Review: THREE WILD DOGS (AND THE TRUTH) -- [+Friday56 LinkUp]

Title: Three Wild Dogs (and the truth): a memoir by Markus Zusak

Book Beginning quote: from the Prologue -- The Wilderness Within

There's nothing like having a punch-up with your dog on a crowded city street: 

--The intersection is vast. 

--The oncoming judgment, electric.

Friday56 quote: from the chapter:  The Dog Who Knocked Me Out

There's no nonhumiliating way to put this: 

--In January of 2011, Reuben knocked me out in the park. 

--He busted my knee. I was knocked out cold.

Summary: 

What happens when the Zusak family opens their home to three big, wild, street-hardened dogs -- Reuben, more wolf than hound; Archer, blond, beautiful, destructive; and the rancorously smiling Frosty who walks like a rolling thunderstorm? The answer can only be chaos. Three Wild Dogs (and the truth) is a tender, motley, and exquisitely written memoir about the human need for both connection and disorder, a love letter to the animals who bring hilarity and beauty straight to our doors and into our lives, and change us forever (Publisher).

Review: Back in 2006/07 I read two books I absolutely adored by the same author: I Am the Messenger and The Book Thief. The author of those two books is Markus Zusak. I, and the rest of the literary world, were so enthralled by The Book Thief, in particular, we wanted more books from the author and we waited with baited breath to see what he would give us next. Well, as it turns out, Zusak was stuck with some terrible case of writer's block working on his book Bridge of Clay, which wasn't published until 2017, and he was raising a family AND three wild dogs. No wonder he didn't just churn our another international sensation each year after publishing his magnum opus. He was busy wrangling dogs. This book is that story.

As a dog lover who likes small to medium dogs and is a tiny bit afraid of big dogs, I admire a family who is willing to take on the big, wild dogs who need to be adopted, because I am not willing to do it myself. Zusak, who is obviously a fantastic writer, is also very, very funny. I am not sure when I have laughed so much over a book, especially a nonfiction one. He regales the readers with the antics of the dogs and often mortifying things the dogs did on their way to being trained, or at least better than trained than they were. The funniest bits involve Zusak imagining what the dogs/cats are saying inside their heads. And, boy, those pets have potty mouths!

In the midst of all the hilarity and anxious moments there were the precious ones, too. For example, not long after Reuben, the first wild dog, joined the family the Zusaks had their first child, a girl. The chapter title says it all -- "The dog who loved a girl." As the daughter, nicknamed Kitty, grew older and joined her parents on walks with Reuben, the dog would slow his pace and not pull at all if he knew Kitty held his leash. Kitty would host tea parties and invite Reuben to join her. He was devoted to his girl. After the Zusaks had another child, a boy named Noah, they also adopted another street dog, Archer. Archer was a gentleman and a terror. And he was always getting into trouble doing Reuben's bidding. He was like the the kid in school who didn't instigate the trouble but always got caught doing it. The dogs loved each other but also would fight each other or work in concert together to cause trouble, sometimes horrifyingly so.

Just when things finally come together and Zusak's book The Bridge of Clay is published and he goes out on book tours around the world, Reuben gets sick. Therefore his wife had to handle the bulk of the medical issues alone. I've lived through sick pets and there is nothing more agonizing for a pet owner since the pet cannot tell you how they are feeling and it is hard to know when it is time to let them go. The Zusaks agonized about their decision over Reuben. I shed big tears at this point. I've been in their shoes. Most pet owners have. After Reuben is gone Archer is a new man, but soon he, too, gets sick and goes downhill fast. After Archer is gone the family is only dogless for a few months before they adopt Frosty, who is maybe the wildest of them all. (The opening quote is about Zusak's experience trying to train Frosty.)

I love this book. It is funny and poignant. It is real and relatable. I think other animal lovers will enjoy it, too.

My rating: 4.75 stars

Even though my book group hasn't picked Three Wild Dogs for an upcoming meeting I do think it would be a great discussion book. May I suggest a few questions which should get a good discussion going:

Discussion questions:

1. What did you like best/least about the book?
2. Take turns sharing one funny/poignant pet story from your family. (If you have never had a pet, highlight one from this book or another animal situation in a book you found funny or poignant.)
3. Explain what (and the truth) means in context to the story about "wild" dogs.
4. What did you think of Zusak's writing style? All the bulleted lists? The asides?
5. Three Wild Dogs is Zusak's first nonfiction book. Name other novelists who have published other types of books that you read and liked. (Examples -- Children's books, poetry, nonfiction, memoir, graphic novels, essays, etc.) I'll get you started with a few ideas
1. John Green - a famous YA novelist (The Fault in Our Stars) wrote a book of essays (The Anthropocene Reviewed) and a new nonfiction (Everything is Tuberculosis)
2. Margaret Atwood - a Canadian novelist (A Handmaid's Tale) published a book of poetry (Dearly)
3. George Saunders - a novelist and short story writer (Lincoln in the Bardo) published a fabulous nonfiction book which could be a writer's manual (A Swim in the Pond in the Rain)
6. Which situation upset you the most? The mauling of the possum; The death of Bijoux; The episode with the piano teacher?
7. Do you agree with Camilla, a friend of the Zusak family? She said, "A pet dying is almost more devastating [than the death of a friend], because humans come and go -- they have more connections, they're out more in the world, out in their lives. But a pet is totally ours. They stay. Only we know them best. Only we really understood them. Only we can forgive them" (186).
8. React to what Zusak said, "If it's true that our lives flash before our eyes at the moment we die, I'm sure my dogs will be in the light." (219)

Sign up for The Friday56 on the Inlinkz below. 

RULES:

*Grab a book, any book

*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your e-reader (If you want to improvise, go ahead!)

*Find a snippet, but no spoilers!

*Post it to your blog and add your url to the Linky below. If you do not add the specific url for your post, we may miss it! 

*Visit other blogs and leave comments about their snippets. Expand the community. Please leave a comment for me, too!  

Also visit Book Beginnings on Friday hosted by Rose City Reader and First Line Friday hosted by Reading is My Super Power to share the beginning quote from your book.

-Anne

Classic Review: THE BROTHERS KARAMAZOV

This is the edition I recommend

The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky is one of those huge Russian tomes that ends up on almost all literary experts' lists of best books ever written. Yet I imagine few people readily pick it up and read it for their own enjoyment because the book itself is so intimidating -- it is long (the version I read is 845 pages); it is dense (long paragraphs, some are over three pages) with little white-space on each page; and it is so Russian where each character has three or four names they are called throughout the story and with very complex plotting. Despite all that The Brothers Karamazov is both a joyful book and a funny one in many ways. 

Richard Pevear, one of the translators for the bicentennial edition of Brothers, explains in his introduction that earlier translations of the text to English "revised, 'corrected,' or smoothed over Dostoevsky's idiosyncratic prose, removing much of the humor and the distinctive voicing of the novel." Based on Pevear's observation, I recommend this translation as it most closely aligns with the author's intentions. Plus more joy and lots of humor is good.

I knew little about the plot before diving into the book. A murder and a trial, I knew. Brilliant person that I am, I surmised there were brothers. What I didn't know was how each brother represents a different type of man, especially spiritually. Dmitri, the oldest brother, stands at the center, as Pevear says, "in the dark." He is a sensual man, impulsive, and dramatic. He has two half-brothers. Ivan, the next oldest, is very angry and an atheist-intellectual. Alyosha (Alexi), the youngest, is a novice monk, very kind, and spiritual. Their father, Fyodor Pavlovich Karamazov, is selfish, wicked, and sentimental. He passes onto his sons a certain force, an earthiness. Later in the novel, the trial attorneys refer to this force as Karamazovian. 

I was delighted to meet these characters in the first half of the novel, especially Alyosha. As a novice monk he was under the spiritual care of Elder Zosima who many viewed as a saint. The Elder's kindness and non-judgmental attitude drew people to him. Because he held Alyosha in high esteem we knew this brother, of the three, would be okay in the end. For several chapters in one the early books -- twelve "books" comprise the whole novel -- the Elder imparts his spiritual wisdom to those attending him before his death. His wisdom was as impactful on this 21st century girl (me) as it was for the intended 19th century reading audience. At this point in my reading I commented to my husband that I had no idea how spiritual this book is. 

Alyosha walks out of the Karamazov tragedy free, alive and sane, because he has acquired this double vision. Alyosha enters the fray, extends an ear, an eye, and a hand to his brothers in trouble. He never gives up his fundamental trust that every person is human, and therefore motivated by thirst for “pravda” [truth]. Dostoevsky leaves us with a remarkable gift: that fantastic realism which helps us see, in daily life and below its surface, the man/God struggle in process – a powerful insight of hope (Langan).

Dostoevsky came to his own spiritual awakening after being exiled to Siberia and hard labor for his part in some intellectual activity involving banned books. When he returned from Siberia his writing took on a more spiritual tone. All of his works address the human condition in troubled political, social, and spiritual times. In The Brothers Karamazov Dostoevsky shines a light on the troubles ahead for Russia, almost like a psychic foretelling of the revolution to come.

The second half of The Brothers Karamazov is a murder mystery and the trial of the eldest son, Dmitri. Once again I turned to my husband to suggest that all trial lawyers should read this book so they know how to make impactful closing statements. My husband, a retired lawyer, laughed and said several of his professors in law school suggested the same thing, encouraging their students to read the book. After listening to the 50+ pages of summation by the trial's prosecutor I thought it was a slam dunk that Dmitri would be found guilty. Then the defense lawyer stood up and made the best case ever why the brother should be acquitted. Who would think such long-winded "summations" would be so riveting?

I listened to the audio version of Brothers, all 42 hours! (Well, truthfully it was 33 hours since I reduced listening time by bumping up the speed to 1.25x.) The voice actor, Ben Miles, did an incredible job with the distinct voices of all the characters. Apparently Dostoevsky worked really hard to create distinct voices. In the 1930s his notebooks were published which showed how he gathered phrases, mannerisms, and verbal tics from which his various characters would emerge. I probably was less aware of the effort required to create unique verbal nuances for each character than a person reading the text would be because Ben Miles adroitly made each voice unique with his delivery. As a British actor he certainly did his homework to learn how to pronounce the Russian, German, and Polish words in the text.

The experience of listening to the spoken words enhanced my enjoyment of Brothers because this is essentially a novel about words -- from the Word of God to the banal language of drunkards, and everything in between.

In its composition [The Brothers Karamazov] seems to have swallowed a small library: it is full of quotations, imitations, allusions. Its characters are not only speakers; most of them are writers: they write letters, articles, pamphlets, tracts, memoirs, suicide notes. They perform, make speeches, tell jokes; they preach and confess. Words addressed, received, remembered, forgotten, carry an enormous weight in the novel and have an incalculable effect (Pevear, xx).

The narrator of The Brothers Karamazov is never identified but enters and fades from the story throughout, sometimes leaving the narration to come from the omnipotent 3rd person point-of-view and at other times showing up though inserted phrases such as, "Being at a loss to resolve these questions, I am resolved to leave them without any resolution." and "I'll leave that speech for later." Jane Austen is an author who used a similar narrative style, but I always got the sense she is the narrator. I didn't get that impression here. Dostoevsky doesn't make himself the narrator, just someone else relaying the troubled story of the three brothers. I am left with the feeling he wanted to tell much more of the story, but for the sake of brevity (snark) left some things out.

Italo Calvino defined a classic as a book which never finishes what it has to say. Forevermore the classic of classics to me will be The Brothers Karamazov. I have a sneaking suspicion if I were to reread the book tomorrow it would have something new to say to me even after such a short break between readings. "The Brothers Karamazov tackles at all levels – psychological, sociological, political and religious – some of the anguished questions of the contemporary world, ours, as well as his" (Langan). These are issues we will likely never stop grappling with. It is a classic among classics!

For the past five years I have selected to read one special book during the year. I call it my 'One Big Book Challenge.' The Brothers Karamazov was my one big book of 2025 and I couldn't be more pleased with myself to have conquered it. Several years ago I read an article by a man who had all but abandoned reading because he found today's social media so short, quick and instantly rewarding. In the article he reflected on the negative impact this had and then outlined how he got himself back to reading big books. In the article, which I cannot find, he also reflected on the what happens to our psyches when we do complete a big book, a book that took us some effort and time to complete. The perseverance required has an impact on many other aspects of our lives, leading among them the knowledge within ourselves that we CAN do hard things. After finishing The Brothers Karamazov I stumbled upon this list of 29 books we should read before we die [Brothers was on the list, of course.] Many, if not all, of the books would fall into the category of being big, hard books to read. As I looked over the list I felt my determination rising to finish the 11 remaining that I haven't read yet. Heck, I can read hard books and I can do lots of hard things in my life. Moby-Dick, Anna Karenina, Crime and Punishment, A Tale of Two Cities, which of you is next?

-Anne

Sunday Salon -- Spring

View of our street. Yesterday it was "raining" blossoms.

Weather: You name it we've probably seen it, or were threatened we'd see it, this week -- sun, RAIN, wind, lightning, fog, (hail and tornado didn't materialize). Lather, rinse, repeat.

Mom is 96! Last week-end I gathered in Eugene with all my siblings, their spouses (minus one), and my kids and grandkids to celebrate mom and her big birthday. 96! Among the activities each of my siblings and mother read Jamie, my youngest grandson, a book from his 100 Books Before Kindergarten list. I captured a few of these readings on my phone. The video below is my youngest sister reading a Sandra Boynton book, Woo-Hoo! You're Doing Great! And in the upper right quadrant of the collage,  shows Mom reading The Lorax to Jamie.

Books and blogging the past two weeks:

• Currently reading
• Three Wild Dogs (and the truth): a memoir by Markus Zusak -- from the author of The Book Thief, a memoir of his family life with three large, wild dogs. 42% complete. Print.
• Between Two Kingdoms: A Memoir of a Life Interrupted by Suleika Jaouad -- A twenty-something gal just graduated from college is diagnosed with leukemia. Her life changes instantly. After she is declared to be in remission she goes on a roadtrip across America to meet those people who wrote to her during her illness. 29% complete. Audio.
• The Wonder of Small Things: Poems of Renewal and Hope edited by James Crews. I loved the first book in the series of poetry collections edited by Crews so I bought this one when I saw it on the shelf at Barnes and Noble. 31% complete. Print.
• Everything is Tuberculosis: The History and Persistence of Our Deadliest Infection by John Green. I am a huge John Green fan and will read anything he writes, even books about diseases, I guess. I'm listening to this book with my husband. 32% complete. Audio.
• Completed
• The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. This book will forever be my definition of a classic! Wow. Amazing. I listened to the whole thing. 42 hours and nine jigsaw puzzles later I finally finished. It took me almost a month to complete. Rating 5+ stars.
• Puzzles I completed as I listened -- the Veggie Stand; Golf Posters; Doughnuts; Decorative Chocolate; Quilts (x2); The Bookshelf; Cakes; and The Novel Avenue.
• Bel Canto by Ann Patchett. This book published in 2001, has long been on my reading list. When I saw it on the NYT Top 100 Books of the 21st Century list I knew I HAD to read it, for sure. That said, the book didn't knock my socks off. I'm still deciding how to review it, critically or emotionally. I listened to this with my husband and daughter. They both rated it with 3+ stars, I was kinder with a rating of 4 stars.
• Let's Call Her Barbie by Renee Rosen. A fictional account of the lives of the real people who invented Barbie. My feeling about the book are fairly complicated. Read my review (linked below). Print. 4 stars. 
• The Not-Quite States of America: Dispatches from the Territories and Far-Flung Outposts of the USA by Doug Mack. A nonfiction travel/historical guide to all five+ US territories. Interesting and boring at the same time. Print. 4 stars.
• How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope edited by James Crews. I bought this anthology in a bookstore in Maine on our trip last October. I savored it for months. Print. 5 stars.
• Blog posts you might have missed:
• TTT: My Spring Reading List
• Review: The Not-Quite States of America
• Review: Small Rain
• TTT: Books I Never Started or Finished from my Seasonal Reading Lists
• Introduction to National Poetry Month
• WW: Blossoms and a poem
• Review: Let's Call Her Barbie
• 29 Timeless Novels Everyone Should Read Before They Die

Prayers Needed this week for:

• R. who has been in the hospital for several weeks due to pneumonia. He just learned he needs a heart transplant now.
• C. boys whose mother died last week after a battle with cancer.
• A. who is recovering from brain surgery.
• Our country and the world. What a mess we are making for everyone.
• M. whose mother died this past week.

Incident: Yesterday evening Don and I drove to our daughter's home to babysit our grandsons so their parents could go on a date. By the time we were heading home it was midnight. As we drove the 25 miles to home on county roads we got hit by something that made a huge thunk. It was a two-lane road and no good place to pull over to see what happened until we were several miles down the road. What we discovered  was disconcerting. We were egged. Egg yolk and shells were splattered all over the side of our vehicle. Yuck. Fortunately there was no permanent damage done but it was a first for us -- getting egged out of the blue! We also had another first -- going to a carwash at 1 AM. to wash the egg off the vehicle before it hardened on. (And imagine some kids using eggs for this purpose when eggs are like solid gold right now since they are so expensive!)

Everyone Welcome Here: The Controversy. Watch the video then post the poster on your social media in solidarity. The world has gone completely nuts if anyone thinks this poster is bad!

-Anne

TTT: 29 Timeless Novels Everyone Must Read Before They Die

Top Ten Tuesday

29 Timeless Novels Everyone Must Read Before They Die 

I found this list of 29 timeless (classic) novels here on MSN webpage. I've read 18 of them and want to read all eleven remaining titles.

Here is the list and a thought or two from me. All the quotes are from the original list. *Books I've read.

Read my comments at the end of the list and make suggestions for additional books that cover a wider variety of cultures and life experiences.

*1. 1984 by George Orwell.  I read this book as an adult after I started my job as a teen librarian around 2007. It was one of those books I thought I knew what it was about and was shocked by how prescient it was to our time. I'm not sure I would have thought the same thing had I read it as a teenager in the 1970s. "The book remains a powerful commentary on the importance of critical thought and resistance against tyranny."

*2. Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. I read this the first time as a pre-teen, possibly an abridged version. I loved it then and have reread it several times since, last time in 2021, though I'm tempted to read it again this year, the 250th year of the author's birth. "This timeless classic continues to captivate readers with its humor, charm, and astute observations on human behavior."

*3. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee. If asked I usually say this is my favorite book, though sometimes I will name Pride and Prejudice. Both are wonderful. This novel amazes me every time I've reread it. "Through Scout's eyes, readers explore themes of morality, empathy, and the complexities of human nature, making this a must-read for all generations."

4. Moby Dick by Herman Melville. I think I've been afraid to read this book -- too long, too deep, too whale-y. But recently I've rethought my ability to conquer big, complex books and have added it to my TBR. "Rich with symbolism and philosophical inquiry, "Moby-Dick" stands as a cornerstone of American literature, challenging readers to ponder humanity's place in the natural world."

*5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald. I also read this book for the first time, or completed for the first time, in the late 2000s after becoming a librarian. I wanted to read the books the students were assigned to read for their classes. I wouldn't consider this book a great favorite of mine but it is certainly a snapshot of a bygone era. I understand that some experts believe this book ushered in the Jazz Age. "Fitzgerald's lyrical prose and keen social commentary capture the era's essence while probing the illusion of happiness and the pursuit of impossible dreams."

6. War and Peace by Leo Tolstoy. If I'm intimidated by Moby-Dick, You can imagine how feel about this intimidating tome? My husband is a huge fan of the great Russian authors led by Tolstoy. I think I'll start with Anna Karenina and see how I do before I commit to reading both. "The narrative's sweeping scope and rich detail transport readers to a world of opulence, conflict, and transformation. War and Peace is celebrated for its insightful portrayal of human nature and its profound historical insights."

*7. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger. I read it and was pretty unimpressed. I honestly think there are better coming-of-age novels than this one, but this one may have been one of the first of the angsty teen novels so it always ends up on these types of lists. It doesn't take long to read, which makes it pretty painless.  "Salinger's exploration of youthful rebellion and existential questioning has cemented the novel's place as a defining work of 20th-century literature, appealing to generations seeking to understand the challenges of growing up."

*8. The Brothers Karamazov by Fyodor Dostoevsky. I just finished this book yesterday and was blown away by it. Forevermore when I talk about classic novels I will think of this as the prototype. What an excellent novel. Make a commitment to read it. "Through its rich philosophical discourse and compelling narrative, the novel challenges readers to examine their beliefs and the nature of free will. It remains a timeless classic, revered for its depth and insight."

9. The Odyssey by Homer. I'm sure I read some of this in junior high school, but I don't recall how much. So I will need to reread this to even count it as "read." I've always enjoyed Greek Mythology so I'm sure I will get a lot out of it. "Homer's masterful storytelling and vivid imagery bring the ancient world to life, offering timeless lessons on the resilience of the human spirit. This enduring epic continues to inspire and enthrall audiences."

*10. Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte. I read this as a teenager and know I am due for a reread. "Brontë's pioneering portrayal of a strong female protagonist and her critique of social norms make "Jane Eyre" a seminal work in the literary canon."

*11. The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien. I read this and the Lord of the Rings Trilogy when I was in high school, which is sort of amazing since I wasn't much of a reader at the time. This entryway book to the trilogy was my favorite of the four books. "Tolkien's rich world-building and imaginative storytelling create a captivating adventure that explores themes of courage, friendship, and personal growth."

12. Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoevsky. This book wasn't even on my list until yesterday after finishing The Brothers Karamazov. I loved that book so much I am eager to read more by the author. "Set against the backdrop of St. Petersburg's gritty streets, Dostoevsky's masterful narrative offers a profound examination of the human psyche and the complexities of morality. This riveting tale continues to captivate and challenge readers."

*13. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by J.R.R. Tolkien. See my note above on The Hobbit. "This monumental work has left an indelible mark on literature, inspiring countless readers with its timeless tale of courage and hope."

*14. Wuthering Heights by Emily Bronte. I reread this book several years ago after first reading it as a teen. I understood the nuanced tension much better the second time around. It is still a little dark for my taste. "Brontë's evocative portrayal of the wild, untamed landscape mirrors the intense emotions of the characters, creating a powerful atmosphere that immerses readers in the story."

15. Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy. This book was recently re-added to my TBR. I am determined to read it. "Set against the backdrop of 19th-century Russian aristocracy, the narrative delves into themes of passion, fidelity, and the constraints of societal norms."

*16. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. I was blown away by the fact that Steinbeck wrote the book, which accurately portrays the horrors of living during the Great Depression and the Dust Bowl days, while it was actually happening. This is a not-to-be-missed book for sure! And it is the only Pulitzer Prize winner on the list, too. "Through its vivid narrative and compelling characters, the novel explores themes of survival, dignity, and the pursuit of the American Dream." 

*17. A Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. This book with it's futurists view gives me the creeps to think how close to accurate it is. "The chilling portrayal of a society where human connections are replaced by superficial pleasures serves as a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of unchecked technological and societal changes. This thought-provoking work continues to resonate with readers."

18. The Iliad by Homer. I've read parts but not all of this book so I claim it and unread . It is on my TBR and I hope to conquer it soon. "The chilling portrayal of a society where human connections are replaced by superficial pleasures serves as a cautionary tale about the potential consequences of unchecked technological and societal changes. This thought-provoking work continues to resonate with readers."

19. A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens. I haven't read this Dickens' novel but I've read others and always enjoy his writing very much. His novels were all serialized in literary magazines so they offer a lot of cliffhangers to enhance readership. I'm surprised this novel was picked over Great Expectations, but I haven't read this one so maybe it is better. "The novel's rich historical context and emotional depth make it a compelling read, highlighting the enduring struggle between oppression and liberty." 

20. Don Quixote by Miguel de Cervantes. Until recently I hadn't wanted to read this novel, one of the first novels ever published. Now I do. "The novel's enduring appeal lies in its ability to entertain and provoke thought, securing its place as a cornerstone of Western literature and a timeless exploration of human folly and aspiration."

*21. Frankenstein by Mary Shelley. I read this horror classic for the first time last year and was pretty disappointed. I think I was too familiar with the movie Young Frankenstein to be impressed by the original. Sigh. Frankenstein remains a captivating exploration of creation and destruction, hailed for its innovative storytelling and profound philosophical insights.

*22 The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde. thought-provoking but not exactly a personal favorite, I kept wondering if anyone ever worked in Victorian England or if they all had time to just run from tea party to dinner party every day? Ha! "Wilde's wit and eloquent prose create a thought-provoking tale that challenges readers to reflect on the true cost of living without moral restraint."

*23 Les Miserables by Victor Hugo. This classic usually isn't mentioned on the best-of-classics lists, but I loved it and was glad to see it here. I saw the musical first then read the book, an abridged version that was still over 1200 pages long, and then saw the musical a few more times. I can't seem to get my fill of its story. "Themes of social justice, compassion, and the transformative power of love are central to the narrative."

*24 Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov. This is the most depraved book I've ever read but also the most beautifully written. I wasn't sorry I read it, just sorry that sickos like Humbert Humbert really exist. "Nabokov's exquisite prose and storytelling challenge readers to grapple with uncomfortable themes of manipulation and morality."

25. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller. I read this book is high school. I remember I did but I may have skipped more pages than read so I won't count it. I've wanted to re-read for ages now to see what it really has to offer and wonder why it ends up on a list of books 'I must read before I die.' "Through its witty narrative and sharp critique of institutional madness, Catch-22 offers a profound commentary on the futility of war and the human condition."

*26. The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas. Another recent read for me and what a tremendous story. I keep reminding myself there is a reason these books are considered classics, which keep on telling their stories over and over again to new generations of readers. "Dumas masterfully weaves themes of justice, fate, and the transformative power of adversity into the narrative."

27. Invisible Cities by Italo Calvino. This is the only book on the list I've never heard of before. I read Calvino's On a Winter's Night a Traveler, and found its surrealism perplexing but also fun. Invisible Cities is a mesmerizing journey through the imagined cities Marco Polo describes to Kublai Khan. Each city, unique in its essence, unfolds like a delicate poem, revealing glimpses of human nature and the intricacies of civilizations."

28. The Master and Margarita by Mikhail Bulgakov. I used to have this Russian satire on my TBR but recently removed it. Now I want to add it back on after reading the description here. "This novel is a daring and imaginative exploration of good, evil, and love. Set in Soviet Russia, it blends fantasy with reality, weaving a narrative that challenges political norms and societal expectations."

*29. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez. I had a very positive experience listening and discussing this book with my husband. Together we learned a lot about the role of magical realism in Latin American literary traditions. This book kid of blew my mind. "This sweeping narrative follows the Buendía family across generations in the mystical town of Macondo. García Márquez’s masterful storytelling crafts a rich tapestry of magical realism, reflecting the complexities of love, power, and destiny."

This list seems so limited and doesn't cover the breadth of human existence. Only one book out of Latin America. Nothing from South Asia, East Asia, or Africa. No children's literature at all. What about slavery or women's rights? These 29 books seem like a good place to start but I would hope that readers like myself would branch out and find classic books from around the world to enhance their knowledge before they die. 

In addition to the above books, here are a few I suggest. Please leave your suggestions in the comments below.

• South Asia -- Siddhartha by Hesse; Midnight's Children by Rushdie; Brotherless Night by Ganeshananthan.
• East Asia -- Kokoro by Natsume Soseki; Pachinko by Lee; The Mountains Sing by Nguyen; The Tale of the Genji by Shikibu
• Africa -- Things Fall Apart by Achebe; Kintu by Makumbi; The Cairo Trilogy by Mahfouz
• Latin America -- The Alchemist by Coelho; Pedro Paramo by Rulfo; A Long Pedal of the Sea by Allende; Love in the Time of Butterflies by Alvarez; The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao by Diaz
• Australia/New Zealand/Oceania -- The Narrow Road to the Deep North by Flanagan; The Secret River by Grenville; The Bone People by Hume; Catching Teller Crow by Kwaymullina; [from unincorporated territory [amot]: poems by Perez Santos -- I know. Not a novel! But read it anyway, set in Guam.]
• Slavery -- Homegoing by Gyasi; The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Twain/ James by Everett; Beloved by Morrison
• Indigenous experience (North America): There There by Orange; The Sentence by Erdrich
• Children's Lit: The Little Prince by Saint-Exupery; Charlotte's Web by White; A Wrinkle in Time by L'Engle; Anne of Green Gables by L.M. Montgomery; Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Carroll
• Futuristic: The Handmaid's Tale by Atwood; Fahrenheit 514 by Bradley; Orbital by Harvey

      ^ Of course Shakespeare should be on every must-read lists, but he didn't write novels!

-Anne

Review: LET'S CALL HER BARBIE (+Friday56 LinkUp)

Title: Let's Call Her Barbie by Renee Rosen

Book Beginnings quote:

1956: "Pop Goes the Weasel" is what Ruth hears when she opens the conference room door. She's jet-lagged but refuses to succumb on her first day back from vacation. Too excited to have slept on the plane, she's operating on coffee, cigarettes, and pure adrenaline. She's carrying the foot-long carton that rode on her lap during the flight from Switzerland to Los Angeles and cannot wait to reveal what's inside. Her gut tells her she's on the cusp of something big, but even Ruth Handler can't imagine the Pandora's box she's holding in her hands.

Friday56 quote:

1958: They are waiting the arrival of the next round of prototypes from Tokyo. Someone from the loading dock telephoned reception to say they'd arrived, and they had better be right this time. They've been working on Barbie for two years now.

Summary: 

When Ruth Handler walks into the boardroom of the toy company she co-founded and pitches her idea for a doll unlike any other, she knows what she’s setting in motion. It might just take the world a moment to catch up.

In 1956, the only dolls on the market for little girls let them pretend to be mothers. Ruth’s vision for a doll shaped like a grown woman and outfitted in an enviable wardrobe will let them dream they can be anything.

As Ruth assembles her team of creative rebels—head engineer Jack Ryan who hides his deepest secrets behind his genius and designers Charlotte Johnson and Stevie Klein, whose hopes and dreams rest on the success of Barbie’s fashion—she knows they’re working against a ticking clock to get this wild idea off the ground.

In the decades to come—through soaring heights and devastating personal lows, public scandals and private tensions— each of them will have to decide how tightly to hold on to their creation. Because Barbie has never been just a doll—she’s a legacy (Publisher).

Review: I am a huge Barbie fan. When I saw this pink cover on the new books shelf at the library I sntached it up immediately. Then, for some unknown reason, I couldn't make myself read it. It sat on my nightstand for a three full weeks untouched. I had to renew it. When I finally did start it, I felt impatient to get to Barbie herself. I wanted to know about her not about the troubled family life of her inspirational creator, Ruth Handler or the sex life of one of her engineer, Jack Ryan. My impatience was warranted, too, since it took the Mattel Company three years to roll out the first dolls after her inception in 1956. There was a lot to talk about during those creation days, too:

• Just how much engineering went into creating a doll like no other and on such a small scale. The type of plastic that was used had to be invented. Her joints were an engineering feat. They had to figure out how to design her hair so it would stay in and stay stylish. Her boobs -- so many discussions about her boobs. She had to look stylish without looking like a prostitute. Ruth Handler knew what she wanted and Jack Ryan had to make it happen.
• It took ages for them to settle on the name. Ruth's daughter and Jack's wife were both named Barbara so they settled on Barbie.
• Since Barbie was an adult doll for children, she needed stylish clothing scaled to 1/6th the size of humans. Actual fashion designers were hired to create her fashionable wardrobe. Part of the reason Barbie has such a long neck and small waist is clothes for a doll this small would look awful on her if she had regular human proportions. The designers also had to factor in the weight of the cloth, the length of the stitch, and the size of the zippers/buttons/snaps. etc. Many things had to be scaled down and created to make her fashions work.
• Was the public ready for little girls to own a doll who had boobs and wore sophisticated clothes? Ruth Handler thought so but at the first Toy Fair where they rolled Barbie out few retailers ordered the dolls. It took TV advertising during the Mickey Mouse Club for the public (little girls) to start begging their mothers for such a doll. And the rest is history.
• Once Barbie was created the public demanded a boyfriend doll we know as Ken. He was rolled out in 1962 and then a host of other dolls followed. Skipper was created because Ruth Handler was not interested in making Barbie a mother. She wanted Barbie to be a career woman. So instead of creating children for Barbie they created a little sister for her.
• In the 1970s things started going sideways for the company and for Barbie. Ruth and Jack started feuding over who was the creator of the doll, with Jack claiming publically he was the main creator because he was the engineer. His personal life was spiraling, too, with wild partying and probably manic-depression episodes which led to drinking and drugging. His Ruth had a scare with breast cancer due to her heavy smoking. Mattel's Vice President did some creative bookkeeping which got the company into hot water with the SEC and caused to company to push Handler out of her position as President. The book ends as Ruth reinvents herself as a creator of breast prosthetics for women who have had mastectomies.

I really enjoyed the book but had to keep reminding myself that it was a novel, with some make up characters and details about lives that can't be proven. My husband, who was around while I discussed details of the book, was especially critical of the added characters. I had to justify this in terms of moving the story along and allowing the author to highlight aspects of the personalities of the real people through these characters. The author provided a character list, notes, discussion questions, and a bibliography for further reading, which I always find helpful. There were also some black and white photos of the earliest dolls and her outfits. One of the outfits is one I own. Fun!

Barbie in her pink satin full length gown and fur stole.

My Barbie family. Notice the pink satin full length gown and fur stole. The Barbie wearing the dress had to get a new head because the old one kept falling off. 😄

My rating: 4 stars

Sign up for The Friday56 on the Inlinkz below. 

RULES:

*Grab a book, any book

*Turn to page 56 or 56% in your e-reader (If you want to improvise, go ahead!)

*Find a snippet, but no spoilers!

*Post it to your blog and add your url to the Linky below. If you do not add the specific url for your post, we may miss it! 

*Visit other blogs and leave comments about their snippets. Expand the community. Please leave a comment for me, too!  

Also visit Book Beginnings on Friday hosted by Rose City Reader and First Line Friday hosted by Reading is My Super Power to share the beginning quote from your book.

-Anne

Wordless Wednesday : Blossoms (+ a poem)

(If words were allowed I'd include this poem for you to read. Note the blossoms on the street under the flowering plum tree in my neighborhood.)

IN EARLY APRIL

by Ted Kooser

A tree in blossom is a passing cloud

that floats from some warmer place 

then slows and snows itself away, 

a blizzard of petals that will take

your breath away if you are there,

aware of what's about you, petals

in drifts on the sidewalk, each

with a delicate fragrance that sticks

to the toe of your shoe as you scuff

your way along. All this can occur

in the space of a day, even an hour.

Can you be present when it happens

or will your thoughts have skipped off

into summer and the life beyond?

(Source: The Wonder of Small Things: Poems of Peace and Renewal edited by James Crews)

-Anne

April Is National Poetry Month

Every year I turn the page on the calendar from March to April to discover again I've not prepared myself for National Poetry Month. This year, however, I am ready for it: 

• I've purchased a new poetry book edited by James Crews, The Wonder of Small Things: Poems of Peace and Renewal. I just finished another collection edited by Crews, How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope. I'm timing my review of that book to be published on my blog on April 1st!
  
  
  
• I visited the library and checked out four poetry books:
• A Year of Last Things: Poems by Michael Ondaatje
• Make Me Rain: Poems and Prose by Nikki Giovanni
• Grace Notes: Poems About Families by Naomi Shihab Nye
• Time is a Mother by Ocean Vuong
• I've placed at least one other book on hold at the library and hope for my turn sometime in April:
• Tripas: Poems by Brandon Som
  

My goal for the month is to read a minimum of four new poetry books or collections. I will get a jump on that by starting a bit early this year.

A few weeks ago a fellow book blogger asked me how I figure out what poetry books/poets to read. Here are a few few ideas where to start:

• A good place to start if you aren't much of a poetry reader but want to read more is a collection of shorter poems like How to Love the World: Poems of Gratitude and Hope. The collection, edited by James Crews, contains 100 one-page poems by different poets organized loosely on themes. As I read the poems I pay attention to those I particularly like and I also note the poet so I can explore their works later more fully. I discovered Marjorie Saiser through her few poems in the this collection and want to read more.
• I pay attention to the National Book Award which offers an award for best poetry as one of their categories. They also list four finalists along with the winner, and five other volumes on a longlist. That is ten volumes of poetry to explore. What I have noticed about these poetry books is they tend to be more sophisticated/complicated than my tastes run. But I usually try to read at least one or two of them each year. Tripas by Brandon Som was last year's National Book Award winner for poetry.
• Once I find a poet I like I look for other books by them. Mary Oliver, Billy Collins, Rumi, and Naomi Shihab Nye are long-time favorites. Each year I branch out and find new favorites. Nikki Giovanni may become a new favorite. I've read several of her poems in the past but not a whole book. We'll see what I think.
• I don't usually pay attention to social media poets but I did learn of one who has a big Instagram following, Kate Baer, and I've enjoyed two of her books so far. I'm a fan of Amanda Gorman and made a point of read her poetry after Biden's inauguration featured her as the invited poet. Sometimes I even learn about poets who have a big following by paying attention on Goodreads. I "met" Rupi Kaur's poetry this way. And, of course, word of mouth. If bloggers review a poetry book they like I will usually flag it so I remember to look for it at the library.
• Lastly, I sometimes like to explore the poetry of writers not usually thought of as poets: Michael Ondaatje, Ocean Vuong, and Margaret Atwood all come to mind. I met them all first through their fiction writing.

Join me. Read some poetry in April.

-Anne

TTT: Books I Never Started or Finished from My Seasonal Reading Lists

Top Ten Tuesday: Books I Either Never Started or Didn't Finish from My Seasonal Reading Lists

I have finished all books started in 2025. No DNFs yet this year. In 2024 only 4 books were DNFs so instead of listing them I decided to look back on my recent seasonal reading lists to see what books were listed but never finished.

Summer 2022 TBR List--

• State of Terror by Louise Penny and Hillary Clinton --Didn't start.

 Winter 2022 TBR List--

• A Book of Delights: Essays by Ross Gay --Didn't finish

Spring 2023 TBR list:

• Freewater by Luqman-Dawson -- I read a few pages and decided I wasn't interested. 
• On the Subject of Unmentionable Things by Julia Walton -- Same as above
• A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik -- Never started

Autumn 2023 TBR list:

• Scout's Honor by Lily Anderson -- I read 100 pages and DNFd

Spring 2024 TBR List:

• Bee Sting by Paul Murray --another book I read over 100 pages and then abandoned.

Autumn 2024 TBR list:

• The Lion Women of Tehran by Marjan Kamali -- Didn't start
• Olga Dies Dreaming by Xochitl Gonzalez -- Didn't start

Winter 2024 TBR list:

• Mythos by Stephen Frye -- Didn't start

Lest you think I'm an overachiever, I didn't finish several other books during the time frame of each seasonal challenge but have since gone back and finished them up. These ten books will likely remain unread by me, with the possible exception of the last three books. 

-Anne

Review: SMALL RAIN (+Discussion questions)

Title: Small Rain by Garth Greenwell

Book Beginnings quote:

They asked me to describe the pain, but the pain defied description, on a scale of one to ten it demanded a different scale. It was like someone had plunged a hand into my gut and grabbed hold and yanked, trying to turn me inside out and failing and trying again.Like that, while somebody else kneed me in the groin.

Friday56 quote: [Where the narrator is remembering a conversation with his high school class about a favorite untitled poem written in old English, focusing on these two unparsable lines: "Weston wynde, when wyll thow blow, / The smalle rayne downe can Rayne."]:

Imagine the speaker. What is the small rain, isn't it beautiful, the weird adjective, how can rain be small; and does he want it, the speaker of the poem, does he long for the rain, is that how we should understand the cracked syntax, and isn't the poem more beautiful for it, for the difficulty, for the way we can't quite make sense of it, settled sense, I mean, for how it won't stay still...

Summary:

A poet's life is turned inside out by a sudden, wrenching pain. The pain brings him to his knees, and eventually to the ICU. Confined to bed, plunged into the dysfunctional American healthcare system, he struggles to understand what is happening to his body, as someone who has lived for many years in his mind.

This is a searching, sweeping novel set at the furthest edges of human experience, where the forces that give life value—art, memory, poetry, music, care—are thrown into sharp relief. Time expands and contracts. Sudden intimacies bloom. Small Rain surges beyond the hospital to encompass a radiant vision of human life: our shared vulnerability, the limits and possibilities of sympathy, the ideal of art and the fragile dream of America. Above all, this is a love story of the most unexpected kind (Publisher).

Review: An unnamed teacher and poet finds himself at the mercy of the healthcare system during the COVID pandemic -- in pain, frightened, alone, confused, and scared. When he is admitted to ICU he still doesn't know what is happening to him and his life is out of his control. In the weeks he is in the hospital there are small moments of beauty, however, where he finds himself thinking about some piece of music, art, or a poem. For example, at one point he and a nurse find themselves talking about madrigal music they like. The nurse pulls out his phone and cues up a song and they listen together in a special moment. Another time during a procedure he thinks back to a lesson he had with his high school students where they discussed the poem "Smalle Rayne" (Small Rain). I always enjoy finding the title in the text of a book. And here it is.

The healthcare specifics made me wonder if the author had had a similar experience in the ICU, if not he really did very specific, excellent research. The patient is a gay man, and some of the discussions that occured as the doctors attempted to figure out the cause so they could properly treat the man made me feel a little uncomfortable. But I had to keep reminding myself to not be a prude. (This said by me, a person who nearly faints if anyone talks about teeth or dental issues may explain my squeamishness.)

I listened to the audiobook narrated by the author. When I looked at the Friday56 quote (from page 47) I was relieved that I chose the format I did. It drives me crazy when authors don't use quotation marks and, in this case, use big long run-on sentences, a sort of stream-of-consciousness style, thoughts separated by semicolons. When I listened to this quote I was captivated by it but when I looked at I didn't feel the same way.

That said, the books' prose and structure were so beautiful. The story was really elevated by the writing. The author read the audiobook. I would recommend that format.

Rating: 5 stars. 

Discussion Questions

1. What was your reaction to the story? What did you like/not like about it?
2. What did you think of the writing style of Small Rain? See Friday56 quote (above) for an example of the stream-of-consciousness style, with non-traditional punctuation. If you listened to the audiobook, what did you think of the author reading his own book?  
3. If you live inside the USA, what do you think is the biggest problem with our healthcare system? If you live outside the US, what do you like/not like about your healthcare system? What do you know about the healthcare system in the US?
4. Garth Greenwell said the book is NOT autobiographical but he did have a medical emergency in 2020 similar to the book's narrator. He felt completely bewildered by his treatment and his care. To your mind, how were the descriptions of the medical care the poet received accurate? What aspects of his care bothered you the most? Is "bewildered" a good word to describe the experience? Explain.
5. How did the COVID pandemic factor into the story? What experiences did you have with the healthcare system during the pandemic? The book's description mentions the politics of COVID. Did you think the book had a overt/covert political message?
6. Authors find it hard to write about sex and about illness. This book had both. Which made you feel more uncomfortable? How well do you think the author did writing about these difficult topics?
7. Art, mainly poetry but also music and visual art, is a secondary theme. What did you think of the way it was integrated into the story? What were your favorite "art" moments in the story?
8. As the poet spent his days in the hospital he often found himself reflecting on his past life and how he got to where he is now. Through these reflections we learn about his relationship with L., his homosexuality, his teaching career, his relationship with his family especially his sister, and his insecurities. What did you think was effective about this type of storytelling?
9. React to these quotes from Small Rain and explain how they relate to the story:
1. “I was full of squeamishness, which whatever else it is is a way of clinging to life, I could still care about unessential things.”
2. “Read it again, read it more slowly, that was the whole of my pedagogy when I taught my students, who were pressured everywhere else to be more efficient, to take in information more quickly, to make each moment count, to instrumentalize time, which is a terrible way to live, dehumanizing, it disfigures existence.”
3. “....now there was a great gulf and I was on one side of it alone. If I died, what would I be for him but a story, not even my own story but a segment of his, larger or smaller, I would be something he lived past, something he got over, an elegy's inspiration, maybe.”
10. "SMALL RAIN" what does the title have to do with the story?

-Anne