="color: #954f72;">here</a></span>. This is not to say that biology and genes are everything. If there was a situation where women outnumbered male births ten to one, then there would be some general differences in behavior, but I do not think that they would manifest themselves as a complete flipping of gender roles. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I always feel that I must mention, that just because there is a biological difference in the behavior of large groups of men verses the behavior of large groups of women, this says nothing about individuals. The differences only manifest themselves in averages when large groups are compared. Some women are violent. Most men are not violent. Some women are promiscuous. This is all similar to the general tendency for men to be taller than women on average. Regardless of that fact, some women are tall, some men are short. We cannot say anything about individuals. Historically, some have used these average differences have been used as an excuse for sexism. Serotyping individuals is illogical and unethical.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I thought that this was a very good book. It is the sort of world building science fiction that relies upon playing with social conventions. It does that well. The characters are not super complex but they show some nuance and are interesting. Jerin is particularly well done. The plot kept my interest. The universe that is created here is very well crafted. My quibbles about blank slatism did not distract from the book for me. I recommend this one to fans of social science fiction as well as people who like fiction about gender. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Other posts about fictional matriarchies.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="http://briansbabblingbooks.blogspot.com/2017/05/herland-by-charlotte-perkins-gilman.html">Herland by Charlotte Perkins Gilman</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://briansbabblingbooks.blogspot.com/2017/02/the-shore-of-women-by-pamela-sargent.html">The Shore of Women by Pamela Sargent</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://briansbabblingbooks.blogspot.com/2017/04/the-gate-to-womens-country-by-sheri-s.html">The Gate to Women's Country by Sheri S. Tepper</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #c27ba0; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><a href="https://briansbabblingbooks.blogspot.com/2017/11/the-power-by-naomi-alderman.html">The Power by Naomi Alderman</a><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com36tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-73854220095357830422020-07-03T17:13:00.000-04:002020-07-03T17:13:05.271-04:00Under Western Eyes by Joseph Conrad<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Under Western Eyes</i> is Joseph Conrad’s Russian novel. I found this to be another brilliant Conrad effort. As is typical of Conrad, this book is filled with complex characters, prose and themes. This work was known to be written as a response to Fyodor Dostoyevsky’s<i> Crime and Punishment. </i>Conrad’s novel has some similar plot devices and characters. This book’s protagonist, Kyrilo Razumov even has a similar name to Dostoyevsky’s Rodion Raskolnikov. Among several objections, Conrad apparently beloved that Dostoyevsky was too sympathetic to the Russian State and Russian autocracy. However, like the Dostoyevsky book, this work is a scathing indictment of radicalism and revolutionaries. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This novel, like many of Conrad’s works, is narrated by a narrator who interprets and tells the story. The narrator is an English teacher of languages who filters the story through “Western eyes” by reading and interpreting the protagonist’s diary. Thus, there is a lot here about the differences between Russian and Western European political systems, thinking and philosophy. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Razumov is a young student living and studying in St. Petersburg. He is intelligent but unlike Dostoyevsky’s main character, he seems destined for a bright future and does not harbor radical ideas. Early in the story his views on politics are more or less neutral. Razumov is a good listener and sometimes does not talk much. He tends to elicit the trust of those around him. Sometimes people mistake his way of interacting for sympathy for their own causes when in actuality he is neutral or hostile towards them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Razumov’s life is turned upside down when Victor Haldin, a young revolutionary, who has just assassinated a brutal government official, lands in Razumov’s room asking for help. Haldin mistakenly believes that Razumov is sympathetic to his cause. Razumov is beside himself and fears that he will be drawn into revolutionary activities. He secretly turns Haldin in to the authorities. The young revolutionary is quickly executed. The government is happy with Razumov’s actions and Haldin’s fellow revolutionaries erroneously believe that Razumov is on their side and helped in the assassination. The autocratic authorities decide to use Razumov as an agent to infiltrate the revolutionaries since the radicals trust him. They send the protagonist to Switzerland to spy on the community of Russian exiles there. The revolutionary exiles are capable of murder so Razumov is aware that he must carry on the deception in order to survive. All this time he is morally conflicted as to who or what he supports. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In Switzerland Razumov meets various characters who he interacts with through the remainder of the book. Peter Ivanovitch is an older revolutionary who is famous and held in awe by the revolutionaries but also hypocritical and cruel. Tekla is a young woman who has joined the revolutionaries but who is abused by them. The hypocrisy of the movement is illustrated as the person who mistreats her the most is Peter Ivanovitch who is known to be great “feminist”. There are other revolutionaries of varying morality hanging about the story. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Razumov also meets Natalia Haldin. She is the sister of Haldin. She is thoughtful and ethical. She has strong ideas which include are integrated with her tendency to be kind and charitable. Mrs. Haldin, who is Nalalia's and Haldin's mother, is also present. Throughout the story she becomes further and further consumed with grief over her son's execution. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Throughout the narrative the protaginist navigates between these various characters while trying to conceal the fact that he is actually working for the Russian government. He finds himself falling in love with Natalia who reciprocates the feeling. He begins to slide deeper and deeper into cynicism as he begins to understand the moral vacuity of both the government and the rebels. He also has difficulty coming to terms with the guilt that he feels for betraying Haldin. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The connection with </span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;">Crime and Punishment,</span></i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> which I also recently read, is interesting. For his part, though Conrad wrote in English and is considered an English writer, he was born in the Ukraine of Polish nobility. His family had connections with the Polish revolutionaries and ran afoul of Russian authorities. Obviously, this background influenced Conrad and this work. Though Conrad wrote this book as a supposed argument with the Russian novel, both books are biting indictments of radicalism. One way that </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Under Western Eyes</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">differs, is that this work is also an attack on Russian autocracy. The sympathetic characters in this novel, seem to be caught between the two malicious systems.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The plot, characters and ideas that this book explores are, like other Conrad novels that I have read, complex. But its center, this is essentially a tale of of bad forces in conflict with good people caught in the middle. Most of Conrad’s writing has a streak of cynicism in it. Here is savagely cynical towards both the autocratic Russian Government as well as toward the revolutionaries. Principled and humane people are stuck between the two. At one point the narrator thinks about Natalia, </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"></span><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #93c47d; font-size: large;">There was almost all her youth before her; a youth robbed arbitrarily of its natural lightness and joy, overshadowed by an un-European despotism; a terribly sombre youth given over to the hazards of a furious strife between equally ferocious antagonisms. </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Conrad does finds morality and good in the world. Here, virtue is found in the characters of both Natalia and Tekla, both are characterized as loyal, compassionate and self - sacrificing. Both are among several characters who have been hurt by the amorality practiced by both sides. The toll that malevolent politics has wrought upon Natalia and her mother, Mrs. Haldin, is spelled out, At the same time the young woman’s compassion shines through, </span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Away from the lamp, in the deeper dusk of the distant end, the profile of Mrs. Haldin, her hands, her whole figure had the stillness of a sombre painting. Miss Haldin stopped, and pointed mournfully at the tragic immobility of her mother, who seemed to watch a beloved head lying in her lap. That gesture had an unequalled force of expression, so far-reaching in its human distress that one could not believe that it pointed out merely the ruthless working of political institutions. </span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Razumov is a very complex character who is often unlikeable. In the end Razumov, though headed for material calamity, he finds moral redemption when he chooses to be honest with himself and with others. Thus, rising above the conflict between these forces. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Like other Conrad works, the book is filled with long complex sentences. The characters often engage each other in long, meditative and philosophical discussions over life, morality, gender, politics and all sorts of other stuff. This novel is full of ideas.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In regards to the Dostoyevsky connection, one does not need to read </span><span style="font-size: large;"><i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Crime and Punishment</i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"> b</span></span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">efore reading this novel. However, being familiar with the Russian book made the this more rewarding for me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I have read multiple Conrad novels now. I have come to appreciate him as a writer. This book, like almost everything else that I have read by him, is filled with interesting and complex characters and ideas. The plot of tis also engaging. The novel also has the added interest of having some connection with the ideas and works of Dostoyevsky. Evan aside from that, this is just a great classic book.</span></div>
Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com58tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-33488573596491565112020-06-21T12:39:00.000-04:002020-06-21T12:39:17.679-04:00The Ape that Understood the Universe by Steve Stewart-Williams<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The Ape that Understood the Universe</i> by Steve Stewart-Williams an exploration of evolutionary psychology. Stewart-Williams argues for and explains throughout the book how both human minds and culture evolved based upon the principles of natural selection. The author is an associate professor of psychology at Nottingham University Malaysia Campus. He is originally from New Zealand. He is active on Twitter where I find his Tweets thoughtful and enlightening. This was first published in 2018. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This book presents the argument that both human nature and human culture evolved over time. Genes tended to drive human nature and something called memes drive culture. Both genes and memes tend to spread and are more successful when they lead to behavior that promotes their own survival and propagation.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Early on, author talks about the various schools of thought that object to these ideas. There are some who object based upon the fact that they do not accept evolution. Others, often associated with the left, dislike these ideas because these ideas tend to contradict a blank slate approach to human behavior. That is, they attribute almost all aspects of human behavior to culture and do not believe that any behavioral tendencies are innate. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The book digs into things like evolution, genes and heredity fairly deeply. Various human and animal behaviors are examined. So many different behaviors and emotions are covered in this book that it is difficult to write a comprehensive summery of it all. I will try to concentrate on just a few key themes.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">An important point here is that genes tend to reproduce and become more commonplace when they encourage the organism to behave in ways that propagate the gene. Thus, genes that lead an organism to be fitter and more likely to survive and reproduce are often successful. But sometimes this work differently. Sometimes genes drive organisms to behave in ways that encourage the spread of the particular gene, even if the behavior is detrimental to an organism’s survival. For instance, human parents often try to protect children, even this behavior risks their own life. Human genes are at the root of this behavior because half of a child’s genes come from one particular parent, so saving a child’s life probably will lead to the spread of these genes. As the book points out, tendencies like parents protecting children are not beneficial to the individual exhibiting them in terms of survival. However, they are beneficial to the gene that encourages such behavior. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The author concludes at one point,</span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Evolution is about the survival of the fittest genes. Genes are selected if they get themselves copied faster than rival alleles. Adaptations are designed to pass on the genes giving rise to them. And organisms are not survival machines, baby-making machines, grandchild-making machines, or even inclusive fitness machines. Organisms – from worms to groundhogs to humans – are gene machines: biomachines designed to propagate their hereditary material.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Many behaviors and characteristics that people and animals engage in are for the benefit of attracting partners. This has driven both physical characteristics as well as behavior. The peacock’s tail is one of the most flamboyant examples in the natural world. In people, this manifests itself in all sorts of complex ways that are explored in this book. Many of the things that attract people to those of the opposite sex are the result of natural selection. For instance, both men and women look for traits in partners that indicate health. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another trait that will benefit he propagation of genes is caring for children. The author points out that in comparison to most other species, human children need a lot of care, time and resources. Thus, humans are one of the species where males devote significant time and effort towards childcare. This is because, even if a male has lots of children, his genes will not be passed on if his children do not survive and thrive. In species where the care of young is less resource dependent then it is in humans, males are less likely to be involved in child care. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Attraction, caring for children and protecting family members are only some of behaviors that this book goes into. Many other attributes relating to sex, relationships, jealousy, aggression, cooperation, altruism, to name just a few, are explored. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The later part of the book examines the theory of memetics, that is, the contention that memes evolve based upon the rules of natural selection. What is a meme? Memes include ideas and creative works, but they are more than just those things. The author writes, </span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">memes aren’t just ideas. They’re anything that can be passed on socially, including mannerisms, rituals, and practices.</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The author argues that while not entirely identical to genes, memes also evolve in ways that promote themselves. Furthermore, as human culture became more sophisticated, genes and memes began to in influence and shape one another.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Stewart-Williams sometimes goes off in directions where he speculates a lot. When he does so he clearly indicates that he is doing so. This is one of the book’s many strong points. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Science writer Michael Shermer wrote the forward to this book. He points out something that Stewart-Williams does that is very intellectually honest and helps improve the level of inquiry and debate. That is, throughout the book the author steel - mans the augments of people who disagree with his premises. Steel - manning is the opposite of straw manning. Steel- manning means that the best augments of people that one disagrees with are presented in honest ways. This is done throughout the book. This is so well done that at times I was almost convinced of the counter argument presented. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">One thing that surprised me about his book is that a lot of it is lively and humorous. The author creates entertaining thought experiments. For instance, throughout the book, the text goes back to a thought experiment where an imagined alien intelligence observing human behavior becomes very puzzled by that behavior. This is presented in a light but informative way. The book is also punctuated by humor. I found that this kept things fun and entertaining despite the importance of this subject. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">I believe that this book provides is an accurate description of humanity and how we got to where we are. In our age many are challenging these premises. Stewart-Williams provides a reasoned and spirited defense in response to these criticisms. The book was also educational. It seems meticulously researched and as per above, it was very fair. I highly recommend this to those interested in psychology, humanity, evolution and science in general. </span></div>
<br /> Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-87757676308102614332020-05-26T18:48:00.001-04:002020-05-26T18:48:09.843-04:00The Great Influenza by John M. Barry<br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The Great Influenza </i>by Joh</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">n M. Barry is a chronicle of the 1918 influenza as it effected The United States. This outbreak killed more people then any other pandemic in history. I found this book to be an informative and interesting account of this event. The book is also a medical history through the time of this influenza. Obviously, as we are in the midst of the Covid -19 pandemic, this history has special relevance for our time. This book was first published in 2005.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The pandemic was known as the Spanish Flu, although it did not start in Spain. Total death statistics are imprecise but probably ranged from a staggering 50 to 100 million deaths. This book concentrates on the American experience. There were about 675,000 American deaths. The influenza spread like wildfire across the globe. Though most people who caught it recovered in week or two, the fatality rate was high as a percentage of people infected. Also, the disease was very contagious so the number of people who were eventually infected was enormous. These two factors led to the huge number of deaths. </span></div>
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The book is not a worldwide history. Though global events are covered, the focus here is on the disease’s impact upon the United States. This pandemic was such a monumental, worldwide cataclysm that a book that attempted to cover the entire story would probably be very general. </div>
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The first hundred pages or so of the book is a history of medical science and the medical profession leading up to 1918. In the fifty years prior to the pandemic professional medicine had taken great strides. Instead of relying upon tradition and unscientific cures, evidence - based medicine had come into its own. Vaccines for certain diseases had been devised. Some diseases, such as Diphtheria, had been cured. Much about the human body was beginning to be understood. Researchers had come to understand a lot about contagious disease. Barry is a writer who bases his history on biography. Many pages are devoted to mini - biographies of doctors and researchers who played a part in the history of medicine as well as those who participated in fighting and researching the pandemic. William Henry Welch is highlighted more than anyone else. He helped found, and for years administered, the newly established John Hopkins Hospital. The hospital became the American center for the revolution that was occurring in the medical profession. Many others are profiled including several women who, unusual for the time, were scientists. For instance, Anna Williams was one of the world’s foremost experts on bacteria. Barry does not just profile the professional accomplishments of the people that he profiles, he covers all aspects of their lives. </div>
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The book then delves into both the history and the science behind the pandemic. Though there is some dispute about the sequence of events, the origins of the virus, and how it changed over time, many, including the author, believe that this influenza originated in remote part of Kansas. It had probably jumped from an animal to a person in early 1918. This was in the middle of World War I and there were enormous army bases all over the United States. It is believed that the disease spread to a base in Kansas and then traveled to Europe with American troops. It then spread all over the world. Interestingly, this was an extremely contagious but very mild form of influenza that spread around the globe in early 1918. Later in the year, the disease mutated and became extremely deadly. This deadly form of the influenza spread as soldiers and sailors from many nations traveled throughout the world. There are a few researchers who do not agree with the above version of events and there are alternate narratives. For instance, some believe that the mild virus that spread in the spring of 1918 was a completely unconnected strain of influenza.</div>
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Either way, the deadly form of the virus quickly spread throughout America and just about everywhere else in the world. Almost all areas of The United States were affected. American cities saw tens of thousands of dead. A few places like Philadelphia were hit particularly hard. There were places where the authorities could not keep up and bodies began to sit and pile up. One odd thing about the disease was this it killed young people in their prime at a greater rate than it did older people. This is unusual for such deadly viruses.<br />
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America and Europe were actually hit a lot less hard then most of the rest of the world. This was probably because most people from America and Europe had some immunity to influenza. Where influenza was previously rare or unknown, this disease had much higher fatality rates.<br />
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In America, bad news about the disease was considered detrimental to war morale so most the newspapers and many political leaders downplayed the seriousness of the crises and at times outright lied about the situation. The federal government also suppressed pandemic news as being bad for the war effort. The federal response was often nonexistent. Much of America went into quarantine. In several places like Philadelphia, corrupt local governments essentially failed to function. As a result, in some cities private groups or organizations took over from the government. Though the disease mostly disappeared in early 1919, several subsequent waves hit in ensuring years. The books takes the reader into the 1930s when the actual virus was finally isolated. </div>
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The scientific parts of the book are fascinating. I learned a lot about viruses, influenza and pneumonia. Many of the influenza victims, and most of the people who died, got pneumonia as a result of this disease. I did not really understood pneumonia before reading this book. This work shed a lot of light on this ailment for me. The book goes into the differences between viral and bacterial pneumonia. Viral pneumonia was directly caused by the influenza itself and tended to kill fast. Many victims also contracted bacterial pneumonia. Influenza is a virus, but it sometimes weakens the immune system and the lungs so that bacteria moves in and infects and causes pneumonia in the lungs. Bacterial pneumonia tends to move slower but also can be deadly. Many of the deaths from this pandemic were caused by bacterial pneumonia. Doctors at the time actually had some treatments that helped against some of the bacterial pneumonias.</div>
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The author also explains how viruses work and how they infect people. He delves into influenza viruses specifically. Influenzas are great mutators. They change over time, more so than any other infectious virus. This is why we need a new flu shot every year. Contrast that measles; after two measles vaccinations a person is usually protected for life. The author goes into the science as to why this is the case. This disease probably started relatively severe when it broke out in Kansas, became mild as it spread throughout the world, then mutated into a form that was very deadly. In subsequent years it became mild again. </div>
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Barry is also an eloquent writer. Here is describing something important about science as it related to the medical revolution that occurred before the outbreak,</div>
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<i><span style="color: #93c47d;">All real scientists exist on the frontier. Even the least ambitious among them deal with the unknown, if only one step beyond the known. The best among them move deep into a wilderness region where they know almost nothing, where the very tools and techniques needed to clear the wilderness, to bring order to it, do not exist. There they probe in a disciplined way. There a single step can take them through the looking glass into a world that seems entirely different, and if they are at least partly correct their probing acts like a crystal to precipitate an order out of chaos, to create form, structure, and direction. A single step can also take one off a cliff.</span></i></div>
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One criticism that I have is the though Barry covers the science in an understandable way, he breaks up the technical parts and mixes the science in with the history and biography. This may seem like a good way to present technical material to lay readers, but this a makes the technical parts difficult to follow and at times the book seems disorganized. </div>
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Obviously, this book has relevance to the Covid – 19 situation. I also try to read and listen to a fair amount of medical content relating to Covid – 19. I try read articles from medical experts. I also listen to Dr. Radio for about an hour and a half or so many days while I am working. That is a great resource for expert and detailed information. Putting this book and this information together, I think that I have come to a basic, layperson’s understanding of the of the similarities and differences between the two events. Of course, there are there similarities between the situation of today and that of 1918. Both diseases are viruses that usually affect the lower respiratory system. Both cause a lot of pneumonias. Both are extremely contagious and have a high level of fatalities. But there are important differences. Covid – 19 is a terrible disease that should never be minimized, but luckily, the levels of death are unlikely to come anywhere close to the 1918 pandemic. Many experts think that there will be a second wave of Covid – 19 in the fall. I have heard people try to draw parallels with the first two waves of the 1918 influenza outbreak. It may very well be true that there will be a second wave of Covid – 19, but the situation in 1918, with when a very mild wave of sickness hitting in the spring, seems not as relevant to our current situation. The 1918 Influenza, like all Influenzas, mutated dramatically and quickly. Covid – 19 is not an Influenza. Though there have been some conflicting news stories about it mutating, the majority of experts that I read and listen to believe that Covid – 19 will mutate, but not nearly as much as influenza does. One characteristic of the 1918 pandemic was that it tended to kill young, healthy people more than other groups. Covid – 19, like most fatal diseases, tends to cause the most deaths in older and more vulnerable people. </div>
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I thought that this was an excellent book. It covered both the history and science of the 1918 pandemic as it effected The United States, thoroughly. The book is interesting and it is informative. I learned a lot from it. The book’s flaws are relatively mild. I would eventually like to read a history of this pandemic that is more global. However, as an American history, this is excellent.</div>
</span>Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com54tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-58301529471069113812020-05-11T17:57:00.002-04:002020-05-11T17:57:38.901-04:00The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson<div style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PyAFXYV_0a8/Xrb2Y23OtJI/AAAAAAAACik/VsuX3v6SyhkSOVQpWcZHUm7NWhILDOKMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/61l5j9SsYnL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="500" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-PyAFXYV_0a8/Xrb2Y23OtJI/AAAAAAAACik/VsuX3v6SyhkSOVQpWcZHUm7NWhILDOKMwCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/61l5j9SsYnL.jpg" width="400" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The Haunting of Hill House </i>by Shirley Jackson is a classic gothic ghost story. The book, which has been the subject of several films and television series has achieved a high level of fame in modern popular culture. I thought that this book was both spooky, atmospheric and fun. It was first published in 1959.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The premise of the story centers upon the house of the title, which is located somewhere in the rural America. Dr. John Montague is a professor who attempts to conduct a research project at the house. Most of the people he tries to recruit to stay at the house, as part of the project, refuse. Only two women, Eleanor Vance and Theodora agree. Luke Sanderson, an heir to the house, sent by the property owners to keep an eye on the doings, also joins the group. Later on, Dr. Montague’s wife as well as Arthur, a family friend, join the group. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Eleanor is the protagonist of the book. Early on we learn that she has spent the last decade in isolation and increasing misery taking care of her invalid mother. Since her mother’s death, she has been living in the shadow of her repressive sister and brother -in - law. Eleanor’s low self - esteem is a factor throughout the novel. Eleanor sees her foray to Hill House as an escape.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Theodora is young, attractive, bohemian person who is a little self – centered, fun and humorous. Both women have been chosen by Montague because they have previously displayed psychic abilities. Luke is a likable rogue who is not above petty theft to feed a gambling habit. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Later, the group is joined by the Dr. John Montague’s silly and pretentious wife as well as the self - serious but equally pretentious friend Arthur. All the characters, who aside from Eleanor, are not very complex, but are fun to read about. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As the days go by, all sorts of eerie things begin to happen. Something bangs on the walls at night, strange voices are heard. Some of the former, long decreased residents are seen having a picnic.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">All this time, Eleanor is psychologically drawn closer and closer to the force that pervades the house. The story plays out as the old tale of a repressed person waking up and finding themselves in a better place. However, since it is the sinister Hill House is the source of Eleanor’s escape, the old story gets twisted. It is the first time the Eleanor is away from her repressive relatives. She enjoys her freedom and the adventure that she has embarked upon. She initially likes and gets along with the other guests especially Theodora. She observes,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">It is my second morning in Hill House, and I am unbelievably happy. Journeys end in lovers meeting; I have spent an all but sleepless night, I have told lies and made a fool of myself, and the very air tastes like wine. I have been frightened half out of my foolish wits, but I have somehow earned this joy; I have been waiting for it for so long. Abandoning a lifelong belief that to name happiness is to dissipate it, she smiled at herself in the mirror and told herself silently, You are happy, Eleanor, you have finally been given a part of your measure of happiness. Looking away from her own face in the mirror, she thought blindly, Journeys end in lovers meeting, lovers meeting. </span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Shakespeare line from Twelfth Night, <i>Journeys end in lovers meeting </i>is often repeated by Eleanor. This line intertwines itself with the book’s plot and theme.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As time goes by Eleanor begins to experience hallucinations. She also begins to have paranoid feelings about the other characters making fun of her or treating her like an outcast. The portrait of Eleanor’s mental deterioration is strong as Jackson portrays her chaotic thoughts and feelings. At times Eleanor is resentful of the other characters, at other times she has warm feelings and is clingy towards them. I think that this is reflective of a person who is experiencing a degree of mental instability. She is a very interesting character to read about. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In addition to lively characters, Jackson’s description of scary scenes is near brilliant. At one point Eleanor and most of the main characters are trapped in a room when the knocking becomes a massive pounding that seems to be bringing the entire house down.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">i</span></i><span style="color: #93c47d;"><i>n the churning darkness where she fell endlessly nothing was real except her own hands white around the bedpost. She could see them, very small, and see them tighten when the bed rocked and the wall leaned forward and the door turned sideways far away. Somewhere there was a great, shaking crash as some huge thing came headlong; it must be the tower, Eleanor thought, and I supposed it would stand for years; we are lost, lost; the house is destroying itself. She heard the laughter over all, coming thin and lunatic, rising in its little crazy tune, and thought, </i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I love the above quotation. It seems to me that Jackson has captured the feeling that the house may really be collapsing. This all ties in with Eleanor’s melding in with the house and her mental degeneration. Shortly after the above occurs she thinks, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>No; it is over for me. It is too much, she thought, I will relinquish my possession of this self of mine, abdicate, give over willingly what I never wanted at all; whatever it wants of me it can have.</i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This story has been filmed several times. I think that I have seen all of the versions. I thought that the 1963 film version was excellent. I also liked the recent Netflix television series. However, that version greatly deviated from the book. There was also a 1999 film that I thought was not up to the other versions</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I thought that is this novel was enjoyable. It has characters that are fun to read about. Eleanor’s development was also very well done. It is spooky, and delves into psychology in interesting ways. I have read limited amount of horror in my life. This was one of the best works in the genre that I have read. This novel has a reputation of being a classic ghost story. I think that it warrants its reputation.</span></div>
Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com62tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-22213526075267885172020-04-26T12:21:00.002-04:002020-04-26T12:21:40.772-04:00Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky<br />
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xHtFTU4_OKs/XqWwdF8WmpI/AAAAAAAACiQ/9pUvT54DRlgCFzMRozmSHXk0o7QH1HafACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/519EZ91T54L.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="500" data-original-width="330" height="640" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-xHtFTU4_OKs/XqWwdF8WmpI/AAAAAAAACiQ/9pUvT54DRlgCFzMRozmSHXk0o7QH1HafACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/519EZ91T54L.jpg" width="420" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Crime and Punishment</i> by Fyodor Dostoevsky is a novel whose plot reflects its title. It is about a terrible crime and punishment that is both reality - based and psychological. Along the way Dostoyevsky has fashioned a work filled great fictional characters. The book is also chock full of ideas and philosophical musing about life, death, God, government, crimes, punishment, and lots more. The novel was first published in 1866. I read the Richard Pevear and Larissa Volokhonsky translation.</span></div>
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This is the story of Rodion Raskolnikov, a young ex -college student. As part of an attempted theft, Raskolnikov plots and carries out the murder of pawnbroker Alyona Ivanovna. He also kills her virtuous sister Lizaveta, who walks in on the crime. The murder takes place fairly early in the plot. Most of the novel concerns itself with the post - murder doings of Raskolnikov, his family and friends, as well as the police investigation that eventually ensures. </div>
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The idea that Raskolnikov might be redeemed takes up a lot of the philosophizing in later parts of the book. Dostoyevsky explores ideas related to The Bible, Christianity as well as Raskolnikov’s psychological state and philosophy. </div>
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As mentioned above, the novel is filled with superbly crafted characters. Razumikhin is Raskolnikov’s best friend who genuinely tries to help the protagonist. Dunya is Raskolnikov’s sister who is engaged in the unscrupulous government official Pyotr Petrovich Luzhin. Svidrigaïlov is a wealthy landowner who tried to seduce and later marry Dunya. Sonya is a young woman who is forced into prostitution to support her family. Raskolnikov is attracted to Sonya and forms an important relationship with her. Porfiry Petrovich is a police detective who uses psychological tactics and games to get at the truth. Those familiar with television’s Colombo character will find a lot that is familiar in Porfiry. The television character was partially based upon him. </div>
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There is a lot going on here. Throughout the book all these characters, as well as many others, interact as Dostoevsky tries to portray something about life. I have previously read Dostoevsky’s <i>The Devils</i> and <i>The Brothers Karamazov.</i> As was typical with those books, this novel is characterized by lots of characters and interacting plot threads. I thought that this had a less complex plot then those novels however. With that, it is impossible to share my thoughts about every aspect of this novel in a single post. Dostoyevsky goes off in a lot of directions within these pages. Instead, as I have done in the past, I will write a few things about one interesting point here. </div>
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Something that this work shares with the other Dostoyevsky books that I have read is the tendency for characters to embrace bad, radical ideas that lead to catastrophe. In this novel, these bad ideas tie in with the murders. Early on, Raskolnikov rationalizes his crime on the presumption that he will use the money that he is planning to steal for good. Furthermore, he has written pieces arguing that certain people should be exempt from punishment if they commit crime. These people should be exempt from the rules of society as they are “extraordinary”. Later he compares himself with Napoleon Bonaparte who he considers another extraordinary person. </div>
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At one point Razumikhin is describing and article that Raskolnikov has written. </div>
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<i><span style="color: #93c47d;">there supposedly exist in the world certain persons who can … that is , who not only can but are fully entitled to commit all sorts of crimes and excesses and to whom the law supposedly does not apply . The whole point is that in his article all people are somehow divided into the ‘ordinary ’ and the ‘ extraordinary . ’ The ordinary must live in obedience and have no right to transgress the law, because they are, after all , ordinary . While the extraordinary have the right to commit all sorts of crimes and in various ways to transgress the law, because in point of fact they are extraordinary.</span></i></div>
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Later Raskolnikov further elaborates on his own theory,</div>
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<i><span style="color: #93c47d;">Those of the second category all transgress the law, are destroyers or inclined to destroy, depending on their abilities. The crimes of these people, naturally, are relative and variegated; for the most part they call, in quite diverse declarations, for the destruction of the present in the name of the better. But if such a one needs, for the sake of his idea, to step even over a dead body, over blood, then within himself, in his conscience, he can, in my opinion, allow himself to step over blood—depending, however, on the idea and its scale—</span></i></div>
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The above quotation illustrates how Dostoyevsky has a knack for digging into ghastly ideas and how these ideas might influence people. Often radicals want to destroy the norms and rules of society. These radicals often put themselves in a special position. The metaphor of stepping over blood, which becomes a reality for Raskolnikov’s murderous actions are so well described. As in Dostoyevsky’s time, some people today have a greater tendency to play with very bad theories. Though most do not go as far as Raskolnikov, I think that it would be interesting to see what would make of some of our current intellectual trends. </div>
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Raskolnikov is not hopeless however. A major theme of the book involves his redemption. Later on, the exploration of these awful theories intertwine themselves with Raskolnikov’srecovery from immorality. Porfiry points out that Raskolnikov’svacuous beliefs have fallen flat but that it is not to late for him,</div>
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<i><span style="color: #93c47d;">He came up with a theory, and now he’s ashamed because it didn’t work, because it came out too unoriginally! True, it did come out meanly, but even so you’re not such a hopeless scoundrel. Not such a scoundrel at all! At least you didn’t addle your brain for long, you went all at once to the outermost pillars. Do you know how I regard you? I regard you as one of those men who could have their guts cut out, and would stand and look at his torturers with a smile—provided he’s found faith, or God. Well, go and find it, and you will live.</span></i></div>
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Raskolnikov is not a hopeless sociopath, so according to Porfiry, his humanity can still redeem him, despite having come under the influence of his own terrible theories. </div>
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Dostoevsky wrote incredible books filled with amazing characters, themes and story lines. I have only summarized this above and touched on one of many interesting things that I found. This novel is bursting with all those things. This is a must read for those who appreciate Russian literature.</div>
</span>Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com56tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-10894284978184027682020-04-11T13:52:00.000-04:002020-04-11T13:52:10.426-04:00Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> thought that <i>Station Eleven </i>by Emily St. John Mandel was a fantastic book. This piece of plague - fiction was gripping, had complex and interesting characters, philosophical musings and themes. The novel was first published in 2014. It has been very popular since. Obviously, a lot of folks are comparing the plot of this book to the current situation to the covid - 19 situation, a comparison that I think might be overblown. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The premise of the book is that a devesting contagion, known as The Georgia Flu, wipes out all but 1% of humanity. At the book’s center is Arthur Leander. Arthur is a famous actor who dies on stage of a heart attack while preforming <i>King Lear</i>, just before the flu hits. Every major character in the narrative is somehow connected to Arthur. The novel takes place in various time periods both before and after the epidemic. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">After the plague civilization collapses and people congregate in small settlements, living with almost no technology. Eventually even internal combustion motors become inoperable as the remaining gasoline becomes unstable. After the collapse most of the story occurs around the Great Lakes Region of Canada and the United States. The most important of several plot threads centers upon The Traveling Symphony, a classical music and Shakespearian theater group that moves between the settlements putting on performances. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Kirsten Raymonde, who as a little girl witnessed Arthur’s death, is now a Shakespearian actor with The Symphony. Clark Thompson is Arthur’s best friend. After the plague he helps to establish a civilized community in an what used to be an airport. Miranda Carroll is Arthur’s first wife. Before the plague, she created a comic book, called <i>Station Eleven </i>about a gigantic future space station and its commander, that serves as an inspiration for Kirsten and other members of The Symphony. Jeevan Chaudhary is an ex - paparazzi and a paramedic who attempted to save Author when he collapses on stage. Jeevan survives the flu while holed up in an apartment and later becomes a doctor in post collapsed America. Tyler Leander is Arthur’s son. He is a child when the plague hits. He grows up to be a Jim Jones - like cult leader who accomplishes his goals through violence, rape and murder and eventually comes after The Traveling Symphony. There are many other characters and plot threads that take place before and after the outbreak. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This book is something of a jigsaw puzzle. The plot, characters and certain symbolic objects fit together as the novel progresses. What I mean is that the narrative frequently jumps between various times and places. A chunk of the narrative takes place fifteen years before the virus strikes. Another takes place just when the plague hits and in the ensuing months. Still another takes place fifteen years after the outbreak. What is more or less the main story, takes place twenty years after the initial outbreak. There are many plot threads and characters interweaving through it all. Mandel handles all this expertly as it never becomes confusing and the connections between people and objects become apparent as the story progresses. For instance, the tale of Miranda’s creation of the <i>Station Eleven </i>comic slowly unfolds throughout the book. Interspaced with this is references to the same comic that take place in a future time period. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are a few overriding points throughout the book. The characters philosophize a lot about life, science, art, and all sorts of other themes. A basic idea seems to be that that certain things in the post - flu world are worth supporting and these things are what makes the world better. Those elements are decent, empathetic and community orientated behavior, reason and science, as well as art. After the collapse the world became violent, unjust and brutal. But things seem to be slowly getting better because of these basic, positive values. There is an eventual confrontation between Kirsten and other members of the Symphony and the prophet, but it is not a great climatic battle. Instead, the characters who hang on to a basic form of morality, build communities, and try to preserve art and science over the course of years are the heroes of the story. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The novel includes a lot of literary and philosophical references including a fair amount of Shakespeare. There are also many references to various <i>Star Trek </i>television series. In fact, the motto of the traveling orchestra is “survival is insufficient” a phrase used in a <i>Star Trek Voyager</i> episode. Mandel cannot seem to help to delve into all kind of subjects so there is also an aesthetic discussion about the lower art of <i>Star Trek</i> verses the higher art of Shakespeare. <i>Star Trek’s </i>common themes of art, reason, decency and humanity triumphing over chaos are integrated into this novel’s plot so this all makes sense. The characters also tend to philosophize a lot in a middle brow way that also reminds me a lot of the philosophizing that goes on in <i>Star Trek </i>episodes. Mandel is obviously a fan. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Other plague books that I have read over the years come to mind when thinking about this novel. Though Michael Crichton’s <i>The Andromeda Strain</i> was highly scientific, the plague in that novel did not reach apocalyptic proportions. Though I liked it Stephen King’s <i>The Stand</i>, that book did not try to be realistic. Instead it was a mix of horror and fantasy that was ultimately turned into a parable of good versus evil. Frank Herbert’s <i>The White Plague</i> was realistic and still is the most horrifying plague - fiction that I have read. Folks often mention Albert Camus’s <i>The Plague</i>, however, that book did not involve science fiction or fantasy elements and really belongs in a different class of books. Camus’s novel aside, <i>Station Eleven</i> was the best science fiction plague book that I have read to date. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This novel was most similar to King’s book as both novels took the reader through the plague itself and then into the post - plague worlds. I found Mandel’s vision here mostly realistic, particularly the post - plague part. Her vision of the plague and the world that is left behind seems mostly plausible, especially as compared with King’s more fanciful book. I could nitpick about some details in this novel. For instance, I think that anything that killed as fast as The Georgia Flu would not spread so fast as it would kill and disable people before they could spread it. It is also not clear whether the survivors were just immune to the disease or just managed not to get the disease. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Mandel’s prose style is excellent. She manages to mix poetic descriptions with insightful and sometimes philosophical commentary. Below she is painting a picture of how life has changed after the collapse. In doing so she seems to have something to say about the world as it is, in this case, social media related,</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">No more Internet. No more social media, no more scrolling through litanies of dreams and nervous hopes and photographs of lunches, cries for help and expressions of contentment and relationship-status updates with heart icons whole or broken, plans to meet up later, pleas, complaints, desires, pictures of babies dressed as bears or peppers for Halloween. No more reading and commenting on the lives of others, and in so doing, feeling slightly less alone in the room.</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The characters are also well crafted and nuanced. Arthur is complex. He is not always likable. He is self - centered and does not always treat those around him as he should. However, he also has redeeming qualities. He is self - aware and comes to recognize that he must do better. Kirsten is a very capable and intelligent person who wrestles with the trauma that she has encountered and the things that she has had to do in the in this post - apocalyptic world. She also seems to represent optimism. There are additional characters who are also well drawn. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Of course, with the coronavirus outbreak, this book is timely, at least in some ways. My blog posts are delayed so I actually started reading this relatively early when the real virus was just beginning to be a concern in many countries. These early news reports may have prompted me to finally read this but I have been meaning to give this a try for a long time. With that, as serious as coronavirus is, I think that parallels to this book are really limited. The wiping out of most of humanity is not what is happening now. Any points that Mandel is trying to convey here tend to be universal, and not really related to diseases or epidemics. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">For all the above reasons I thought that this book was excellent. It has interesting characters, a page turning plot, and thought provoking themes. For those who like this sort of book, I highly recommend this novel. It deserves its popularity.</span></div>
Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com50tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-16253732533603824602020-03-28T11:43:00.000-04:002020-03-28T12:02:08.918-04:00Something Deeply Hidden by Sean Carroll <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Lately I have been reading several books on the subject of quantum physics. I had previously posted commentary on Kenneth W. Ford’s <i>The Quantum World </i><a href="http://briansbabblingbooks.blogspot.com/2020/02/the-quantum-world-by-kenneth-w-ford.html" style="color: #954f72;">here</a>. Unlike that general work, <i>Something Deeply Hidden </i>by Sean Carroll tries to make the case for a particular interpretation of quantum mechanics known as the many worlds or Everett theory. I found this book to be interesting and worthwhile. The information here is fresh as this was first published in 2019. It is essentially for laypeople and Carroll is a good writer and a good explainer. However, like all the books that I read on this subject, I found some of the science here difficult to understand. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">When approaching this book, it makes sense to start with what many call quantum weirdness. That term refers to the fact that what is observed on the subatomic level, seems to defy what we think of as everyday reason. Basically, subatomic particles often show wavelike characteristics, that is, they seem to be in multiple places at one time, just like a water wave in the ocean. Despite this, at other times these subatomic phenomena do not act like waves but act and appear as particles that can be pinned down as existing at a particular place. When scientists do pin down these particles as being in a particular place, the wave “collapses” and stops existing in multiple places at the same time. There are many other strange aspects to quantum mechanics. Sometimes a pair of subatomic particles are tied in an odd way. For instance, changing the direction of spin of one particle changes the spin of the particle that it is paired with even if the particles are at great distance from one another. Another odd phenomenon is known as the Heisenberg Uncertainty Principle. This means that two properties of a particle can never both be known. If one of the properties becomes know through observation the other property then becomes impossible to determine. For instance, if a position of a particle is found, its velocity becomes undefined, if its velocity is measured then the opposite happens, its position becomes undefined and undetectable. Carroll does a good job at explaining this mind - bending stuff. It is important to understand that even though some observations seem bizarre, there is a mathematical basis to quantum mechanics and these strange observations are supported by the math.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As per Carroll, many physicists just accept what is going on without digging too deeply. Instead, they just use these quantum rules as something of cookbook as to how the universe works. However, some physicists try to dig deeper and try to figure out if there is a more logical explanation or more concrete meaning behind this strange stuff. Carroll writes,</span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">We have a recipe that we can safely apply in certain prescribed situations, and which returns mind-bogglingly precise predictions that have been triumphantly vindicated by the data. But if you want to dig deeper and ask what is really going on, we simply don’t know. Physicists tend to treat quantum mechanics like a mindless robot they rely on to perform certain tasks, not as a beloved friend they care about on a personal level.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think that the above quotation illustrates that Carroll is a very eloquent science writer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The Many Worlds approach is not the theory that the majority of scientists believe. Currently a majority of experts in the field favor something called the Copenhagen Interpretation. My understanding of the Copenhagen Interpretation is that subatomic particles do not have defined properties. The oddness that is observed in then subatomic world is just a reflection of reality. Things work differently in the subatomic world. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another, somewhat less popular interpretation of known as hidden variables. There are various subsets to this theory but it basically says that there are all sorts of hidden phenomena going on that connects particles and waves under the surface. These unseen phenomena would provide a logical explanation as to why all these odd things are happening if we could only observe them. </span></div>
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The many worlds interpretation is different. At times, when a subatomic particle acts in a wavelike manor it shows signs of being in many places at once. But when scientists try to pin it down the particle it sometimes appears in a particular place. It then stops being a wave or it stops being in multiple places at one time. Many worlds advocates argue that at the moment that the location of the particle becomes defined, the universe divides in to multiple universes, each universe containing the particle in a different place. Theorists believe that an astronomically high number of universes have been created this way. </div>
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To a person unfamiliar with all this, many worlds may seem far - fetched. Indeed, based upon this book and my other readings on the subject, most physicists do not concur with this interpretation. However, some very prominent scientists think that it is the most likely explanation of all this. It is also not a theory attributed to cranks. Even the majority of scientists who disagree with it seem to take it seriously. Furthermore, it seems supported by the math, is considered elegant and relatively simple comparted to other interpretations, which, when one digs into them, seem to twist logic. Many scientists find the other interpretations incomplete.<br />
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Many world theory has been around for a long time. It has become a popular subject for science fiction writers. Roger Zelazny's <i>Chronicles of Amber</i> series and Robert Heinlein's <i>Number of the Beast </i>are just a couple of examples are books that have been influenced by these ideas. The various <i>Star Trek</i> series are filled with stories based on this theory. Carrol's work is very science orientated and does not explore these cultural aspects however.<br />
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My take is that Many Worlds is probably not what is really going on. As Carl Sagan once commented “extraordinary claims require extraordinary evidence". The extraordinary evidence has not yet been produced by the many worlds advocates. However, based upon everything that I have learned from my readings, I believe that this is all possible. As a good scientist will do, Carroll acknowledges that this interpretation has not been proven and may not be the true.</div>
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Though this book focused upon one particular theory, it helped me to understand the subject in general. Ford is a good writer and explains things well. He goes beyond the theory that he is advocating and explains the basics of quantum physics here too. Furthermore, he does a good job of laying out multiple competing interpretations, he explains both their strengths and weaknesses. Despite all that, quantum physics can be a very difficult subject. Like other books on this subject, there were parts of this that I did not understand.</div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is the third book on the subject of quantum physics that I have recently read. Since this book deviates from an introductory work, I would not recommend that someone not familiar with the subject start here. <i>In Search of Schrödinger’s Cat </i>by John Gribbin may be the best introductory book that I have read. I think that someone who is already familiar with a little bit of this subject will find this an educational and a worthwhile read. Quantum physics is a subject that digs into the nature of reality itself. It is worth trying to understand. This book helps one to understand while exploring some intriguing possibilities. </span></div>
Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com33tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-76980030825245767132020-03-14T12:49:00.000-04:002020-03-14T12:49:28.086-04:00The Woman in White by Wilkie Collins <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I found <i>The Woman in White </i>by Wilkie Collins to be a lively and fun read. First published in 1859, this book is often credited with helping to develop both the mystery and thriller genres of literature. The novel is fairly long and the plot takes a lot of twists and turns. It is told by alternate narrators, sometimes in the form of diaries. It is also full of colorful and engaging characters. </span></div>
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The story opens with Walter Hartright narrating. Hartright is a young artist who is just making his way in the world. One evening, when walking home from his mother’s house, the young man has an enigmatic encounter with a mysterious woman all dressed in white. It turns out that this is Anne Catherick, a young woman who has recently escaped from a mental institution. </div>
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Later, when Hartright goes to live with his new employer, the hypochondriac, vain and weak Frederick Fairlie, we are also introduced to Laura Fairlie and her half - sister Marian Halcombe. Laura is engaged to be married to Sir Percival Glyde. The marriage is more or less an arranged one that Laura looks upon with trepidation. Though Laura and Walter fall in love, both realize that social considerations must keep them apart. Despite her misgivings the young woman goes ahead with the marriage to Glyde. In an effort to forget about her, Walter goes off on an archaeological adventure in Honduras.</div>
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After the nuptials, Glide shows himself to be cold schemer who just wants to at Laura’s considerable fortune which still has some legal protections placed upon it despite the marriage. We are also introduced to Glyde’s friend, Count Fosco who is a charismatic and smart villain who assists Glyde in his nefarious plans. It turns out that Marian is strong, competent and intelligent while Laura is relatively weak. It is Marian who engages in a battle of wits with Glyde and Fosco as she attempts to thwart their machinations. Anne Catherick, who is connected to Glyde and was wronged by him, also becomes involved. Eventually Glyde and the Count manage to have Laura committed to a mental institution as they steal her money. However, the ever - resourceful Marian breaks her out of the institution. When Walter returns to England, his adventures have left him mentally stronger and more confident and our hero and heroines join forces as they continue fight Glyde and Fosco in an attempt to restore justice. There is a lot of plot here and the story also involves revelations of old secrets, conspiracies and secret societies. Things are not always realistic as there are a fair number of implausible coincidences and plot holes. </div>
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As mentioned above, book has been called a precursor to the typical mystery story as much of the plot involves Marian and Walter’s attempts to discover secrets of Glyde’s past. There were also a lot of elements here that seemed to influence modern thrillers. Though not realistic, I thought that his novel was very entertaining. The plot was fun and suspenseful and held my interest through every page. The characters, though generally not too complex, were lively and fun to read about. Marian is vivacious and smart. Hartright’s toughening up, is well portrayed and interesting. My favorite character was Count Fosco. He is portrayed as overweight, egotistical and incredibly magnetic. He is sure of his own abilities but lavishes praise upon Marian’s skill and intelligence. Even though she opposes him, he becomes smitten with her. A short part of the story is narrated by him and told from his point of view. At one point during their battle he writes about her,</div>
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<i><span style="color: #6aa84f;">The tact which I find here, the discretion, the rare courage, the wonderful power of memory, the accurate observation of character, the easy grace of style, the charming outbursts of womanly feeling, have all inexpressibly increased my admiration of this sublime creature, of this magnificent Marian… I lament afresh the cruel necessity which sets our interests at variance, and opposes us to each other. Under happier circumstances how worthy I should have been of Miss Halcombe— how worthy Miss Halcombe would have been of ME…</span></i></div>
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The above quotation is characteristic of the Count. He almost never is rude to his adversaries even as he is attempting to destroy them. He is a very charming villain. </div>
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The prose here is also well crafted and adds to the entertainment factor. Collins manages to believably portray the various voices of the different characters as part of their segments. They are very well differentiated and they are interesting and amusing. Collins is skilled in creating distinctive voices for his characters. There are some underlying themes here involving identity as well as the unfair way that women are treated in marriage, but the strength of this book lies in its entertaining and energetic characters and plot. </div>
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This was my first Collins novel. I liked it a lot. It was a very enjoyable read. Though not terribly deep, this book worked very well within the bounds that Collins set for it. I will likely give more of his books of his a try.</div>
</span>Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com48tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-32504184991952604242020-02-22T13:45:00.000-05:002020-02-22T13:45:55.997-05:00The Quantum World by Kenneth W. Ford <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5hpg1XLIhEU/Xkgqsqe0J5I/AAAAAAAACgM/VetyxBKLOhkfKrnKYPP122mUe51dLLHlgCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/51ow6CBWSRL._SX359_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-5hpg1XLIhEU/Xkgqsqe0J5I/AAAAAAAACgM/VetyxBKLOhkfKrnKYPP122mUe51dLLHlgCK4BGAYYCw/s400/51ow6CBWSRL._SX359_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="288" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As I have done before, I read <i>The Quantum World </i>by Kenneth W. Ford in order to prepare me for another book. I wanted to read the recently published <i>Something Deeply Hidden by </i>Sean Carroll<i>. </i>Carroll’s book goes beyond a general introduction and argues for some specific theories regarding quantum physics, thus I wanted to firm up my understanding of the subject before taking it on. I have always been interested in quantum physics. However, my knowledge of it, that of a layperson who is interest in the subject, needed a refresh. Over the years, I have read articles and books that covered the subject in varying detail. Previously books that I have read include John Gribbins’s <i>In Search of Schrodinger's Cat. </i>That book was very good and may be the best general source of information on this subject. In fact, after finishing Ford’s book, I snuck in a reread of Gribbins’s book. However, as it was first published in 1984, the older work does not cover the latest discoveries and theories. Years ago, I also read Stephen Hawking’s <i>A Brief History of Time</i>, but aside from also being older, I found that book very difficult to understand. I wanted to read a book that was aimed at a layperson, that coved the entire subject somewhat comprehensively, and that was fairly up to date. A little online research indicated many folks felt that <i>The Quantum World </i>was the best basic and fairly current introduction out there. First published in 2005, I found that the information here still current enough to be very useful. At several points, when the author indicated that new discoveries were being made at the time of the writing of the book, I googled for more up to date information. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This work is a solid and fascinating. It provides an explanation of all the main concepts relating to quantum physics. Though aimed at a layperson, I did find a lot of this technical. As I mention above, I had a basic, but hazy knowledge of much of this science going in. If I did not have this knowledge, parts of this book would have left me lost. There were some parts of this work that I struggled to understand and some parts that I just did not understand. Therefore, I am not sure if I would recommend this to someone who knew nothing about the subject. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Why do I find quantum physics so fascinating? There are a couple of reasons. First, quantum physics concerns itself with the building blocks of the Universe. It is what makes reality real. In addition, I am generally interested in science. Finally, certain theories and observations related to what is referred to as “quantum weirdness” or “spookiness” are mind boggling and seem to defy common sense as well as our basic principles of reason. The author writes,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">In fact, the physics of the past hundred years has taught us that common sense is a poor guide in the new realms of knowledge. No one could have predicted this outcome, but no one should he surprised by it. Everyday experience shapes your opinions about matter and motion and space and time. Common sense says that solid matter is solid, that all accurate watches keep the same time, that the mass of material after a collision is the same as it was before, and that nature is predictable: sufficiently accurate input information yields reliable prediction of outcomes. But when science moves outside the range of ordinary experience- into the subatomic world, for instance-things prove to be very different.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Quantum physics is the study of the very small. It is the study of atoms, protons, neutrons, electrons, etc. The basic tenets of quantum physics are all covered in this book. They include, the fact that many numbers and quantities that exist on the subatomic level come in discrete, measurable packages. For instance, the charge of all electrons is exactly the same. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Also, many of the most important laws and concepts are based upon the laws of probability. For instance, sometimes it is impossible to determine the precise location of a particle, instead, only the probably that the particle is in a particular location can be stated. This is in contrast to other branches of science where things are more deterministic.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In addition, all subatomic things have a duality to them, in that, they exhibit characteristics of both particles and waves. Depending on how and when they are measured, sometimes things like electrons appear to more like ocean waves, in that they seem to exist over a large area that is moving and changing. At other times they appear to be definite points. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Along the way of explaining all this Ford takes the reader through a tour of a virtual zoo of particles, such as protons, electrons, photons, quarks, bosons and many more. The history of discoveries and scientists is also covered. This includes information on the careers of scientists such as Albert Einstein, Niels Bohr, Max Planck and many others. Ford, who is currently 93 years old and knew some of the giants in the field. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">What many call quantum weirdness is the most fascinating part for me. My understanding as well as my explanation of it all is incomplete and murky at best. However, examples include the fact that certain particles and phenomena are changed and effected by the that fact that they are observed or the fact that particles separated in space can affect one another instantaneously. This is mind bending stuff. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I found reading this book both worthwhile and enjoyable. I learned a lot. It helped me to organize my knowledge of the subject. With that, I think that this is good book for the layperson who already has some knowledge. Having also reread <i>In Search of Schrodinger's Cat</i>, I thought that book was better basic introduction. However, it was less up to date. In addition, as mentioned above, this book thoroughly covered the plethora of subatomic particles that have been discovered in the previous hundred years or so better then any other source that I have read. This fascinating catalogue was only touched upon in Gibbons’s book. Quantum Physics is a difficult subject to grasp so a layperson might actually want to try more then one introduction. This book is certainly a worthy introduction. I will be reading at least one more work on this subject and posting about it in the future. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-58939840833319682372020-02-09T19:29:00.000-05:002020-02-09T19:29:08.825-05:00Adam Bede by George Eliot<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qyy7Lb8HfjM/XgjnIoLTU_I/AAAAAAAACe8/DEJDBkaU0ak6lJsNBjKVSgfo8uZvn5ESwCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/51UboceOV4L._SX331_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Qyy7Lb8HfjM/XgjnIoLTU_I/AAAAAAAACe8/DEJDBkaU0ak6lJsNBjKVSgfo8uZvn5ESwCK4BGAYYCw/s400/51UboceOV4L._SX331_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="266" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Adam Bede </i>by George Eliot is the story of the title character, his family and his friends. I found this novel to be excellent. It is an interesting tale populated with interesting characters that has a lot to say about life. The more that I read of Eliot, the more I am liking her work. I had previously read <i>Middlemarch,</i><i>The Mill on the Floss </i>and <i>Silas Marner.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Though the novel was first published in 1859, most the story takes place around 1799. It is set in the fictional English town of Hayslope and centers on several characters. Adam is a carpenter who is principled, sensible and stoic. His brother is Seth Bede. Seth is younger and is more of an abstract thinker then Adam. Dinah Morris is a Methodist preacher of strong faith who is very charitable, both materially and emotionally. Hetty Sorrel is a girl from a middle - class farm family. Hetty is shallow, self- centered and is a simplistic thinker. Arthur Donnithorne Is a member of the lower gentry who is generally kind and amiable but who also shows great character weakness. Parson Irwine is the local vicar who takes a pragmatic and down – to – earth approach to religion.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Much of the early plot involves romantic entanglements. Adam falls in love with Hetty. However, unbeknownst to the other characters, Arthur and Hetty begin a clandestine affair. Though Arthur seems to have genuine feelings for Hetty, he realizes that their social situation to be an unsurmountable obstacle to marriage, he breaks off the relationship under pressure from Adam and leaves with his military unit for Ireland. For her part, Hetty is more interested in the increase in social status that a union with Arthur would bring her. Unknown to Arthur, after he leaves for Ireland, the reader becomes aware that Hetty is pregnant. Adam does not know of the pregnancy and he proposes to and becomes engaged to Hetty. Serious complications and tragedy eventually ensue. Many pages are devoted to Hetty’s and Adam’s mental anguish. In the meantime, Seth has fallen in love with Dinah who gently rebuffs his offer of marriage in favor of a life devoted to God and charity. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Later, Hetty runs away in an attempt to find Arthur and hide her pregnancy. When the child is born on the road Hetty eventually abandons it and the child dies. Hetty's subsequent trial for murder and its aftermath is the subject of the later parts of the novel. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is a lot to this book. Many of the characters are marvelously drawn. Adam is portrayed as strong and competent. He is religious while at the same time he shies away from the more outward and public side of religion such as preaching. When it comes to Hetty however, he seems unable to see through her narcissism. The pain that he feels as the situation deteriorates leaves him emotionally helpless. This contrast with his otherwise strong and wise nature is so well done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I found Arthur’s character to be the most interesting. He initially is shown to be a man who tries to do the right thing. He treats those of lower social class fairly and behaves benevolently toward them. He wants to be liked and is indeed liked by both his peers as well as those who are on the lower social scale. However, he ultimately shows great flaws. Though he develops a strong romantic attraction for Hetty, he is unwilling to buck social conventions and marry her. Thus, he breaks of his liaison with her much too late. Aside from his actions in regards to Hetty, Arthur is a character that is easy to like. However, his actions towards Hetty are certainly questionable. He seems to genuinely fall for her, but through it all, he knows that he cannot, or will not, marry her. Thus, he leads her on. He realizes that what is doing this but cannot help herself. Throughout Hetty’s crises, he is away in Ireland and unaware of dire situation that she finds herself in. In the end he tries to make amends for a terrible situation. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One of the themes here is how outward appearance can be deceiving. Hetty is portrayed as beautiful and able to give the impression that she is a person of depth, while in actuality she is a superficial person. In contrast, some physically unattractive characters are shown to be virtuous and substantive.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>but there is one order of beauty which seems made to turn the heads not only of men, but of all intelligent mammals, even of women. It is a beauty like that of kittens, or very small downy ducks making gentle rippling noises with their soft bills, or babies just beginning to toddle and to engage in conscious mischief— a beauty with which you can never be angry, but that you feel ready to crush for inability to comprehend the state of mind into which it throws you. Hetty Sorrel's was that sort of beauty….</i><i>It is of little use for me to tell you that Hetty's cheek was like a rose-petal, that dimples played about her pouting lips, that her large dark eyes hid a soft roguishness under their long lashes, and that her curly hair, though all pushed back under her round cap while she was at work, stole back in dark delicate rings on her forehead, and about her white shell-like ears; it is of little use for me to say how lovely was the contour of her pink-and-white neckerchief, tucked into her low plum-coloured stuff bodice, or how the linen butter-making apron, with its bib, seemed a thing to be imitated in silk by duchesses, since it fell in such charming lines, or how her brown stockings and thick-soled buckled shoes lost all that clumsiness which they must certainly have had when empty of her foot and ankle— of little use, unless you have seen a woman who affected you as Hetty affected her beholders, for otherwise, though you might conjure up the image of a lovely woman, she would not in the least resemble that distracting kittenlike maiden. I might mention all the divine charms of a bright spring day, but if you had never in your life utterly forgotten yourself in straining your eyes after the mounting lark, or in wandering through the still lanes when the fresh-opened blossoms fill them with a sacred silent beauty like that of fretted aisles, where would be the use of my descriptive catalogue? I could never make you know what I meant by a bright spring day. Hetty's was a spring-tide beauty; it was the beauty of young frisking things, round-limbed, gambolling, circumventing you by a false air of innocence— the innocence of a young star-browed calf, for example, that, being inclined for a promenade out of bounds, leads you a severe steeplechase over hedge and ditch, and only comes to a stand in the middle of a bog. And they are the prettiest attitudes and movements into which a pretty girl is thrown in making up butter— tossing movements that give a charming curve to the arm, and a sideward inclination of the round white neck; little patting and rolling movements with the palm of the hand, and nice adaptations and finishings which cannot at all be effected without a great play of the pouting mouth and the dark eyes. And then the butter itself seems to communicate a fresh charm— it is so pure, so sweet-scented; it is turned off the mould with such a beautiful firm surface, like marble in a pale yellow light! <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I think that the above is so well written. The point about how some things, such as a bright spring day, a lark, a calf, Hetty’s beauty are indescribable in words, is effectively and artfully communicated. I also think that the <i>false air of innocence </i>is important, as Hetty is far from innocent. This takes on increased meaning in light of the fact that Hetty has ensnared several ethical men by her charms. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Another important underlying thread here seems to be the comparison between the practical and pragmatic as compared with the theoretical and emotional. Dinah is a preacher. She has lots of ideas about her religion and expresses them in her preaching. She also puts a lot of emotion into her words and actions. In contrast, Adam and Parson Irwine are also religious people. However, their religion is more practical and down - to - earth. Adam sees God’s will as being expressed through his carpentry. He also does not talk a lot about God. Instead he tries to just do what is right and remind others to do the same in private conversation. Likewise, Parson Irwine also eschews passionate religious fervor. He tends to believe in practical applications of religion and charity. Both types of people are portrayed as virtuous in this book. Both types effect good throughout the narrative. It may be that Eliot is trying to say that it takes both types to make the world go around. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">One other interesting point is that by the time that this book was written, Eliot had left any organized religion and had become an atheist. However, her treatment of religious people in this book is thoughtful and mostly positive. My understanding is that Eliot was very much interested in morality and ethics and was very committed to living a moral life. It may be that Eliot was trying to make a bigger point about morality, practicality and theoretical thinking in general. Perhaps she thought that the point she was making transcended religious belief or the lack thereof. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I rate this book very high as classics go. I thought that it was almost as good as Eliot’s <i>Middlemarch</i>, and better then <i>The Mill on the Floss </i>and <i>Silas Marner</i>. I found the plot and characters very interesting and thought provoking. The themes were also worthwhile. I would recommend this book to readers who liked <i>Middlemarch </i>as well as Nineteenth Century literature in general. </span></div>
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Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com54tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-21185893390193385862020-02-01T11:07:00.001-05:002020-02-01T13:21:42.286-05:00They Were Her Property by Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>They Were Her Property </i>by Stephanie E. Jones-Rogers is an examination on the role that free white women played in the institution of slavery in America’s Antebellum South. The book was first published in 2019. There is a little bit of a story as to why I read this work that relates to some of my thoughts on its content as well as my thoughts on some of the social and historical debates going on these days. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">An online friend of mine was reading this book in her book club. My friend had read almost no history before. Certain things about this book led her, and myself, to consider the possibility that this book might be agenda driven and not based upon serious scholarship. Because I am someone who reads a fair amount of history, my friend asked me if I would like to also read the book and assess what I thought about it. Why were such concerns relevant to this work? Lately there has been some revisionist history, partially driven by a social and political theories. The most prominent example of what I am talking about is something called the 1619 Project. The project is a series of articles accompanied with educational materials that seeks to reassess slavery within the context of American History. The creators of the project have been accused, I believe with some justification, of biased scholarship that is agenda driven that looked to find evidence aimed at proving points that are not based upon truth. Several prominent historians who are experts on American History have been critical of that project. The subject of this book could possibly be viewed as having a tangential connection to the 1619 Project and other agenda driven interpretations of history that have recently been popping up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In addition, this book is obviously critical of the actions of many white women in Antebellum America. Unfortunately, among certain quarters of what I have been referring to as the postmodern left, white women are currently being stereotyped and assigned a kind of collective guilt. The reasons and the history for this is beyond the scope of this post. However, a book such as this will set off alarm bells for folks who are paying attention to the current discourse.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">If these concerns had merit it would mean this work would be too biased to take seriously. In addition, a postmodern reasoning disregards many ways that are traditionally used to determine truth and sets up all sorts of truth finding mechanisms that are not based on reason or objectivity. At the very least, this means that works written from a postmodern point of view need to be approached differently from other works. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I should note that I have no professional qualifications to assess the quality of history scholarship. What I have is an amateur’s interest. I do hold a bachelor's degree in history. I once took a graduate level class in historiography. I read a lot of history. I read a lot of American history. However, the Antebellum South is not my prime area of interest. In terms of postmodernism I have read a fair amount of the theory and arguments behind it. This includes postmodernist takes on history. I have also read a fair amount from the critics of postmodernism. I have followed the debate over the 1619 Project closely and have read its controversial parts as well as content written by its critics. Thus, my evaluation of this book is not a professional one, just my own views based on my own reading and interests. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">With all that, having read the book as well as looking through what others are saying about it online, I feel good about giving it a clean bill of health. First of all, its main premise, that is that white, free women in the pre – Civil War America were active participants in almost all aspects of slavery, is a worthy topic that is worthy of examination. There is a narrative that has sprung up both with some historians and in popular culture that free women of this period were more or less innocent bystanders and were also an oppressed group. Reexamining that narrative is a legitimate line of inquiry. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">More importantly, this seems to be a serious work of history. It is heavily researched. Almost every fact and account presented is footnoted. Conclusions and opinions are supported by facts. It contains none of what I would call postmodernist reasoning nor is there what I would call postmodernist rhetoric. I did think that the book had a couple of flaws, which I will touch on below, however, I do not believe that these flaws relate to the above concerns. There is also the question of whether the current debates on these issues led to the writing of this book in the first place. I cannot say if this is the case or not, however, I do not believe that is important as the book itself is a solid work of history. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The question arises, should I even bring any of this up? Most history books that I write about, unless I mention some kind of bad scholarship or bias, are assumed to be good works of scholarship. The reason that I have devoted some words to this is that, as I mentioned above, a superficial look at the subject of this book is going to lead to many people connecting it to the current debates on these issues. I thought that it was important to address these issues so that they do not distract from the content of the book itself. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As mentioned above, in this book the author looks at the role that white free women had upon slavery and enslaved people in pre – Civil War America. She also contrasts what she found to what she considers a false narrative that has sprung up around the topic.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">While Jones-Rogers uses a variety of sources including newspaper articles, letters and public records, she also relies heavily on interviews conducted as part of the Federal Writers’ Project (FWP). This project took place in the 1930s and conducted numerous interviews of formally enslaved persons as well as a few free people who lived in this time and place.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Obviously, these interviews are of great interest to anyone interested in this topic.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As a result, this book is full of accounts of women who actively participated in the slave trade and who owned slaves. A picture is drawn of a society where many women owned slaves. The author points out that some past historians have depicted a situation where women owned slaves on paper and with the real control exerted by male their relatives. However, Jones-Rogers shows that often, women exercised day to day control of slaves, and at times sought, through legal means, to keep the slaves from falling under control of their husbands. Furthermore, the book is full of accounts of women actively participating in the buying and selling of slaves. Unsurprisingly, the actions of women varied, with some women slaveholders eschewing punishment and cruelty while others acting in cruel and brutal ways. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In regards to crueler Mistresses, the author writes, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">Formerly enslaved people also remembered their female owners as powerful disciplinarians who used a variety of techniques that resembled those of male slave owners . Addy Gill was enslaved in Millburnie , North Carolina , and she recalled that her mistress Louise Krenshaw “ done the whuppin on Mr . Krenshaw’s plantation an she was mighty rough at times . ”</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Some of the worst behavior was committed by free women who were brothel owners who forced female slaves into lives of sexual slavery and prostitution. An entire section of the book is also dedicated to the use of slave women as wet nurses for white women who could not breastfeed their own children. This trade was almost exclusively conducted and controlled by free white women.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The biggest issue with this book is that is does not contain enough statistics. This makes it difficult to build a comprehensive picture. In defense of the author, I am not sure that such statistics exist from this time and place. The book is filled with hundreds of individual cases. These cases are almost all footnoted and tied to what seem like good sources. There are so many individual accounts that it is clear that the author is on to something. In addition, many of the individual accounts seem to illustrate situations that were considered to be usual occurrences. While this kind of evidence will always lead to gaps in our knowledge, it is valuable. Because of the lack of these statistics however, a book like this can only advance knowledge so far. Jones-Rogers has convinced me that a lot of women own and exercised control of slaves. Many participated in the slave trade. Like male slave owners, some were crueler then others. Furthermore, the narrative that white women were almost exclusively innocent bystanders is questionable, at least in a lot of cases. However, we really can only approximate the extent of all this and we do not know how, on a large scale, it all this compares to the actions of men. The biggest flaw in the book, is that sometimes the author generalizes a little too much based upon this insufficient evidence. At one point the author writes, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">Southern slave-owning women had existed in a world in which slavery and the ownership of human beings constituted core elements of their identities.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I thought that this was a very worthwhile book. It offers an valuable look at</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">gender, human nature and the differences and similarities between the behavior of men verses women.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It sheds light on an important and little talked about subject. It is extremely well researched. It is also very interesting and will likely keep a reader’s attention. Though a book confined to a fairly narrow subject, this is a good read for those already interested in slavery, or gender roles throughout history.</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> </span></div>
Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-32573478547557080812020-01-20T20:08:00.001-05:002020-01-20T20:08:47.555-05:00One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel García Márquez<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>One Hundred Years of Solitude </i>by Gabriel García Márquez was reread for me. First published in 1967, this novel has become very famous. This book is probably the most widely known example of the writing style known as magical realism. During this go around I found the novel to be very deserving of all the accolades that it has received over the years. I read the English translation by Gregory Rabassa. This may be the only English translation of this book as it was approved by the author. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This novel is a multigenerational story of the Buendía family who live in the fictional town of Macondo. The narrative of the tale actually runs for more than 100 years. Some sources indicate that the events of the novel run from 1790 to 1940. This seems about right. It is a bit difficult to write about the novel as it is filled with so many characters from the many generations. One aspect of the book that can be confusing is that many character names are repeated, or are similar, down through the generations. I found that having a list of character names and descriptions handy while reading. This fits in with the book’s theme of things repeating themselves over the course of time. Much of the book is also episodic making it challenging to describe a coherent plot. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Macondo is founded in a South American wilderness by José Arcadio Buendía and his wife Úrsula Iguarán. Ursula is the most important character of the book. She lives to be approximately 130 years old and is present for most of the narrative. She is both enterprising and energetic in the early years. She is a moral center for the family as she is often trying to move people and events into moving the right way. The family begins to fall apart when she dies.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Melquíades is a gypsy who has a lot of technological and spiritual knowledge. He lives with the Buendía’s and leaves behind an enormous volume of prophecies that, because they are in code, no one can decipher after he dies. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Amaranta is Ursula’s daughter who spurns several men throughout her life and becomes bitter over time. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Colonel Aureliano Buendia, who is Ursula’s son, is a rebel commander who initiates a seemingly endless series of wars against the government.<span style="color: #292c2e;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Remedios The Beauty grows up to be breathtakingly beautiful. She develops a personality that is removed from the world and it completely detached from life’s imperfections and the evils of the universe. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Aureliano II is one of the last of the Buendía line. He attains great knowledge. <o:p></o:p></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">He also devotes much of his life to deciphering Melquíades prophecies which he finally does at the book’s end. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This style of magical realism here is characterized by a relatively traditional plot that is filled with seemingly supernatural or magical occurrences. The characters in the story take these occurrences as normal. The occurrences just happen within the narrative are not treated as extraordinary in any way. These amazing events are not few and far between. Rather, they come at the reader very quickly, sometimes on every page. These occurrences range from Remedios The Beauty ascending to heaven on the wings of angels to a disease that creates insomnia for all of the residents of Macondo to a rainstorm that lasts for over four years. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Remedios's ascension is described, </span></div>
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<i><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">she said, “I never felt better.” She had just finished saying it when Fernanda felt a delicate wind of light pull the sheets out of her hands and open them up wide. Amaranta felt a mysterious trembling in the lace on her petticoats and she tried to grasp the sheet so that she would not fall down at the instant in which Remedios the Beauty began to rise. Ursula, almost blind at the time, was the only person who was sufficiently calm to identify the nature of that determined wind and she left the sheets to the mercy of the light as she watched Remedios the Beauty waving good-bye in the midst of the flapping sheets that rose up with her, abandoning with her the environment of beetles and dahlias and passing through the air with her as four o’clock in the afternoon came to an end, and they were lost forever with her in the upper atmosphere where not even the highest-flying birds of memory could reach her.</span><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The above passage is characteristic of much of the book. Though this is a translation, it seems so well written. The ascension is marvelously described, it seems absurd yet the characters are not amazed by it. The beetles and dahlias that are mentioned seem to be stand ins for the everyday doings of the world that most people experience. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">A lot of these amazing events are described in some detail and they sometimes seem to be symbolic of real life issues historical events. A fair amount of this symbolism went seemed to go over my head but I picked up some of it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">While the style of the books seems to be playful, tragic things sometimes happen to characters and at time the brutality of the world is illustrated in executions and other forms of cruelty. One gets the feeling that Márquez is trying to comment upon the entire spectrum of life including the good and bad aspects of it all. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are several themes coursing through this work. As the book’s title suggests, solitude is explored. Almost every character is isolated from others in some way, some try to break out of this isolation with varying degrees of success. For instance, Aureliano II starts life out as a scholarly hermit, but he eventually gets out into the world develops a meaningful relationship. However, complications and tragedy ensue. Amaranta spurns suiters her entire life and ends up bitter and resentful. It seems that Márquez is playing with this theme and exploring it in its many permutations. It is interesting that through much of its history, Macondo is isolated from the rest of the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Repeating history also seems to be an important theme. Similar events seem to happen over and over the years. This includes the tendency for several characters to almost commit incest. Other people, often separated by generations, become rebels and run afoul of the government. As noted earlier, characters with similar names abound in this book through the generations. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There is also a political theme. Throughout the story, the conservative authorities are shown to be brutal and corrupt. However, while the liberal rebels sometimes start out with good intentions, they are shown to descend into the same corruption and brutality engaged in by the government. This slippage characterizes the life of Colonel Aureliano Buendia. American imperialism is also examined and is shown to be harmful. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">As exemplified by both the plot and themes the Buendia family and Macondo are microcosms of the world at large.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is an extraordinary book. The magical realism bursts from nearly every page and it is both creative and entertaining. This novel is alternately fun, serious and tragic. Though this style is at times strange, it does not get in the way of complex character development. Though generally episodic, the story is also creative and holds a reader’s attention. I am glad that I reread this, it is a book that deserves its reputation as a modern - day classic. </span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com39tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-49876989635059042582020-01-11T13:06:00.003-05:002020-01-11T13:06:49.971-05:00My Antonia by Willa Cather<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>My Antonia </i>by Willa Cather is the third book in author’s <i>The Great Plains Trilogy</i>. I found that this was another near brilliant novel that had complex characters and magnificently described landscapes. Though <i>Song of the Lark </i>was my favorite book of the three, I thought that this novel was almost as good. These books are called a trilogy but there no connection between the plots or characters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This story is told in first person by Jim Burden. Jim is a New York lawyer. The vast majority of the book is supposedly a manuscript written by Jim detailing his youth growing up in and around Black Hawk, Nebraska in the late 1800s. Jim is living with his grandparents who are initially famers living outside of Blackhawk but who eventually retire and go live in the town. Jim is intelligent and thoughtful. He befriends a Bohemian immigrant girl named Antonia Shimerda. Like the women characters in the other Cather books that I have read, Antonia is high spirited and shows a degree of physical toughness. She does heavy farm work including heading cattle and seems to enjoy doing so. She is also intelligent and tends to be very optimistic. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The book chronicles the early life of both Jim and Antonia. We initially see them as children. As they move through adolescence the story portrays how they make friends with and socialize with their peers. The story takes Jim through his collage years and through some rough times for Antonia. The young woman becomes pregnant from the man who she is supposed to marry who runs off on her. Later Antonia marries someone else. Throughout the story there is a little romantic tension between Jim and Antonia but they never pair off together. The book ends twenty years into the future when Jim and Antonia renew their friendship. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Both Antonia and Jim are very well - crafted characters. The story is also populated by interesting minor characters that range from colorful farmhands and malicious businessmen. Jim is a great storyteller and he likes to integrate all these diverse personalities into the narrative that centers upon himself and Antonia. Throughout the tale he observes that even though he has not seen these people in years, their memories continue to influence him.<i><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">The issue that is still debated by critics and regular readers of this book is the real nature of the relationship between Antonia and Jim. A few times in the narrative they seem to edge towards a romantic connection but then back off. During Jim’s collage years it seems that he would actually ask Antonia to marry him. Instead, he realizes that he is becoming a cosmopolitan person who will spend his life in the big cities, Antonia is very much tied to the land of rural Nebraska. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">When Jim and Antonia reestablish contact years later he tells her.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">‘Do you know, Antonia, since I’ve been away, I think of you more often than of anyone else in this part of the world. I’d have liked to have you for a sweetheart, or a wife, or my mother or my sister— anything that a woman can be to a man. The idea of you is a part of my mind; you influence my likes and dislikes, all my tastes, hundreds of times when I don’t realize it. You really are a part of me.’</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Like Thea Kronborg in <i>Song of the Lark, </i>Jim becomes a person who goes beyond small town plains life. As noted above, also like Thea, at several points he mentions that throughout this time he is reminded of his younger days on the plains. He takes rural and small - town Nebraska with him wherever he goes. Throughout the book Antonia is tied to the land. Thus, it is no surprise that thoughts of Antonia have also stayed with him. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Throughout the story Jim is a very passive person. He is not passionate. He is not the kind of character one would find in an emotional love story. He never feels an intense love for Antonia. Yet he feels a lifelong connection with her, even after he has not seen her for years. As mentioned above, at several points in the book he does seem like he will try to initiate a relationship with Antonia but he just does not do it. At the end he seems very satisfied with just the reestablished friendship. He shows no jealousy towards Antonia’s husband who he genuinely befriends. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Despite this, I think that Cather meant this to represent a missed opportunity. A clue to what she was trying to get at comes fairly early on the book. A young Jim and Antonia are told a story by a dying Ukrainian. The story seems to be implausible in a realistic book of this type. The story goes as follows: After the nuptial celebrations, a wedding party is traveling home on multiple sleighs through the Ukrainian countryside. The party is heading back to their native village when wolves descend on the sleighs. In an effort to fend off the wolves the bride and groom are thrown off one of the sleighs and to their deaths to lighten the load and allow the others to escape. A Google search shows that there is no consensus as to what this story means in the context of this book. However, some suggest that this tale is symbolic of Jim throwing away his chance to marry Antonia. This seems plausible to me. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">Like in <i>O Pioneers! </i>This work is filled with wonderfully crafted prose describing natural features and phenomena. In the below passage a thunderstorm that Jim and Antonia experience as children is described,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">Antonia and I climbed up on the slanting roof of the chicken-house to watch the clouds. The thunder was loud and metallic, like the rattle of sheet iron, and the lightning broke in great zigzags across the heavens, making everything stand out and come close to us for a moment. Half the sky was chequered with black thunderheads, but all the west was luminous and clear: in the lightning flashes it looked like deep blue water, with the sheen of moonlight on it; and the mottled part of the sky was like marble pavement, like the quay of some splendid seacoast city, doomed to destruction. Great warm splashes of rain fell on our upturned faces. One black cloud, no bigger than a little boat, drifted out into the clear space unattended, and kept moving westward. All about us we could hear the felty beat of the raindrops on the soft dust of the farmyard.</span></i><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is not surprising that as Jim gets older and travels the world, he feels that the locale and experiences of his youth are always with him. As the above passage indicates, Antonia is connected to these experiences. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">This book is a great read. Though not a lot of dramatic things happen, both the characters and their interactions are fascinating. The descriptions of landscapes are sublime and meld very well into the story. I have just recently discovered Cather but look forward to reading a many more of her books. </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com46tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-36997611599884902562020-01-02T06:47:00.000-05:002020-01-02T06:49:02.553-05:008 Years Old! <div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vuaCh1snA-s/XgeHzroUMVI/AAAAAAAACew/gbEfZjKubX40pPnzmDANs1bQOWOMxBsOQCK4BGAYYCw/s1600/IMG_3022.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vuaCh1snA-s/XgeHzroUMVI/AAAAAAAACew/gbEfZjKubX40pPnzmDANs1bQOWOMxBsOQCK4BGAYYCw/s320/IMG_3022.jpeg" width="240" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Babbling Books is eight years old today! The term often used for these milestones is blogiversary. Time seems like it is passin</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">g so quickly. It feels like it was just yesterday that I started the blog. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Every year I thank the blogging community. I think that it is very important to do so. What makes my blog worthwhile is the people who read it and who comment here. I want to that everyone who spends time at my site. I especially want to thank the people who leave comments. My commenters are fantastic. So that you everybody who reads and comments here. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It is also the New Year. In the past, I have never been one to make resolutions or change directions at this time of year. If I wanted to change something, I usually would do so whenever I thought to do it. However, this New Year has gotten me to thinking. Over the past year I have been reading more than a few books that focused on current social issues and the debates that surround them. While this has not been a bad direction to go in, and I feel that I gained knowledge and insight from these books, reading time is very precious. Personally, I place greater value reading books that will be applicable ten years from now, or even one hundred years from now, over books whose ideas have a shorter shelf life. I cannot read everything that I want to so I have to pick and choose. Thus, I will likely read and post about less of these current – issue works and instead concentrate more on books that I deem to be more centered upon universal themes. That does not mean that I will completely refrain from reading books on current topics. In fact, there is one in particular, that will be published in the coming months, that I want to read and will likely want to post about. However, I will likely read less of them. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">In addition, I would like to read more books. However, I have a busy life and limited time will make this goal a little more difficult to attain. In past years I have also set out to read more and have done so. I managed to succeed in this by being more efficient with my time and devoting more time to reading. Because of these past efforts I have already plucked a lot of low hanging fruit in terms of wasted time. Thus it will now be more difficult to increase my reading time. With that, I will try to read at least a little more in 2020. Those are my bookish thoughts and goals for the coming year. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I hope that everyone has a fruitful and enjoyable reading year in 2020. I am looking forward to further reading adventures myself. Happy reading everyone!</span><span style="font-family: "calibri" , sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com70tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-3493585456480835092019-12-23T14:18:00.000-05:002019-12-24T07:57:17.111-05:00Self-Portrait in Black and White by Thomas Chatterton Williams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Publish</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">ed this year, <i>Self-Portrait in Black and White</i> by Thomas Chatterton Williams is a book that is getting a lot of attention with people who are interested in race and the social issues that surround the topic. I recently read Williams’s first book, <i>Losing My Cool. </i>My commentary on that work is </span><a href="http://briansbabblingbooks.blogspot.com/2019/11/losing-my-cool-by-thomas-chatterton.html" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">here</span></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;">Like <i>Losing My Cool</i>, this book is a memoir. This one picks off where the earlier work ended. In addition to being a memoir, this work lays out Williams’s thoughts and philosophy on race and related social issues. I found this to be a rational and thoughtful book. I read a fair number of opinion pieces and have read a few books on related topics. I think that Williams goes in a direction here that is not typical of a lot of other thinkers. I also think that this very important book. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>Losing My Cool</i> was published over nine years ago. Since then, Williams has earned his PHD, moved to France and has married a French woman. The couple has had two children. It is significant in relation to the ideas presented here that Williams emphasizes his exposure to people of mixed race, ethnicity and cultures. The author is mixed race himself, his father is African American and his mother is a white American. His wife is French and is white. As per Williams, his children appear to be white. Many of his current friends and associates, including some ex - girlfriends represent an international group of people whose identities tend to be mixed. Williams weaves his experiences with this racial and ethnic diversity into his philosophy. </span></div>
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William contends that the entire concept of race was created by racists and is invalid. Furthermore, the idea of race has fueled both racism and questionable anti – racist philosophies. The author ultimately calls for the abolition of the entire concept of race. He writes,</div>
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<i><span style="color: #93c47d;">I am not renouncing my blackness and going on about my day; I am rejecting the legitimacy of the entire racial construct in which blackness functions as one orienting pole. </span></i></div>
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Along the way, Williams address racism in America and throughout the world. He delves into the issue both historically and currently. He is also critical of the wave of identity politics that has been dominating the discourse lately. He sees this school of thought as perpetuating the problem. The author is critical of both the right and the left here. William digs deeply into philosophy. He talks a lot about group identity and culture. Culture is obviously a very relevant issue to all this. The author is in no way calling for the abolition of culture. He writes,</div>
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<i><span style="color: #93c47d;">The intellectual and cultural discoveries that sustained us are ours forever. But the “dreadful deceit” that would call these things racial is just that, a lie that can never be made noble.</span></i></div>
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Williams ultimately calls for individuals to renounce race like he has done. </div>
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It is my hope that as many people as possible, of all skin tones and hair textures , will come to turn away from the racial delusion .</div>
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There is a lot more here. For instance, Williams talks about the need for people of different races to try to understand the perspectives of people who are from different backgrounds and points to how much of the current discourse coming from both sides on race is all part of the same problem. He writes,</div>
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<i><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Working toward opposing conclusions, racists and many anti-racists alike eagerly reduce people to abstract color categories, all the while feeding off of and legitimizing each other, while any of us searching for gray areas and common ground get devoured twice. Both sides mystify racial identity, interpreting it as something fixed and determinative, and almost supernatural in scope. This way of thinking about human difference is seductive for many reasons but it has failed us.</span></i></div>
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Due to the fact that Williams is exposed to so many mixed - race people, one can see how this helped him formulate the philosophy that race is an illusion. </div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">My take is that Williams is on the correct track. Both in America and elsewhere humanity must move beyond race. This is obviously the way to move beyond racism as well as the extreme identity politics comping out of the left</span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">. </span><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"> However, I am not sure that this will be accomplished by the founding of a philosophical movement or by people actually renouncing their race. Instead, I think this moving beyond race is already happening and will continue to happen more naturally. </span></div>
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I also agree with most of Williams's social criticism. There is still racism and it must be condemned and opposed. There is also a school of thought, that labels itself as anti - racist, that is now engaging in all sorts of illiberal race essentialism and stereotyping of people. I have called this trend postmodernism in some of my previous posts. </div>
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This is very important and thought-provoking book. All too many philosophies on race and racism these days fit too neatly in conservative, or far - left identity - based rhetoric. Williams illustrates a path here that rejects dogma coming from both directions. His arguments are rational and ethical. Williams goes into a lot of detail and down some interesting paths that I cannot cover in their entirety here. Though I do not agree with all of Williams points, I think that he is on to some very important truths here. Even if one does not agree with Williams, he is a bold a lively thinker who is worth reading.</div>
</span>Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com32tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4043273283783489008.post-8221908092754470122019-12-08T21:54:00.000-05:002019-12-08T21:54:17.394-05:00The Turn of the Screw by Henry James<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m-40YvNWRfc/XapHlQuWjKI/AAAAAAAACdU/SBh6UbUV160i_OXOET5ifHBhs97c8dFHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/51QcpaqZdgL._SX310_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="312" height="400" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-m-40YvNWRfc/XapHlQuWjKI/AAAAAAAACdU/SBh6UbUV160i_OXOET5ifHBhs97c8dFHQCLcBGAsYHQ/s400/51QcpaqZdgL._SX310_BO1%252C204%252C203%252C200_.jpg" width="250" /></a><span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><i>The Turn of the Screw </i>is Henry James’s famous gothic tale. Though a well - known book this is the first time that I have read it. I found this novella to be an odd but superbly crafted story. The only other book that I have read by James is <i>The Portrait of a Lady. </i>Though there were some similarities, especially with regards to James’s prose style, this book was very different in terms of plot and character development. Though unusual in some ways, I found that this was a creative tale that was well worth the read. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The story is framed as a manuscript. An unknown narrator is reading a first - person account of the experiences of a young governess who is now deceased. The narrator’s friend had purported to know the governess. The governess is a young woman who is hired by a man who has become responsible for his young niece and nephew after the death of their parents. The man wants nothing to do with the children and sends the governess out to a country estate to take charge of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The girl is named Flora and the boy is named Miles. Mrs. Grose is the housekeeper who befriends the governess. Shortly after her arrival the governess begins to see apparitions. With the help of Mrs. Grose, she surmises that the ghosts are Mr. Quint, the uncle’s former valet and Miss Jessel, the children’s former governess. Before their deaths, the pair were carrying on an affair. The children can see them too and the governess is convinced that the spirits are trying to draw the children into a web of evil. As the story goes on the pair of spirits continue to show themselves and it becomes apparent that they are indeed drawing the children into something. Both the governess and Mrs. Grose become more and more desperate to protect the siblings. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">Like <i>The Portrait of a Lady</i>, James’s prose is complex here. His sentences are intricately constructed and contain a lot of dashes. As this is a first - person narrative the dashes are used to create the effect of a stream of consciousness. With that, James can write some very effective prose. In what I think is one of the best passages in the book, the governess describes an early encounter with the apparition Quint. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #93c47d; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There came to me thus a bewilderment of vision of which, after these years, there is no living view that I can hope to give. An unknown man in a lonely place is a permitted object of fear to a young woman privately bred; and the figure that faced me was— a few more seconds assured me— as little anyone else I knew as it was the image that had been in my mind. I had not seen it in Harley Street— I had not seen it anywhere. The place, moreover, in the strangest way in the world, had, on the instant, and by the very fact of its appearance, become a solitude. To me at least, making my statement here with a deliberation with which I have never made it, the whole feeling of the moment returns. It was as if, while I took in— what I did take in— all the rest of the scene had been stricken with death. I can hear again, as I write, the intense hush in which the sounds of evening dropped. The rooks stopped cawing in the golden sky, and the friendly hour lost, for the minute, all its voice</span></i></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">The above is characteristic of the style of the story. It is both intricate and atmospheric. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">I read a little bit of the online commentary on this book. Throughout the years there has been a lot of debate about it. Some have argued that the governess is delusional and thus the supernatural aspects of the plot are in her head. I disagree with this assessment. Though Mrs. Grose does not see the ghosts, she confirms that too many things that the governess observes about them as being accurate. There is no way that the governess could have known these things. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">There are a lot of different theories floating around about this story. Regardless of the specific literary theories, this tale is obviously about repression. There is the sense that the relationship between the children and the ghosts is something that exists under the surface. When the governess and Mrs. Grose discuss it, they do so in whispers. There is something about all this that is unspeakable.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">At one point Mrs. Grose describes Flora’s description of the ghosts<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;"><span style="color: #93c47d;">“</span><i><span style="color: #93c47d;">From that child— horrors! There!” she sighed with tragic relief. “On my honor, miss, she says things—!” But at this evocation she broke down; she dropped, with a sudden sob, upon my sofa and, as I had seen her do before, gave way to all the grief of it.</span><o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">It seems that James talking about sexual repression here. The above quotation as well as other things in the story seem to support this strongly. Several critics have gone further and suggested that the relationship between the ghosts and the children has all the earmarks of sexual abuse. This seems plausible but I am not one hundred percent certain that this is what James meant to portray.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif; font-size: large;">This is not a cookie cutter type ghost story. James’s distinctive writing style, unusual plot twists and underlying themes make this unique. This is an odd story, but in many ways a brilliant one. Though I have read a limited number of books by this author, I think that this might make a good introduction to his work. This is the second James book that I have read and I will likely read more. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<br />Brian Josephhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15139559400312336791noreply@blogger.com49