Digital libraries are a thing of beauty. That is how I accessed Normal People by Sally Rooney. I was able to read it on my phone while at the laundromat, while standing in line to vote, and while waiting for friends at a restaurant. Granted, I could do the same with a physical book, but this time all I had to do was close an app and put the phone in my back pocket when I had to pause. Of course, physical books will always be #1 in my heart.
The Situation: Marianne and Connell are two teenagers in Ireland who go to the same high school. While at school, they pretend to not know each other, though Connell's mother, Lorraine, cleans Marianne's house. At school, Marianne is a bit of an outsider. Though she is smart, really smart, her classmates find her off-putting, and she is often a target for bullies. Meanwhile, Connell is well-liked and somewhat popular. Their social situations at school are different enough that when they begin sleeping together, Connell openly asks that Marianne not tell anyone about it, and Marianne agrees to keep things quiet. The relationship continues this way until Connell asks another girl to the school dance, despite interacting with Marianne in public a few times, even once sticking up for her. The two part ways, and will not reconnect until they see each other in college.
The Problem: Once Connell and Marianne are at attending the same college in Dublin, their roles become somewhat reversed. Marianne is well-liked and has a circle of friends that actually pays attention to what she says, while Connell struggles to find his footing and fit in. The two reconnect, though neither one of them calls what they are doing "dating." Eventually they separate once again, proceeding to date other people and move on with their lives. They still stay in touch, and this constant contact will lead them to years of finding each other again, only to split. During that time, Marianne will go down a destructive path, fueled by her family's cruelty and indifference, and Connell will struggle to find meaning in his own life, all while the two of them continue to orbit around each other, neither of them sure how things will turn out.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a fiction novel set in modern day Ireland. The story begins in January of 2011 when Marianne and Connell are in their last year of high school, and ends in February of 2015 when they are both finishing up with college. Told from a third person perspective, the story switches between the two main characters in alternating chapters. Other than a brief period in college, Marianne remains largely withdrawn socially, though she has no problem attracting men and entering into relationships, though they are not exactly healthy. Connell has his own relationships, but once out of high school, has a harder time making connections with people and feeling like he fits in. For him, the main constants in his life are his mother and Marianne. For Marianne, Connell is a constant, as well her mother and brother, though they are less than supportive. While it seems her brother has nothing better to do than to hurl abuse at his sister, Marianne's mother looks at her as if the poor treatment she receives is her own fault. After a lifetime of this, Marianne seems to believe this is true, carrying her low self-worth into her relationships. Connell and Marianne feel as if they can be themselves around each other, more than they can with anyone else, and it seems this is what keeps drawing them to each other.
My Verdict: I enjoyed the in-depth look at two lonely people doing their best to not feel lonely, but often failing at it. Even when they reach toward each other, they often miss the mark. Connell is the kind of guy that would be easy to dismiss as a jerk, until you realize how clueless he is...although maybe he is still a jerk. And Marianne is someone many people would find difficult to like, though this is a natural result from a lifetime of ill-treatment at the hands of her family. She may be difficult to like, but she deserves better than what she is given, even from Connell, and he knows it. Beyond the complex protagonists, I also enjoyed the setting of Ireland. The book had an overall feel of taking place in the distant past, even though it begins in 2011, only eight years ago. I cannot decide if this effect is due to it taking place in Ireland, or if there is something about the dynamic between Connell and Marianne that makes everything feel nostalgic and of a different time. Either way, it was a nice effect that somehow lent to the overall depth of the narrative.
Favorite Moment: When it appears the roles are reversed, and Marianne is the one who is popular and makes friends easily, while Connell struggles socially.
Favorite Character: Connell's mother Lorraine is perhaps the hero in this story. She more or less treats her son like an adult and lets him make his own decisions, but does not hesitate to let him know when those decisions are wrong.
Recommended Reading: I will actually recommend Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine by Gail Honeyman.
I added The Dreamers by Karen Thompson Walker to my to-read list back in early January of this year, so it has been long enough for my brain to be hazy on my reasons why. Most likely it had something to do with my ever-present search for accessible science fiction. Whatever it was, here we are, and the premise of a strange virus causing its victims to sleep a deep sleep is certainly interesting.
The Situation: It is the early weeks of Mei's first semester in college, and already she knows she does not fit in. Her roommate Kara is always going out to parties, hanging out with friends, doing all of the things that college girls are 'supposed' to do. Somehow she easily and seamlessly slid into dorm and college life, while Mei remains alone, both noticed and unnoticed. After another usual night of partying, Kara comes back to the dorm and crashes on her bed. When she does not get up the next morning, Mei thinks nothing of it. Why would she? Kara does this all of the time. But then it is hours later, and Kara still is not awake, and Mei cannot wake her. When she is wheeled away to the hospital, she is still alive, only for death to find her when the doctors are not paying attention. The doctors are ready to label this an isolated case of some strange and unknown illness, until another girl goes to sleep and cannot wake up.
The Problem: Slowly and steadily, the Santa Lora Virus, named after the small Southern California town where it has originated, creeps through the city, causing all of its victims to go under a deep sleep. Those that are not found in time usually die of dehydration. But the ones that are found, usually by loved ones or concerned neighbors, are quickly taken to the hospital, while there is still room at the hospital. Unfortunately, this new threat is highly contagious, so when it reaches outside of the walls of Mei's college dorm, and then beyond the hospital, the entire town of Santa Lora is placed under quarantine. While everything about this situation is beyond scary, what surprises and intrigues medical experts is that the victims are not only asleep, but they appear to be dreaming, and their brains are incredibly active. Some even sleepwalk and need to be strapped to their beds. Normal life in Santa Lora has ground to a halt, and experts must find a cure for this thing before it spreads outside of the city.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a science fiction book set in the small fictional town of Santa Lora, California. At first, the book centers on Mei, a lonely and socially awkward college student who is struggling to make friends and find her place in dorm life. It is Mei's roommate Kara who is the first victim of the virus, but it soon spreads throughout the dorm, and then into the city. As with any outbreak of a new disease, panic sets in for most, and outright paranoia for others. The narration moves away from Mei and also explores the experiences of a single survivalist father with two young daughters; a young couple with a history of martial strife, and their newborn baby; a single mother who flew into Santa Lora as a medical specialist and becomes trapped behind the barricades of the quarantine; and a biology professor who regularly explores the woods of the city, while hoping that his partner's mind one day clears up and remembers. Some help, while others remain helpless, while still others can only be scared, all hoping that there is a stop to this thing before it overtakes everyone, and continues beyond the city.
My Verdict: This is a fascinating premise with terrifying implications. Of course, the world is no stranger to quickly spreading infectious diseases. There is always a wide range of reactions, with everything from paranoia to skepticism, and Walker attempts to explore some of them. Unfortunately, I feel that she falls a bit short. What has happened in Santa Lora has the potential to go in so many directions, and while it was smart to pick a few of the town's citizens to focus on, somehow none of their stories feel complete. The mysterious virus also leaves a lot to be desired, even near the end of the book when some answers are provided, along with a little hope for the future. I also had an issue with the general pacing of the novel, as well as how the narrative switches between characters, allowing intense focus on some, while others are cast aside, seemingly for convenience. In short, this book had a lot of potential, and I wish there was slightly more follow-through.
Favorite Moment: When Sara and Libby, two young girls who have been left to fend for themselves, manage to get help for a young father and his daughter without being discovered.
Favorite Character: Sara is only 13, but she is somehow able to keep herself together enough to also take care of her sister, and keep them both from being discovered by authorities. Even after their father falls asleep and is taken away, causing their house to be marked as infected, Sara taps into the survivalist skills she has learned and keeps the two girls, as well as five cats and two dogs, alive and well.
Recommended Reading: Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel also follows the destructive path of an infectious disease, but this one is much more deadly, and effects humanity on a global scale, with effects that reach far into the future.
Finally! I carved out time to read Aaron Shulman's The Age of Disenchantments: The Epic Story of Spain's Most Notorious Literary Family and the Long Shadow of the Spanish Civil War. Shulman is another author whose talk I managed to miss out on at the 7th Annual San Antonio Book Festival, but I did manage to snag a book and get it signed. What drew me to the book was the idea of learning not only about one of Spain's literary families, but also about the Spanish Civil War and how the country has come to be what it is today.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a nonfiction book that opens with the death of Spanish poet Federico García Lorca, who was assassinated in 1936 for his left-wing sympathies and outspoken support of socialism. From there, Shulman covers not only the entire Spanish Civil War and the years that follow, but also the lives and many trials - and some triumphs - of the Panero family. Against the backdrop of the war, Shulman tells the family's story with incredible detail, highlighting the complications of marriage and family life, as well as the issues that arise when attempting to choose a side as the country you live in is being torn apart. Leopoldo Panero's decision would of course influence his poetry, causing readers to view his work in a certain light for years to come.
The title of the book comes from a documentary that was made of the
family in 1976, The Disenchantment, which included personal interviews
from the wife and three sons of Leopoldo, 14 years after the
poet's death. While many would regard the documentary as a masterpiece, others would more or less see it as an exposé, with Felicidad, Leopoldo's wife, using her interviews as a time to settle old scores and air dirty laundry, not only about her late husband, but about certain friends and family. Even Leopoldo's three sons, Juan Luis, Leopoldo María, and José Moisés, or "Michi," would reveal and speak of things that some believe should have been kept within the family. But something the film seemed to do was link the fate of the Paneros with the story of Spain, as the country attempted to reconcile itself with its tumultuous past.
My verdict: If I am going to read about a war, this is the way I want to do it. Shulman's book is first and foremost an exploration of the literary Panero family, but it is also, pretty much in equal measure, about the Spanish Civil War. In a move that marries the two subjects beautifully, Shulman presents them both as they progressed through the years. Of course, it helps tremendously that Leopoldo Panero became connected to the dictatorship that would run the country for nearly 40 years. Even so, there is always potential for the presentation of historical events like these to be boring, but Shulman manages to present the facts, of both the country and the family, and keep it all incredibly interesting. What is also impressive, and obvious, is the amount of research and work Shulman put into this project in order to get the kind of detail he was able to present.
Favorite Moment: Michi's questioning of his oldest brother as to whether or not it was possible that the great Panero legacy would end with them.
Recommended Reading: I feel like I don't recommend Don Quixote enough, so I am recommending it now.
Even without reading it, I knew Samira Ahmed's Internment was an excellent book to offer as part of a giveaway to college students stressing over finals. And at only 70 pages into my own copy, I felt that decision was completely validated, and could only hope that the winner was enjoying it as much as I was. By the end of it, I wanted to buy as many copies as Amazon would let me and start handing it out on street corners.
The Situation: Layla Amin and her family are Muslim, and because they openly declared this and refused to lie about it, they are on a registry in the U.S. The president has declared that Muslims are a threat to America, and since the registry, Layla's dad has lost his job as a university professor, and her mother's chiropractic practice is slowly losing patients. Then the seemingly impossible happens, and the Amin family are forced from their home and relocated to a camp holding other Muslims. After being given only ten minutes to pack one bag, Layla has to say goodbye to the only home she has ever known. While her parents have adopted the strategy of staying calm, staying quiet, keeping their heads down, and going along with it, Layla wants nothing more than to rage with everything she has. But unleashing that rage may cost her more than she is willing to pay.
The Problem (as if what happened above is not enough): Camp Mobius is dusty. Located somewhere in the California desert, hundreds of American citizens who identified themselves as Muslim are being held in this dusty area that is guarded with armed soldiers, and an electrified fence topped with razor wire. Everything about the place makes Layla angry, but also afraid. She wants to keep herself and her parents, and her new friends out of danger, but she also wants the world outside Mobius to see what is going on. She wants to fight for freedom, and not simply give in and hope for rescue. After she begins to receive help from an unlikely source, Layla begins to believe that fighting back is possible. But her desire for justice has caught the attention of the Director, a cruel man with a temper, who wants Camp Mobius to be a successful example for future internment camps, the plans for which are already in motion. Layla and her friends must decide if the revolution they want is worth the danger they will bring upon themselves and their families.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a young adult fiction book set in a not-so-distant and frighteningly easy-to-imagine future. After all Muslims are declared to be a threat to America, Layla and her family are forced to leave their homes and enter an internment camp, much like the Japanese and Germans were made to do during World War II. Each family is assigned to a trailer home, and these homes are divided
by block. It does not take long for Layla and her new friend, Ayesha, to
realize that even the blocks are separated by ethnicity. The Director and his Exclusion Guards, who are members of the National Guard that were reassigned, enforce a strict schedule, while also attempting to portray an idyllic camp to the outside world. The scenery, imagery, nearly everything about the camp is reminiscent of what is described in books like Jan Jarboe Russell's The Train to Crystal City, which details what it was like inside the internment camp of Crystal City, Texas. What takes place, including the violence and intimidation, is not anything new or something that has not happened before. And while resistance may come with a huge risk, staying quiet and obeying may actually be worse.
My Verdict: The cost of resistance is often impossibly high. And what is most infuriating about that cost is that the people who pay it are simply looking for justice and trying to live their lives. Layla faces impossible choices on almost every page of this novel, choices that no human being, let alone a 17 year-old girl, should have to make. But she makes them, and she sticks with them, and that is what makes her courageous. And Ahmed did not write Layla as some overpowered, almost superhuman, super-intelligent teenager with unshakable resolve to fight for what is right. Layla is often broken, scared, not sure what to say, and even foolish. But that may be the point. Revolutions are started by 'everyday' people. The novel is full of a hope that is easy to lose sight of. And with the dust, and the small cramped mobile homes, and the terrible food, and the complete loss of freedom, Ahmed brings to life a scenario that many have never considered, but could end up being all too real.
Favorite Moment: When Ayesha stands up to the boy she likes in defense of Layla's plan.
Favorite Character: Ayesha is the kind of friend that can help keep a person together in a place like Mobius. She is funny, but also serious when she needs to be. And when it comes down to sticking with her friend or going along with the boy she likes, she chooses her friend with no hesitation.
Recommended Reading: Layla's actions remind me of the group of students who fight the battle in Les Miserables by Victor Hugo, a battle that is doomed from the beginning as they are outgunned and outmatched. It all seems like a terrible plan, and that they should give up and save themselves. But if someone does not stand up and fight, then nothing may ever change. Also, I recommend The Train to Crystal City by Jan Jarboe Russell for more information and background on the internment camps of WWII.
Once again I have decided to pick up a book I was never forced to read while in school, though many of my friends were. For the most part, I have heard only praise for Gabriel García Márquez's One Hundred Years of Solitude. And once the news broke that Netflix had acquired the rights, I figured now was as good a time as any to read it.
The Situation: In the fictional town of Macondo, José Arcadio Buendía has decided to establish a new community by the river. With his wife, Úrsula, the two of them will be the beginning of seven generations of Buendías who will reside in Macondo. Many will spend some portion of their lives outside of the town, while others will eventually leave and never be heard from again. But for the most part, the Buendías will have their home base in the place that José Arcadio Buendía decided to call home. In the early days, when the Gypsies visit Macondo every year to dazzle the residents with their tricks and inventions, José Arcadio Buendía will be so enamored with the presentations and conversations of a man named Melquíades, that he will become occupied with nothing else except using the instruments presented to him to set his family and small town onto a path of prosperity, leaving Úrsula to take care of their growing family, while also making sure her husband does not bring them all to ruin.
The Problem: The Buendías will not have an easy time of it. Despite José Arcadio Buendía's insistence to discover something great, and Úrsula's practical and resolute disposition, all of the Buendía's seemed to be destined for struggle, though most of their problems are of their own making. They do enjoy a time of fortune and high status, mostly due to Úrsula's tireless efforts. But pride, greed, lust, and general selfishness work to ensnare them all. After a time, and as the family line continues, an aging Úrsula becomes insistent that they stop using the same names for the new children being born, as she is tired of history repeating itself and the same problems coming up with the same results. But the naming convention continues, and so do the issues. It is as if their fate, indeed the fate of the entire town, has been decided, and the fight against time is useless.
Genre, Themes, History: This is a fiction novel set in an unnamed time, in the fictional town of Macondo, which has been established somewhere deep in the jungles of Colombia. And although José Arcadio Buendía was instrumental in finding the spot he settled on, even he has a hard time navigating the land around it in an effort to explore. Once the town is established, and the Buendía's begin to raise children, strange and almost magical events begin to take place in the town, and not all of them are positive. And if José Arcadio Buendía is prone to explore and experiment - which often leads him to squandering his own family's small savings in pursuit of something that was never going to work out - then Úrsula is practical and hardworking, almost to a fault. As time goes on, and as the family line grows but does not branch out, the enduring Buendía's continue to make the same mistakes, have the same affairs, the same conflicts, the same scandals, and the same tragedies, no matter what precautions they take. Told in a style in which García Márquez's grandmother used to tell stories, the repetition of history and the fluid manner in which time passes and the story is told are just some of the elements that made this novel an instant wonder.
My Verdict: From the first chapter, I knew I had made the right decision, and that I should have made it a lot sooner. This book is all at once wonderful, lovely, heartbreaking, and tragic. It is clear that the Buendía family is destined to struggle in one way or another, but a lot of the misery could have been eliminated if they also were not so bent on pursuing their own destruction. And it is not just the family that seems enchanted (or cursed), the entire town of Macondo is under this same spell where time repeats itself, events happen that normally would not seem possible, and even memories are a tricky thing as some will remember fantastic events in great detail, while others will deny anything ever happen. And every story, from the practical to the outlandish, is told in such a tone where it all has to be true, no matter how terrible or unreal. My only regret is that I cannot read it in its original Spanish, which I am sure would make it even more enchanting than its English translation.
Favorite Moment: *spoiler alert* When Remedios the Beauty, José Arcadio Buendía's great-granddaughter, ascends to heaven while hanging the laundry.
Favorite Character: As the matriarch, Úrsula does what she can to hold the family together. When she passes the age of 100, and her body begins to decline significantly, she still maintains a strength that those half her age have a hard time holding onto. When her mind and memory starts to go, she still manages to hold onto some secrets, even as her family attempts to pry them out of her.
Recommended Reading: Though a different kind of story, Fruit of the Drunken Tree by Ingrid Rojas Contreras also takes place in Colombia and was easily one my favorite books of 2018.
Digital libraries are a thing of beauty. That is how I accessed Normal People by Sally Rooney. I was able to read it on my phone while at the laundromat, while standing in line to vote, and while waiting for friends at a restaurant. Granted, I could do the same with a physical book, but this time all I had to do was close an app and put the phone in my back pocket when I had to pause. Of course, physical books will always be #1 in my heart. 
