7 Quick Takes Friday (vol. 105)
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Daylight Savings Time is ruining my life. Okay, that’s an exaggeration. Sort of. You see, my children still get up at the same time every day, only it’s an hour earlier according to the clock. So all that propaganda about how we get an extra hour of sleep when we change the clocks in November is all lies. “We” are getting less sleep because “we” are still going to bed at the same time according to the clock, and “we” have children who are getting up at the same time in according to their biological clocks, so “we” are actually losing sleep each night. “So why don’t you go to bed an hour earlier?” you ask. I could, but I’m a night owl, and going to bed early makes me feel like I’ve given up on living. Which brings me back to “Daylight Savings Time is ruining my life.”
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I know, I know, it’s not currently Daylight Savings Time, DST just ended. Whatever. I use the term as an all-encompassing reference to “that thing the government does to mess with my head twice a year.” It usually takes me a few months to adjust to the new time, at which point we change the clocks again. It’s like something out of 1984, when you think about it. I’ll be off crafting detailed Daylight Savings Time conspiracy theories if anyone needs me.
— 3 —
When I saw this article in the Wall Street Journal announcing that rap label Cash Money Records is partnering with Simon & Schuster to sell books, it was as if Christmas came early for me this year. I don’t know if there has ever been a confluence of events more perfectly tailored to pique my interest. I may never shut up about it.
I’ve long been an admirer of Cash Money’s body of work, and I cannot wait to see how this is translated to the world of literature. If I recall correctly, in one song B. Gizzle states that “the Cash Money motto is we gotta drink ’til we throw up.” I wonder if they’ll bring this same core competency to their imprint at Simon & Schuster?
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Based on their repertoire of music, I think I can predict the narrative arc of each Cash Money book:
- Exposition: Protagonist just creating hot rhymes for the love of it. Rhymes are so hot that he now owns multiple luxury vehicles and wears so much bling that it causes eye damage to those who look directly at it.
- Rising action: Haters come up, start hatin’. On top of this, protagonist realizes he’s the only rapper who speaks truth; is deeply concerned that people will get only weak rhymes and watered-down messages if they listen to his competition. Protagonist ruminates in detail about inner conflict between wanting haters to go away, and enjoying the vast amounts of riches and scantily-clad women that this career path has sent his way.
- Climax: Protagonist considers returning to obscurity so that he can shake the haters and go back to rapping for the love if it. After detailed narration of a mental inventory of his possessions, including but not limited to Bentleys, Mercedes, ice, bling, yachts and helicopters, protagonist decides to continue rapping.
- Denouement: Protagonist realizes that he’s talented enough that he can both keep it real and enjoy wild commercial success; resolves to let haters keep hatin’.
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While we’re on the subject of books, let’s do a Fiction Book Challenge! I’ve said before that I almost never read fiction; it’s not exactly intentional, I just can’t ever seem to get into it. But I’d like to be more broad in my reading, so let’s see if we can find a fiction book I’ll enjoy! Here’s what I’m looking for:
I like to be able to learn something concrete from the books that I read (e.g. I’d probably love something that, say, painted a really accurate picture of medieval France). I don’t think that sci-fi or fantasy are my cup of tea. I love history, astronomy and science. An example of a fiction book I ready recently and really liked is Magi by Daniel Gilbert.
— 6 —
This is hilarious:
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Have a great weekend, everyone!
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http://www.amazon.com/Apostle-Sholem-Asch/dp/0881841676
The Apostle by Sholem Asch
Poland by James Michner
Francine Rivers writes some GREAT fiction! Her best (IMHO) is the “Mark of the Lion” trilogy which I believe begins with “A Voice in the Wind.” I’m sure you can pick them up at CBD or paperbackbookswap.com. They are wonderful historical fiction. I feel like they gave me such a greater understanding of life in the first century. One of her other good ones is Redeeming Love – a modern (well, sort of) take on the book of Hosea.
REALLY good! Please check these out!
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Fiction: I loved Jane Smiley’s “All True Travels and Adventures of Lidie Newton.” I understand that much of what she writes is historical fiction and she obviously researches herself silly before sitting down to write. Just absolutely brilliant, I couldn’t get over how good she is as I read that book.
Daylight Savings Time is evil. I fell asleep at an average of Way Too Early this week. My solution is hibernation. Who’s with me?
Ashley recently posted..Quick Takes vol 9
I’ve always liked Michenor and Tolstoy. Anna Karena is one of my favorite books.
Island of the World, by Michael O’Brien, my favorite book. Has some dark scenes, but thoroughly Catholic, thoroughly delves into the mystery of finding God in the midst of deep suffering. Set in Bosnia/Croatia, during that conflict.
Oh my goodness! This is my first daylight savings time with a kid and I agree…throws everyone off! Oh…for the days when you could actually sleep an extra hour!!!
Just a clarification re: Island of the World. Not sure it’s Croatia, it’s been a couple of years since I’ve read it, but it’s basically about all the conflict within Yugoslavia around the second world war. I can’t say enough how excellent the storytelling is.
“This novel cuts to the core question: how does a person retain his identity, indeed his humanity, in absolutely dehumanizing situations?
In the life of the central character, the author demonstrates that this will demand suffering and sacrifice, heroism and even holiness. When he is twelve years old, his entire world is destroyed, and so begins a lifelong Odyssey to find again the faith which the blows of evil have shattered. The plot takes the reader through Josip’s youth, his young manhood, life under the Communist regime, hope and loss and unexpected blessings, the growth of his creative powers as a poet, and the ultimate test of his life. Ultimately this novel is about the crucifixion of a soul — and resurrection.”
http://www.studiobrien.com/novels/
I’m not gonna lie, I’m kinda excited about your #3 too — in my quick takes this week I mention a new book on the Hip-Hop industry coming out that I’m excited for. Have a great week!
Christy recently posted..7 Quick Takes Saturday
>>I love history, astronomy and science…
Then read “Laughing at the Devil.” It shows how science was once linked to religion, how our ancestors’ astronomical hypotheses evolved over the past six-thousand years, and how their observations still affect us. For instance, that is where the ‘sixty’ on our watches comes from.
The book is available through Amazon at http://www.amazon.com/Laughing-Devil-Survivors-Religious-Discoveries/dp/1440459614.
I didn’t take the time to read all of the comments – but I highly recommend The Book Thief. A story of WWII in Nazi Germany – told from the standpoint of an ordinary German family & the choices they were forced to make.
I have the perfect book for you. It’s called ‘ People of the Book’ and it’s by Geraldine Brooks. It’s premise is the restoration of a sacred Jewish text by a rare book conserver. As she unwraps the layers of history, we are taken on a journey through the experiences of the people who have joined together through the centuries to keep the book safe fir posterity. It Is a fascinating, and compelling read. If you can’t source a copy, I would happily send you my own.
If you haven’t read all of Jane Austen’s novels, I recommend all of them. Pretty much in this order: Emma, Pride and Prejudice, Persuasion, Sense and Sensibility, and Northanger Abbey.
However, as I am a younger reader, you may prefer more “mature” novels (whatever that means): The Power and the Glory by Graham Greene, Atonement by Ian McEwan, The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Orczy (a short, France-set novel)…
It’s hard for me to give advice. I’m a total romantic and tend to read all romances like Georgette Heyer.
Sarah’s Key — great book! I read it in one sitting. I didn’t even pause for dinner.
The Poisonwood Bible by Barbara Kingsolver
I loved Byzantium by Stephen Lawhead. It’s a long but fascinating tale of an Irish monk who journeys to Byzantium on a mission to deliver the Book of Kells to the emperor. Some of my favorite quotes are from it! I read it as a high school student and have never forgotten the lessons I learned from the main character, Aidan.
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I’m not a big sci fi reader, but I really like Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson. I think it was the practical application of mathematics. I just understand calculus better with practical application than theories.
Kim
The Name of the Rose – entertainment, history and philosophy/theology all in one. Brilliant.
Sophie’s World – overview of Western Philosophy set in a story. Brilliant.
Bonfire of the Vanities. “Master of the universe” banker in New York accidently runs over a poor kid in the a poor part of N.Y. and the tragedy of his life ensues. Modern classic.
The Alchemist. About a Spanish shephered boy looking for spiritual enlightenment in Northern Africa. Classic.
I actually like switching the clocks! I think that it keeps us more in time with nature, back to a time when the world wasn’t driven by clocks, but by the sun. I see it as anti-establishment rather than an establishment conspiracy — yes, we’ve all agreed on this 24 hour day and we all wear these watches and have clocks surrounding us CONSTANTLY so we always know what time it is, but now the sun isn’t jiving with these clocks so we’re just going to change them. We have power over the machines- ha,ha!!! (The kids we have no power over!sorry)
Since I read it a few months ago, I recommend that everyone read “The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society” by Mary Ann Shaffer and Annie Barrows. It’s an epistolary novel (all letters) set in London and the Channel Islands just after WWII. It is lovely!!
Also,
Brideshead Revisited – a bit indulgent in British aristorcratic life, but still a deep book focused on Catholicism.
The Power and the Glory – Graham Greene. Greene’s famous whiskey priest.
Pride and Prejudice – just sheer great, sparkling writing.
David Copperfield, Oliver Twist, Great Expectations and Christmas Carol. Dickens at his imaginative best with lots of great characters.
Middlemarch – Brilliant, deep book – offering a kaleidoscope of life in 19th England.
Crime and Punishment – Dostoevsky. Brilliant about the power of Christian compassion.
The Tempest. Shakespeare’s most spiritual play, i think. Focusing on the contrast (and the tension) between the rational and the natural – and the magical consequences of what happens when the two work in unison in the human soul, under the guidance of grace (interpration, i think, shared by many others).
Huckleberry Finn. Fantatic, lively dialogue.
Wuthering Heights – 19th century classic (enjoyed every page – really lively).
Charlotte Brone (great heroine – but in an everyday sense of the word).
I agree with everyone else that The Help was awesome, and if you’re looking for some good historical fiction, try Sharon Kay Penman’s books (the first one is The Sunne in Splendor). They’re set in thirteenth century Wales, and although it’s been years since I read them, I was hooked from the first book.
Oops! I goofed on the title. The first one is actually Here Be Dragons. Sorry!
Your commenters have created a wonderful list of recommended books that I look forward to reading!
Since I don’t recall as much as I should have from my school days, I love historical fiction with lots of facts. Now that we’re homeschooling our kids I’ve had the added benefit of reading aloud numerous historical fiction books in chronological order. (We just finished “A Proud Taste for Scarlet and Miniver” set in medieval France/England about Eleanor of Aquitaine, Louis VII, Henry II, Abbot Suger, first Gothic structure, the Plantagenets, etc.) Although these are juvenile books, I love sharing them with our kids to see how history comes alive for them. It’s kind of like enjoying Christmas through the eyes of a child!
Read The Year of Wonders by Geraldine Brooks- it’s smart, historical, informative about one of those moments in history you’d never think of (17th century English village that quarantines itself after plague hits)…I raced through it…hope you enjoy!
Thinking of books … I think you’d enjoy a few by an English writer called Cynthia Harnett. Officially, her books are for children. But my whole family enjoyed reading them – again and again! She doesn’t just entertain, she enthralls (with mystery) and educates (with history) – and with a little bit of imagination her stories and characters are REAL! Most of her books are set in England before the Reformation, so most of her characters are Catholic. My favourites are:
* The Wool Pack
* The Load of Unicorn
And, set in the reign of Mary I, before Elizabeth this one is good too:
* Stars of Fortune
Enjoy!
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I didn’t read through the comments, and I’m sure somebody else out there has recommended Michael O’ Brien. He’s awesome. Father Elijah is an apocolyptic page turner, and I have no doubt you will both learn something and be edified. His other books are awesome too.
LOVED Grocery Store Wars!
Also, an interesting conversion story I thought I’d share – from evangelical Protestant to Catholic: http://www.envoymagazine.com/backissues/0.1/solved.htm