Book: Dewey by
Finished on Feb 9th, 2009
****
I've had cats all my life. Even when I didn't think I was ready to have another cat, somehow they would make their way into my life. So I know that look; that one that drags you in, not letting go, where every moment near them effects your life, as they watch.
Dewey had that look from a young age apparently. And the library/town that adopted him was not immune.
Spencer was a typical small town in the mid west, suffering from an economic downturn and the loss of families, until Dewey, the rescue cat became a focal point for the town to rally around. The story of Dewey is the story of a town's survival. It has humor, sadness (especially for anyone who has had to put a cat down) and most of all insight to what brings people together.
And I loved it. It was beautiful. A great balance between the generalizations of what one thing can do to help a community and the influence of that special thing on individuals.
I have to admit, my first thoughts were "really, how much can you write about one cat? They sleep 20 hours a day." Now that I'm finished the book, I see, once again, the power of writing; to expand the mundane, seemingly simple events to significant universal experiences.
Once I, on a whim, I went to a movie. It was a sunny afternoon and I was wandering downtown with nothing to do. The movie was Remains of the Day. I remember walking out of the theatre thinking "I'm a better person for seeing that movie."
It's not often I say that about a book.
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Monday, February 1, 2010
Marriage? Why?
I recently got married. For some bizarre, inexplicable reason, my boyfriend of 13 years and common-law husband for 6 years and I decided "yeah, I guess it's a good time." Really, I have no formal answer as to 'why now'?
So when I heard that the author of "Eat, Pray, Love" Elizabeth Gilbert was publishing a book on her experience as a reluctant bride, I was very intrigued. I read EPL and while I will admit is was interesting, like many others I found it overly indulgent and almost naïve. Oh, the imagery was beautiful, the spirituality exudes every chapter, and the author is unbelievably smart but I will always have a problem with too much self indulgence. Unfortunately, I just don't have the ability to relate to people who spend so much energy questioning themselves and others. I know. My life would be totally different if I did...
Anyway, I was a bit hesitant about Committed. And let me say - am I ever thankful that I got over that.
Committed is a better version of EPL. All the wit with more smarts. I'm not saying it doesn't have any episodes of Gilbert saying "woe is me, why is this so hard on me?" and then trying to find the answers outside of herself (again, something I don't really understand.) But this has more historical and social insights. And that's really where her intellegance shines. She can take however many scholarly reports & publications and somehow whittle them down to what they really mean now, to her and the 26 women she's writing for, as mentioned in one of the best opening chapters ever written for what basically is a long awaited sequal.
As such, the details of her life fade into the background and we, as readers (or listeners in my case*,) become incased in how marriage is situated in our lives. I have to admit that I found myself agreeing with her on many observations: the misunderstood history of marriage, the overriding legal significance vs. romantic significance of marriage and the ways friends and family can become invested in one's marital status.
Seriously, change only a few details, this could be my story. I never really considered exploring my feelings towards marriage but this book really does highlight why I didn't get married until now & why now was the right time to. My friends, really, I will hand this book over to you when you ask me once again, why now? Ignore the travel itinerary, I'm working on it.
*PS. I heard Committed as an AudioBook narrated by the author. Elizabeth Gilbert's voice is perfect for audio. It's deep and resonant and she can pull off the best characterizations. lovely.
So when I heard that the author of "Eat, Pray, Love" Elizabeth Gilbert was publishing a book on her experience as a reluctant bride, I was very intrigued. I read EPL and while I will admit is was interesting, like many others I found it overly indulgent and almost naïve. Oh, the imagery was beautiful, the spirituality exudes every chapter, and the author is unbelievably smart but I will always have a problem with too much self indulgence. Unfortunately, I just don't have the ability to relate to people who spend so much energy questioning themselves and others. I know. My life would be totally different if I did...
Anyway, I was a bit hesitant about Committed. And let me say - am I ever thankful that I got over that.
Committed is a better version of EPL. All the wit with more smarts. I'm not saying it doesn't have any episodes of Gilbert saying "woe is me, why is this so hard on me?" and then trying to find the answers outside of herself (again, something I don't really understand.) But this has more historical and social insights. And that's really where her intellegance shines. She can take however many scholarly reports & publications and somehow whittle them down to what they really mean now, to her and the 26 women she's writing for, as mentioned in one of the best opening chapters ever written for what basically is a long awaited sequal.
As such, the details of her life fade into the background and we, as readers (or listeners in my case*,) become incased in how marriage is situated in our lives. I have to admit that I found myself agreeing with her on many observations: the misunderstood history of marriage, the overriding legal significance vs. romantic significance of marriage and the ways friends and family can become invested in one's marital status.
Seriously, change only a few details, this could be my story. I never really considered exploring my feelings towards marriage but this book really does highlight why I didn't get married until now & why now was the right time to. My friends, really, I will hand this book over to you when you ask me once again, why now? Ignore the travel itinerary, I'm working on it.
*PS. I heard Committed as an AudioBook narrated by the author. Elizabeth Gilbert's voice is perfect for audio. It's deep and resonant and she can pull off the best characterizations. lovely.
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