The House on Olive Street ~ by Robyn Carr

The House on Olive Street ~ by Robyn Carr, 1999, fiction, 9/10

I borrowed this book from my friend Jane, and it was a good one.  Five women, all published writers, are in a writers group, even though their fields are vastly different.  Four of the women — bestselling author, academic, romance writer, mystery writer — spend a summer sorting through the personal effects of their other friend, who died suddenly.  For each one, it's an escape from something in their own lives.  One is hiding domestic violence; another is hiding her past.  One is afraid to admit she is tired of being alone; another has a large family "using" her without ever "helping" her with chores, even though she's working full-time as well as being a wife and mother.  On top of all that, they learn things about their deceased friend they never knew.  And for all of them, life changes that summer.

Highly recommended and rated 9/10, an excellent book.

Beginning ~ with a big head

I was born with water on the brain.

Okay, so that's not exactly true.  I was actually born with too much cerebral spinal fluid inside my skull.  But cerebral spinal fluid is just the doctors' fancy way of saying brain grease.  And brain grease works inside the lobes like car grease works inside an engine.  It keeps things running smooth and fast.  But weirdo me, I was born with too much grease inside my skill, and it got all thick and muddy and disgusting, and it only mucked up the works.  My thinking and breathing and living engine slowed down and flooded.

That's the beginning of The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian ~ by Sherman Alexie, 2001, YA fiction.  On page 3, the narrator tells us in words what my googled photo above shows — an enlarged head.

And other kids just called me Globe.  The bullies would pick me up, spin me in circles, put their finger down on my skull, and say, "I want to go there."

I hate bullying, and I want to know what happens to this child.

If you want to play along, this meme is hosted by Katy at A Few More Pages. Share the first sentence or two of the book you are reading. (Sometimes it takes several sentences to get the full thought.) Then, share your impressions of that beginning.  Click this link to see what others say about the books they are reading this week.

Ninth Ward

The results are in.
A book has been chosen for the online African American Read-In, and it is...

Ninth Ward ~ by Jewell Parker Rhodes, 2010, YA fiction (Louisiana), 9/10

Even though I read this book just a few months ago (in May 2011) and rated it 9 of 10, I never did get around to writing a book review.  I plan to re-read it in time for the discussion beginning February 20 with Vasilly (1330v), Doret (The Happy Nappy Bookseller), and Edi (Crazy Quilt).  And this time I'll be sure to post a review.  Will you join me?

Summary of the book:  Twelve-year-old Lanesha lives in a tight-knit community in New Orleans' Ninth Ward. She doesn't have a fancy house like her uptown family or lots of friends like the other kids on her street. But what she does have is Mama Ya-Ya, her fiercely loving caretaker, wise in the ways of the world and able to predict the future. So when Mama Ya-Ya's visions show a powerful hurricane — Katrina — fast approaching, it's up to Lanesha to call upon the hope and strength Mama Ya-Ya has given her to help them both survive the storm.

Eleanor of Aquitaine ~ by David Hilliam

Eleanor of Aquitaine: The Richest Queen in Medieval Europe ~ by David Hilliam, 2005, YA biography, 7/10

This is the first of the six library books on Eleanor that I've completed, mostly because it was tall and thin, looked like a quick read (it was), and was awkward to place on my shelf of books from the library.  It was okay, but I wasn't particularly impressed with it.  I guess it gave me the facts about her life in such a way that I have a sort of overview, but I had that from reading the summaries of books about her as I was deciding which I wanted to read.  I think it's interesting that the author chose three books "For Further Reading":

1. another one by himself on kings and queens,
2. a biography not in my library system, and
3. a biography I first discovered and want to read several years ago.

Luckily, that book — Eleanor of Aquitaine: A Life by Alison Weir — is one of the six I checked out last week.  Maybe it will rate higher than the 7 of 10 that I give this one.

My demise

It's been four-and-a-half years since I wrote this for my Words from a Wordsmith blog, and Nancy @ Bookfoolery and Babble and I just re-read it yesterday (long story).  What got to both of us was the comment left by Dewey that took our breath away.  First, I'll copy the post, then I'll get to Dewey's comment.

Tuesday, August 21, 2007

Earlier today, I posted this comment on Colleen's Loose Leaf Notes blog, in response to what she had written about death.

Colleen, I think we all "want to KNOW what happens next."   When I was 14, I wrote a poem for a neighbor who was worried about death (sorry, I don't know where that notebook is, so I can't share the poem with you).  Because of that woman, who is still alive today, I have thought carefully about death for over half a century.   One thing I have noticed is that older people don't seem to fear death as much as younger people.   Of course, there are exceptions, but I have reached a point that I am ready to discover whatever that adventure is that takes me beyond this that we know.  I doubt if any of our religions have it figured out, but it does seem likely to me that there is something more.  And this is my thinking:

(1) Things we need for life (like air, food, shelter, warm sunshine) are available for us in this life.
(2) That sounds like something GOOD to me.
(3) Why would that change when we make the next transition?
(4) Therefore, whatever we need after death will be available for us then.
(5) When the elderly die, they are usually less physically able than when they were young and virile ... and some are diseased or injured or in great pain.
(6) When an injured or very sick person dies, people often say, "At least he isn't suffering any more." (And most of us would even put an animal out of its misery.)
(7) Maybe it's wishful thinking, but I have heard people say, "Now she is able to walk again ... and even dance!" Or, "Now he is able to use his legs again!"
(8) Therefore, death is not a bad thing, but could be seen as something good ... like moving on to something better.

Okay, this is kind of unorthodox, but it's my thinking at this point in my life. And I don't dread what's beyond our present KNOWING. I'm not rushing toward it, since I want to experience all I can HERE before moving on, but I do look forward to it as a positive thing.

Curious about when you'll die? I'm not, really, but I'm posting this for the shock value.  According to The Death Clock, my "personal day of death" is September 4, 2034. This seems a bit odd, especially since all three of my children are "supposed" to die in the same decade.

I have posted this because I'm curious about what others might say about death and dying. Please leave a comment, even if you are a stranger to me. This is something that affects all of us.

If you want a tombstone, google "tombstone generator" and you'll get at least these two that I found.   Now I guess I should REALLY decide what I would want mine to say, huh?   I like the looks of the top photo, but I couldn't get as many words on it as on the bottom one.
__________

UPDATE (still August 21, 2007):   And now I've got the cause of death all figured out, too.

UPDATE (February 1, 2008):   I went back to check that Death Clock again, and now it says I'm gonna die on Monday, July 8, 2019. Hey! That's a full 15 years earlier than it told me in August! I must be going downhill fast.

UPDATE (February 9, 2012):  I had bypass surgery a year later, so I really was getting worse.  So I tried the Death Clock again today, just before posting this, and got — this is spooky — July 8, 2019.

The concersation begins here.

COMMENTS

August 22, 2007
Nicky @ Absolute Vanilla said:

Such an interesting post, Bonnie, I'm with you on most of it. I do believe death is the doorway to the next big adventure - or maybe its the doorway to home. I don't think it's anything we need to be afraid of - it's as natural as being born. Given that it is inevitable, I always wonder why we are socialised to fear it so - it doesn't really make sense. Funnily, enough, my post today is a sort of "short story" about encountering death.

August 25, 2007
Carole said:

Thinking of death to some may be morbid to others the body is just a shell and the soul goes on to another passage of time, is how I am looking at life here on earth. I have requested cremation, so I can have my ashes scattered in some nice place along a highway where I can fly all around the country seeing sites I will never see in this shell of a body, and be free to have no time on travel. When I think of my body decomposing in a box underground it sends chills up my spine.

I do not remember ever being afraid of death even when I was young; thinking of death is just another footstep of life, as we know it. Sometimes pain here on earth is so dramatic to our loved one that death is good. Putting down a beloved pet is good, sorrow, longing, grief, regret, pain, unhappiness are all words we use to describe life, while our society looks at suicide as being wrong. Perhaps here is where I have a problem with religious beliefs, until I walk in another person's shoes how am I to judge what another human being feels is my thoughts on the subject of suicide. Once again I think of those beautiful puffy white clouds rolling across the prairie knowing how at times those loved ones of mine are close enough to talk to and find myself speaking of them or feeling their presents here next to me and that makes me feel good.

August 26, 2007
Dewey @ The Hidden Side of a Leaf (since dismantled) said:

I'm completely comfortable with not trying to form an opinion about what happens after death. I figure if we were supposed to know, we'd know. I'm ok with waiting for the surprise (or lack thereof). I find that's not a very common viewpoint, though.

I think your point about older people not fearing death so much is related to pain and illness. I think those of us who have experienced long-term serious pain and/or illness feel that there are things worse than death. I know that if I were given the choice of being raped (for example) or having a quick bullet to the head, I surely would choose death.

February 8, 2012 (yesterday)
My online conversation with Nancy/Bookfool:

Bonnie:   I did find this "Discussion about Death" on my Words from a Wordsmith blog, and one who shared her ideas about death was Dewey.

Nancy:   Oh, wow. I just read your post and the comments. Dewey's comment along with the knowledge of her death . . . that just took my breath away.

Bonnie:  Yeah, it does, doesn't it?  Dewey died 15 months after writing that comment about death.  I was struck by this line which tells me more now than it did then:  "... those of us who have experienced long-term serious pain and/or illness ..."  I knew her doctor told her to take a year off from teaching, but I didn't really know how sick she was — I didn't know her pain.

So let's talk about it.  What do you think about death?  Or about Dewey and how you remember her?  Or about getting the same date years later, like this:

Library Loot ~ February 8-14

Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood Story from China ~ by Ed Young, 1989, children's fairy tale (China)

Three sisters staying home alone are endangered by a hungry wolf who is disguised as their grandmother.

Between the time I first decide to read a book and actually have it in hand, I usually forget whose post or review got me interested in the first place.  This time, I kept track.  Stephanie @ Confessions of a Bookaholic recommends both this one and the one by Chris Crutcher that's next on this list.

"Ana actually brought this one home from school and we read it together.   The pictures are gorgeous and it is a great way to learn about fairy tales from other countries!  Definitely recommended for kids."

Deadline ~ by Chris Crutcher, 2007, YA fiction

Ben Wolf has big things planned for his senior year.  Had big things planned.  Now what he has is some very bad news and only one year left to make his mark on the world.  How can a pint-sized, smart-ass seventeen-year-old do anything significant in the nowheresville of Trout, Idaho?  First, Ben makes sure that no one else knows what is going on — not his superstar quarterback brother, Cody, not his parents, not his coach, no one.  Next, he decides to become the best 127-pound football player Trout High has ever seen; to give his close-minded civics teacher a daily migraine; and to help the local drunk clean up his act.  And then there's Dallas Suzuki.  Amazingly perfect, fascinating Dallas Suzuki, who may or may not give Ben the time of day.  Really, she's first on the list.  Living with a secret isn't easy, though, and Ben's resolve begins to crumble, especially when he realizes that he isn't the only person in Trout with secrets.

Stephanie again:

"Without telling ANYONE, including his parents or younger brother, he sets out to make his Senior year unforgettable.  Honestly, I'm having a hard time not tearing up just writing this paragraph.  It really is an exceptional book."

This is also the only book on my roommate's blog.  Donna taught mostly middle school English for twenty years, even though she hasn't caught the blogging bug.

"This is perhaps my favorite of Crutcher's young adult novels, and that is saying much since he is, in my view, one of the best young adult authors today."

Girl Meets God ~ by Lauren F. Winner, 2002, memoir

The child of a Jewish father and a lapsed Southern Baptist mother, Lauren F. Winner chose to become an Orthodox Jew.  But even as she was observing Sabbath rituals and studying Jewish law, Lauren was increasingly drawn to Christianity.  Courageously leaving what she loved, she eventually converted.  In Girl Meets God, this appealing woman takes us through a year in her Christian life as she attempts to reconcile both sides of her religious identity.  Here readers will find a new literary voice:  a spiritual seeker who is both an unconventional thinker and a devoted Christian.  The twists and turns of Winner’s journey make her the perfect guide to exploring true faith in today’s complicated world.

I read about one of her books on RevGalBlogPals, but it doesn't come out until the end of February.  I checked the library to see which of her books I could look at in the meantime and found this one.

Library Loot is a weekly meme co-hosted by Claire from The Captive Reader and Marg from The Adventures of an Intrepid Reader that encourages bloggers to share the books they’ve checked out from the library.  If you would like to share a list of the loot you brought home from the library, Marg has the Mister Linky this week.

Happy 200th birthday, Charles

Dickens writing in 1858

Charles Dickens would have turned 200 today, if he weren't already dead at the age of 58.  Chrisbookarama wrote a letter to him that's great fun to read.

"Happy Birthday, Mr Dickens.  You look good for 200, not a day over 150.  I hope you have a great day.  Apparently lots of people will be celebrating for you, including the Queen.  Sorry you can't be there in person."

After linking him to some of her blog reviews ("do you know what a blog is?"), she wrote my favorite part and shared this "movie (that's what we call them)" with Mr. Dickens, which I now share with you.

"I know I have tons more of your books to read.  Will I be 200 before I get to read them all?  I would say keep writing but, you know, being dead kinda prevents that.  If you somehow manage it though, could you write a female character who is neither a mouse nor a bitch?  Thanks."

Thanks, Chris.  Informative as well as fun.

Among his most memorable writings, to me, are A Christmas Carol, A Tale of Two Cities, and Great Expectations.  What have you read by Charles Dickens?