Sing For Your Life, a biography of someone I know.

So, I just finished a biography of a young man I had the great pleasure to know when he was at Hartt, Mr Ryan Speedo Green.

I am amazed at Speedo's resilience and determination.   He is an amazing person.  He always captivated people with his warmth and generosity of spirit when he was at Hartt, but I was a little disappointed with the biography in some ways.

Let me explain.

The biography begins with his audition at the Met, but then flips between that and his childhood in a manner I found disconcerting.  It was too choppy.  I know the author, Daniel Bergner, a white man, intended contrast and showing disconcertion and alienation, but I found the first third of the book VERY difficult to read, and not only because of the difficult family dynamics, but Bergner's tone did not seem to show the Ryan Speedo Green I knew.    

That being said, once Bergner ceased with the flipping from childhood to adulthood, and went into a more linear fashion, the book improved dramatically.  

Speedo is an articulate, intelligent young man, and this is shown clearly through the end of the book.  He has an amazing personality, and is very aware of race and the impact he can have for young men and women as a role model.   I'm a little saddened that Bergner felt the need to compare and contrast Ryan with his brother.  And of course I'm disappointed that there was very little discussion of his time in Connecticut.

I am fascinated by the contrast I 'hear' when Bergner is discussing, as an observer, and when Speedo is discussing, as someone who feels it, things like the problem of race here in the States.  Bergner does state that he can't really 'get it' as a white man, which is something.  I do wonder if the book could have used one more rewrite before going to press.  

That being said, the remaining two thirds of the book really emphasise what an amazing person Speedo is, and how much he overcame to get to where he is now.   I'm already looking forward to the next biography, in thirty years!  

Congrats, Speedo.  I consider it an honor to have known you, however briefly, and to have gotten a glimpse inside your life, and the contrasts within it.  To see your bravery and honor and nobility.

You are an inspiration to us all.

On trying to expand my reading...

So, you may have heard of a challenge, a challenge to read outside of the slate of straight, white, male authors.

http://www.xojane.com/entertainment/reading-challenge-stop-reading-white-straight-cis-male-authors-for-one-year

 Which I think is fantastic.  But is difficult unless you have a really good bookstore near you.  Or your library has been very proactive.  I like to skim a book before I buy it, which makes Amazon somewhat difficult.  I'm on LibraryThing as well, but even their book giveaways are mostly white and male.

Unless you have a specific author in mind, even going to the library can be difficult (and even then...).  The Library, for obvious reasons, even though they want balance to their collections, also want books that people will read.  And books get pulled off the shelf if they are not taken out.  Most libraries will buy a few things if they are new, and if they think the item will circulate.  But for 'older' books, you are often reduced to Interlibrary Loan, which does not factor in to the purchase of new books.

For instance, when I worked in the library, I did outreach.  Which can be a challenge on its own.  Because, for instance, I had one old white dude who liked books by other white dudes, who had to be American, and the books had to be bloody.  (Also preferably with a female corpse, certainly not a female detective!) And those were actually becoming surprisingly difficult to find.   But I also had an elderly homebound black woman who liked audiobooks that were "urban Christian".  One author (with forays out into others) in the whole of CT.  And sometimes the CDs were so scratched up it was heartbreaking.  And that says to me, hey, maybe we need to expand our collection...  but they didn't think they had anyone who would read them, other than this one patron.   

Going to Barnes and Noble is also fraught.  In my last venture out, I was looking for books by "the other", by Nnedi Okorafors for example.  Or Octavia Butler...  I was looking for books that would tell me a different story.  Not just the AngloSaxon fantasy of dragons and fair red haired maidens, or magic...  But something that, perhaps, spoke of an African woman, facing down Anansi.  Not an exoticised Ancient Egyptian princess written by a white man (and yes, I have enjoyed Wilbur Smith's writing in the past, but that isn't the point). The point is to read stories from a different perspective, not the white colonial default.  How many people have their own images of the Number One Ladies Detective Agency?  Written by a white man.  

Now, maybe I just didn't find the "secret stash" where all the "other" authors were hidden...  but to me, that was frustrating.

Now there are things you can do...after the Lammies, I made a list of some interesting sounding books, and asked the Library if they'd buy them...they did buy some of them.   If you ask your library to, they will try out some new authors...  particularly if the book is new, and can't be gotten on ILL.  (Libraries try not to ILL new books from other libraries, just because of transit time...it takes the book out of circulation for too long).  It will actually help your library if you request they buy different books, rather than the same Patricia Cornwell or John Patterson.  Do you know how many copies they have to buy of those books?  Instead of being able to spend the money on new, exciting books?  

It isn't impossible.  And Librarians do want to expand their collections, they don't want fifty copies of Fifty Shades of Grey any more than you do.   So, challenge yourself, challenge your library, challenge Amazon, challenge Barnes and Noble.   Ask for these books.  Go to them, waving Tempest's "manifesto" in your hand and say, I want to read something different.

Reading the early Wild Cards novels...

So I recently started reading the first Wild Cards novels, which are being reissued.  I started this because I have a friend with a storyline in the most recent novel.  Which I read and loved, but then realized I wanted more of the backstory hinted at...  In some ways I am glad I am doing this, in other ways...  The earlier novels are very much a product of their times.  In some ways dated, and not as coherent as the later ones.  It is also obvious that something else big is going to happen at some point, as the jokers and aces start being able to have kids somewhere along the line.  

There is sexism in the earlier books (it seems that all the women get raped/tortured/etc...  There were a couple points where I skipped ahead because I just was squicked out). And some subtle racism (kids with Afros potentially shoplifting).  And less creativity in the superheroes than I necessarily would like.  A pimp who gets his power from sex?  And hints at unexplored issues of incest, etc,  that could have been padded out to create a more interesting dynamic. But, at the same time, I have the luxury of comparing and contrasting with the later, more polished novels.    

I do think it is a good exercise.

ooops.

That's what you get when you don't post often, two posts on the same subject.

Choosing Books for Others.

This is tough.   This is when there are times when I want to bang my head against the wall and give up.

I do Outreach at work, where I pick books for people.  

I sometimes get notes back.  Rarely thanking me (although one woman is very good about thanking me), but usually complaining.

The problem is that they want new books, by their favorite author, and the books are not always available.

So I substitute, or try to come up with something similar that they'd like...

Sometimes I'll find a book that would be great for multiple people, so I just swing it into circulation from one to the other to the other to the other...

But usually, its tough.

They want good biographies, not of actors or celebrities.    (and I am still horrified that the library has a biography of Michael Vick.  Ick! Ick! Ick!)

They usually go very specific, or very general.

So each person has multiple other notes scrawled into their file...

like one gentleman, who only likes things by American male authors.  New books.   Shorter.  What isn't written, but is basically understood, is that they can't have a woman as the hero, women are only good as the corpse.   And they have to be bloody.   When I've sent him books with lots of blood on the cover, he's liked those.  

Or one elderly lady, who likes Danielle Steel... new Danielle Steel, or Nora Roberts.  And even though both of these ladies are prolific, they aren't prolific enough!  And unfortunately, there don't seem to be any creative read-alikes when I search for read-alikes.  

So please, if you are reading this, and are creating a read-alike selection, please please consider doing something besides the obvious, besides the basics.

Who are some new authors who are like Roberts or Steel?    Who are some new historical fiction authors?

New, creative inspiration, please!

Ah, Literatchooor.

Why, hello!  Yes, I have been reading, but I apologize for my absence.    Things have been just a tad bit busy these days.  I got a promotion, which involves outreach.  Outreach is when you get books for people who are homebound or cannot get to the library in some way...

So I have quite a cast of characters:

There's the old lady who calls the day before pickup, and even though the authors you sent last time are on her favorites, she can't get into the books.  And even though the one you are sending her is one she requested, she isn't interested in that one anymore.

There's the gentleman who likes only American male authors, with male protagonists and lots of blood.   I suspect if it is female blood, even better.  (The guy does not like women, he doesn't like authors with foreign names....)

Then there is the lady who likes black Christian fiction on audio CDs.   In CT, in FARMINGTON? that is hard to find.  

Large-print "good stories" with no sex or cussing?  those are tough to find too...   Jeanette Oke is a decent author, but we only seem to have three books by each "good" author in the Large Print....

I've got a couple good ones that are fun to find books for...and so far haven't heard any complaints (or praise), there's one who doesn't like "Women's Books" but seems to read quite a range... and one who likes a variety...  

What would I be like as an old lady in one of these programs?

I think I'd be eclectic.   The same way I am now.  I'm reading book two of Patrick Rothfuss's series, just finished The Rook, (a marvelous supernatural spy story, which I immediately wanted to reread).  I'm reading an anthology on the first year of marriage (sorry Mom, don't get your hopes up...I'm going to die an old maid...I feel like I should dress up as Miss Havisham for Halloween).   I'm reading Bill Bryson's At Home, which is interesting, but seems to skate over things a little lightly for my taste...  but in some ways I'm very scholarly, somehow...

Basically I tend to have at least one sci-fi/fantasy, one biography, one nonfiction (if I can find something good) and one general fiction (probably "foreign") going on.  Usually its at least three books at once (in different parts of the house)

So, what have you read that is interesting? Share in the comments! (or if you have suggestions for authors for my outreach people)

Dilemmas of Life...

So intially I thought that the books I was reviewing today had nothing in common, other than my reading them. But in actuality, this is not the case. They are all (except for the "Dummies" one) people-oriented. They are about lives, feelings, and growth. Only one is fiction.

The first is Salman Rushdie's Luka and the Fire of Life. This was a magical book, in many ways, but will appeal most to people who have an understanding of the Far Eastern/Persian tradition, although lovers of the classics will enjoy it too. What I found truly enjoyable were his little allusions to popular culture within the scope of the novel..as well as some phrases that are obviously meant to be read in a British accent.It is a rich tapestry of a novel, and one I found highly enjoyable.

The second is called The Dirty Life by Kristin Kimball. I found this fascinating. This woman went from living in New York City to owning a farm with her husband. Plowing with horses, bringing in the crops, milking, just absolutely fascinating picture of one woman's growth and change.

The third is Dilemma by Father Albert Cutie. This is a unique book. The father is a man who was a Catholic priest, who fell in love. He left the Catholic Church for the Anglican, got married, had a family. His book is, to a certain extent, and understandably so, a little defensive. But it is also a look at the interior workings of the church, from one man's POV. It is also an exploration of celibacy and its role in the church, and a questioning as to if celibacy is necessary. He argues that a lot of the Church's issues would be eased if it allowed priests to marry and to be at ease with their sexuality. Which does, to a certain extent, make some sense. Priests do tend, even in this country, to become priests young, because they are expected to. And it does seem that most people have a story about a priest who left, who got married. Priests in most other traditions are allowed to get married. Many of the Apostles were married. And clergy in the Catholic tradition were allowed, once to get married. He argues that this needs to happen again.... and some points were valid. Some of the book, I felt, was a cry of frustration, and of loss... and some of it felt a little hastily written, not well-edited, perhaps. It could use a rewrite, definitely, but it does bring up some valid points about the church, which does need to forge ahead, into the 21st Century.

And speaking of the 21st Century...bringing me to the final book, iPad for Dummies. Its not that helpful. Get it from the library. Other than a chapter on Apps, it really wasn't that well-written or useful. The iPad is pretty self-explanatory.