Tuesday, June 30, 2009

Day Ninety

6/30

The Book: Serve the People by Yan Lianke

ISBN: 978-0-8021-7044-6

Suggested By: Sissy Vaughn

Where: Home

When: 10:30-11P

Music: None

Company: The Family

Pages: 9-64 (55)


The Lead In: My wife is asleep next to me and I don’t want to wake her up by typing. I am actually typing this under a blanket.


The 411 on the 55: Well clue you in tomorrow.


Line of the Day: “After a brief, violent explosion somewhere deep inside him, a gorgeous rainbow unfurled before his eyes - a blinding flash of colour that a second, disbelieving look translated, more matter-of-factly, as the Commander’s wife.” pg 23


Fact on the Fiction: Ladies and Gents, the wikipedia page for China. Wikipedia

Monday, June 29, 2009

Day Eighty-Nine

6/29

The Book: Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein

ISBN: 978-0-441-79034-0

Suggested By: Te Norman

Where: Home

When: 9-10P

Music: None

Company: The Family

Pages: 392-438 (55)


The Lead In: It couldn’t go on forever, I grok it is over.


The 411 on the 55: Well, now even Jubal has joined the crowd and Mike sits him down to discuss his plans for the future. After going over the nature of changing the world and such, Mike comes up with a solution. A mob has gathered outside the hotel they are at and Mike goes out and lets himself be martyred, Jesus-style. The gang is all happy, content that Mike hasn’t died, but moved on. Last chapter finds Mike working for the “Old Ones.”


Line of the Day: “I am God. Thou art God...and any jerk I remove is God, too.” pg 421


The 20/20: Boring, dated book. An example of bad science fiction. I believe this book has a reputation because people have forgotten just how bad it is.


Fact on the Fiction: Iron Maiden has a single by the same name off the album “Somewhere in Time.” The Eddie drawing is based off Clint Eastwood’s “The Man With No Name.” Wikipedia

Sunday, June 28, 2009

Day Eighty-Eight

6/28

The Book: Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein

ISBN: 978-0-441-79034-0

Suggested By: Te Norman

Where: Home

When: 11-11:30P

Music: None

Company: The Family

Pages: 336-391 (55)


The Lead In: I keep hoping this will turn around, no dice tonight.


The 411 on the 55: Ben heads to Mike’s “church to discover what is going on. What is going on, you might ask? Orgies and BS. It’s like Heinlein wanted to be a hippy and never got the chance, but since this book was written before the hippies took over, does that make it the precursor? Regardless, today’s reading was a complete load of crap, Mike’s view of the world and the idiots he has brainwashed. No thank you.


Line of the Day: “When your own arse was bare? Come, sir!” pg 361 (it was funny, sorry.)


Fact on the Fiction: “And finally, I believe in my whole race. Yellow, white, black, red, brown --in the honesty, courage, intelligence, durability....and goodness.....of the overwhelming majority of my brothers and sisters everywhere on this planet.” A quote from Heinlein’s Creed. ThisIBelieve

Saturday, June 27, 2009

Day Eighty-Seven

6/27

The Book: Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein

ISBN: 978-0-441-79034-0

Suggested By: Te Norman

Where: Home

When: 5:30-6P

Music: None

Company: The Family

Pages: 280-335 (55)


The Lead In: This book has only gotten worse.


The 411 on the 55: This is the problem with sci-fi. If you create a world where no rules apply to it, if the normal pace of a story doesn’t have to be followed, what bars the author from doing the stupidest things within his novels?


Mike and Jill decide to seek after religion, to find the meaning of life. Mike finally understands humanity while watching two monkeys fight each other in a zoo. In response, he creates a huge church where he teaches people how to speak the Martian language and people go nude apparently. WHAT?


This book feels dated. From the orgy scene, the elements of Eastern religion, the nudity aspect. It feels like a hippy book.


Line of the Day: “Nine times out of ten, if a girl gets raped, it’s partly her fault. pg 304 (Shoot me, please.)


Fact on the Fiction: “Pornography, voyeurism, and exhibitionism all become self-affirming celebrations of the human body. Clothing is purposeless (luckily the Martian discipline provides immunity from cold weather). Kisses, preferably given with whole attention, are the standard greeting. Orgies are the common pastime. And since not everyone can be there in person telepathic ride-alongs allow equal opportunity for participation.” eopinions

Friday, June 26, 2009

Day Eighty-Six

6/26

The Book: Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein

ISBN: 978-0-441-79034-0

Suggested By: Te Norman

Where: Home

When: 10-10:30P

Music: None

Company: The Family

Pages: 224-279 (55)


The Lead In: This book is ridiculous.


The 411 on the 55: Hmmm... I can sum up today's reading with what the hell happened to this story? Today, they go to a large corporate church. Mike is hounded to join, but seems unmoved. Mike decides it is time for him to have sex, so he has sex with Jill. The book begins a new section and Mike and Jill are jumping from town to town doing a magic act. What the hell?


Line of the Day: “Oh!...Oh! Thou art God!” pg 266 (screamed by a woman during sex. Really? Wasn’t Heinlein married twice? He had to have had sex once or twice, right?)


Fact on the Fiction: “The Heinlein Society has established programs to: Place the books of Robert Heinlein in libraries everywhere, especially in school libraries where his juvenile novels may continue to help to form character and provoke critical and intelligent thinking among our young people.” HeinleinSociety

Thursday, June 25, 2009

Day Eighty-Five

6/25

The Book: Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein

ISBN: 978-0-441-79034-0

Suggested By: Te Norman

Where: Home

When: 6-6:30P

Music: None

Company: Alone

Pages: 168-223 (55)


The Lead In: There is this point when reading a book that you decide what you think of the book. It’s not that you can’t change your mind by the end, but at some point you decide this book is good, bad, sucks, awesome, etc. This book is terribly boring. And dated. Not sure how this won a Hugo Award.


The 411 on the 55: The meeting with the Secretary of the Federation is a public event, to guarantee that everyone is safe from political persecution. Through some wrangling, Ben Caxton (the reporter who disappeared earlier in the book) is released and appears as part of the Martian's crew. There is a big sit down and during the meeting, Michael offers all of his wealth to be cared for by the Secretary of the Federation. According to his lawyer, Jubal, argues later that it would be better to be without money. God, are these characters cut out with cookie cutters?


The meeting adjourns for the Secretary to consider Michael’s offer. In the interim, Jubal and the crew from the ship that discovered Michael on Mars get drunk? What the hell? Is the argument that Jubal is so quick-witted that even drunk he could out-duel the government? ung.


Line of the Day: “It was not the figure-eight in which her pert fanny moved when she walked, nor the lush view from the other direction-he was not the infantile type, interested solely in the size of mammary glands! No, it was herself he loved.” pg 183 (written by someone who sounds like he never saw a woman naked if it wasn’t in a magazine)


Fact on the Fiction: Apparently Heinlein’s work is divided into three periods. A Stranger was written in the 2nd. “From about 1961 (Stranger in a Strange Land) to 1973 (Time Enough for Love), Heinlein wrote some of his more libertarian novels. His work during this period explored his most important themes, such as individualism, libertarianism, and free expression of physical and emotional love.” Wikipedia

Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Day Eighty-Four

6/23

The Book: Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein

ISBN: 978-0-441-79034-0

Suggested By: Te Norman

Where: Home

When: 2-2:45P

Music: None

Company: Alone

Pages: 112-167 (55)


The Lead In: Eh, let’s just get on with it.


The 411 on the 55: Michael is learning more about the world from all his reading and becoming “more human” every day. The house is invaded by cops to arrest them all, but Michael makes them all disappear. Just before a second wave of cops gets there, the president is located on the phone and agrees to meet with them.


Line of the Day: “I don’t grok your answer.” pg 140 (the most annoying word in the book, over and over and over again)


Fact on the Fiction: “To grok is to share the same reality or line of thinking with another physical or conceptual entity. Author Robert A. Heinlein coined the term in his best-selling 1961 book Stranger in a Strange Land. In Heinlein's view of quantum theory, grokking is the intermingling of intelligence that necessarily affects both the observer and the observed.” Wikipedia

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Day Eighty-Three

6/22

The Book: Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein

ISBN: 978-0-441-79034-0

Suggested By: Te Norman

Where: Home

When: 8-8:30P

Music: None

Company: Alone

Pages: 56-111 (55)


The Lead In: Today, my Moby-Dick article ran in the paper and I received very little response. The worst part of that is the article itself was a labor of love. I was thrilled with the way it turned out. Almost like a mini-term paper. But on to Heinlein and his alien, with a little sadness.


The 411 on the 55: Ben has dropped off the grid and Jill has no way to reach him. In a panic, she sneaks into the hospital and steals Michael (the martian). She disguises him as a woman and bundles him out of the hospital. Later, during their escape two men attempt to stop them, and Michael makes them disappear, describing it later as “something that was wrong”, and making it right.


She flees with the martian to a man Ben had mentioned before, Jubal Harshaw (the half doctor, half lawyer guy). There, Michael begins to read and learn about life, while they attempt to decide what to do next.


Line of the Day: “Don’t be difficult, sweetheart. Behave yourself and they might go easy on you.” pg 66 (who talks like this?!)


Fact on the Fiction: Found this on another site, critical of Heinlein’s dialogue. “The narration is not so bad, but the dialogue is atrocious. To an extent this goes back to character — no one has a unique voice except for the Man from Mars, who doesn't start sounding like everyone else until midway though the book. The others' dialogue sounds as if they're reading off note cards the author scribbled down watching a bad hard-boiled detective movie. "I've been a worthless, no-good parasite." "Everybody knows that." "Never mind the flattery." Virtually every page is like this.” Adamcadre

Monday, June 22, 2009

Day Eighty-Two

6/22

The Book: Stranger in a Strange Land by Robert Heinlein

ISBN: 978-0-441-79034-0

Suggested By: Te Norman

Where: Home

When: 8-8:30P

Music: None

Company: The Family

Pages: 1-55 (55)


The Lead In: As a whole, I gave up science fiction when I began college. It wasn’t a conscious decision, it just happened. I am a bit skeptical about reading any book from the sci-fi section at B&N, so we will see.


The 411 on the 55: An expedition was sent to Mars, never to be heard from again. 25 years later, another ship is sent, and a survivor of the first crew is found: Valentine Michael Smith. He is the son of one of the crew. He has been raised by martians and has no understanding of humanity.


Brought back to Earth, he is put under quarantine. Two people are interested in getting him out: a rough around the edges, former slut, nurse Jill and her kind-of boyfriend, newspaper reporter with a heart of gold Ben. Apparently, Val is worth a lot of money and owns the rights to Mars, making him extremely valuable and an irritation to future expeditions to the red planet.


Ben decides to crash the facility where he is at, but in the process gets kidnapped by the government. Jill actually meets Val (though contact with women isn’t allowed for him), and he seems to have developed a crush on her.


You can tell, dear reader, I dislike this book already. I hope my mind will change before this is over.


Line of the Day: “Being both a doctor of medicine and a lawyer he is three times as hard to shove. But most important, he is so rugged and individualist that he would fight the whole Federation with just a pocket knife if it suited him...” pg 42 [this is proof of the horrid writing of Ben’s dialogue. He’s a parody of bad “now see here, kid” journalist stereotypes from a Humphrey Bogart movie. He’s pushy with Jill (she’s a woman) and doesn’t take any guff from anyone (he’s a man).]


Fact on the Fiction: The title of this book is a reference to a quote from the Bible, Exodus 2:22: “And she bare [him] a son, and he called his name Gershom: for he said, I have been a stranger in a strange land.”

Sunday, June 21, 2009

Day Eighty-One

6/21

The Book: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

ISBN: 1-59308-025-5

Suggested By: Brenda Mora

Where: The car, next to the raspa stand

When: 10:20-10:45P

Music: None

Company: The Family

Pages: 163-229 (66)


The Lead In: Oooh. This book is fantastic. Dorian is a great character. Love the pull of good and evil and the underlying discussion of what beauty is and how it should be appreciated. I forged ahead and finished it today, as the book’s narrative was gliding along.


The 411 on the 55: So Dorian kills Basil. Stabs him in the stinking neck! He has another man burn the body so no one can find it (his accomplice kills himself later because of the guilt) and moves on with life. Later, while in an opium den, he runs into his dead ex-fiancé's brother. But, since Dorian hasn’t aged in 18 years, the brother is convinced it was someone else. After Dorian escapes, the brother is told that he has made a deal with the devil and doesn’t age.


Later, Dorian is at a friend’s house, and, his friend, while hunting for rabbit, shoots Sybil’s brother, who was hiding in the grass, accidently. Dorian feels a huge weight lifted off his chest and decides to change his ways. When he tells Lord Henry this, he is laughed at.


Later, he is home, debating whether he can change his life or not. He pulls back the curtain, and the painting is even worse. The hands are stained with blood and he is creeped out beyond anything previous. He decides he will chop up the painting with the same knife he killed Basil with. Upon stabbing it, he falls down dead, withered, old and hideous. The End. Awesome.


The 20/20: Classics like this one get me excited for the others I have missed. It is a great book with complex, interlocking layers of philosophy and aesthetics, all plugged into a great story. At times, it borders in horror and mystery, yet other sections read like Socratic discussions of beauty and value. This is an excellent work of fiction, an even better discussion of the worth of true beauty.


Line of the Day: “I like men who have a future and women who have a past.” pg 184


“The book the world calls immoral are books that show the world its own shame.” pg 224


Fact on the Fiction: After the insanity of his trial for his homosexuality, his incarceration, and his short time after his relief, his grave stone is not without its own story. “The modernist angel depicted as a relief on the tomb was originally complete with male genitals which were broken off and kept as a paperweight by a succession of cemetery keepers; their current whereabouts are unknown. In the summer of 2000, intermedia artist Leon Johnson performed a forty minute ceremony entitled Re-membering Wilde in which a commissioned silver prosthesis was installed to replace the vandalised genitals.” Wikipedia

Saturday, June 20, 2009

Day Eighty

6/20

The Book: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

ISBN: 1-59308-025-5

Suggested By: Brenda Mora

Where: Home

When: 10:20-10:45P

Music: None

Company: The Family

Pages: 107-162 (55)


The Lead In: Without delving too much into the bs aspect of this argument, the book is really focusing on the worship of beauty. Wilde continuously points out the way in which society values the beautiful.


The 411 on the 55: Basil came by to tell Dorian about Sybil’s death, but Dorian isn’t that bothered by it, instead going to the opera and having a good time. Basil confessed that when he painted the painting, he was worshipping Dorian and felt guilty about it. Dorian began to tell him about the changes in the painting, but chickened out and didn’t.


From there we have a time lapse of some 20 years, in which Dorian “corrupts his soul” by leading a life of Hedonism. He wanders from art, to books, to jewelry, etc. focusing on the beauty contained in each. The painting gets grosser and grosser and he has hid it in a room with bars on the door. Rumors have begun to circulate concerning his debauchery and much of society despises him.


Basil happened to meet him in the road one night. Basil was leaving town but wanted to let him know about the crap people were throwing his way. Dorian laughed it off, but Basil was so insistent, so Dorian decided to show him the painting. Basil was shocked and Dorian spotted a knife on the table...And that was where 55pages was up. Oh crap!


Line of the Day: “It is only shallow people who require years to get rid of emotion. A man who is master of himself can end a sorrow as easily as he can invent a pleasure. I don’t want to be at the mercy of my emotions. I want to use them, to enjoy them, and to dominate them.” pg 112


Fact on the Fiction: “Sometimes people are so entirely obsessed with the way that they look, that suddenly the way that they look isn’t quite good enough. Therefore, they decide to undergo massive plastic and reconstructive surgery in order to make themselves even more perfect. This type of person is not your average plastic surgery candidate. Rather, a person diagnosed with Dorian Gray Syndrome will often appear deformed due to so many tries under the knife. Ironically, those that have this surgery obsession often become the exact thing that they are trying to avoid, and they often turn out just like Dorian Gray’s painting – deformed.” NarcissistBlog

Friday, June 19, 2009

Day Seventy-Nine

6/19

The Book: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

ISBN: 1-59308-025-5

Suggested By: Brenda Mora

Where: Moonbeans

When: 2:30-3P

Music: Explosions in the Sky

Company: Alone

Pages: 1-55 (55)


The Lead In: If I were to point out the strength of this book, I would say it is the dialogue, Wilde really sprinkles wit throughout. His characters are amusing in the conversations between them.


The 411 on the 55: Dorian is growing up. Simplistic, yes, but learning the harshness and beauty of life. He falls in love with an actress. She embodies the beauty that he has set as his life pursuit. Hours after mentioning his new-found love to Harry (Lord Henry), he sends a notice to him announcing his intention to marry her. He is wasting no time. Sybil, his new muse, is just as thrilled. Her mother is worries and her brother is furious, threatening Dorian’s life if he hurts Sybil’s feelings. And does he!


Dorian brings Harry and Basil to the play to see Sybil act as Juliet. Instead of being good, she is embarrassingly bad, which leads Harry to make some hilarious and rude comments about her, while Basil attempts to protect her from scorn. Dorian sides with Harry and is disgusted. He goes backstage and calls it all off. Sybil is crushed. And...we find out later...kills herself that night.


When Dorian gets home, he discovers that the painting Basil has given him looks crueler. However, when he looks in the mirror, he see no such mark.


Two quick notes

1. Sybil’s explanation for her bad acting is well-thought out and persuasive. Prior to falling in love, she had poured herself into the emotions of her characters, but now, she had her own emotions and could not identify with her roles.


2. Basil and Harry are constrasting. Basil is the artist view of life, while Harry is a bit of a hedonist. Dorian fluctuates between their opinions and ideas.


Line of the Day: “The reason we all like to think so well of others is that we are all afraid for ourselves. The basis of optimism is sheer terror. We think that we are generous because we credit our neighbor with the possession of those virtues that are likely to be a benefit to us...I have the greatest contempt for optimism.” pg 79


The Fact on the Fiction: “In December 1881, Oscar Wilde sailed for New York to travel across the United States and deliver a series of lectures on aesthetics. The 50-lecture tour was originally scheduled to last four months, but stretched to nearly a year, with over 140 lectures given in 260 days. In between lectures he made time to meet with Henry Longfellow, Oliver Wendell Holmes and Walt Whitman.” Wilde

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Day Seventy-Eight

6/18

The Book: The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

ISBN: 1-59308-025-5

Suggested By: Brenda Mora

Where: Home

When: 6:30-7P

Music: Sea Change By Beck

Company: Alone

Pages: 1-55 (55)


The Lead In: Much is made of Oscar Wilde and his penchant for the “out-there.” I’m excited to read this work and see what all the fuss is about. Reading the back of the book makes it seem a bit horror fiction, but I did not get the impression that was his style.


The 411 on the 55: The namesake of the book, Dorian Gray, is introduced to us by a painter, Basil. Basil and his friend, Lord Henry, are discussing Basil’s work. His paintings are apparently all the rage, but Basil is resistant to showing his most recent masterpiece because he is enamored with his subject, Dorian. Finally, he introduces Dorian to Henry, but only after telling him to not corrupt Dorian.


Lord Henry, of course, spits out a long idea about the worth of beauty and youth which instantly changes Dorian’s disposition and view of life, which pisses of Basil to no end. Dorian begins to shun Basil and becomes the lap dog to Lord Henry, eating up all he says and thinks.


Line of the Day: “She was a curious woman, whose dresses always looked as if hey had been designed in a rage and put on in a tempest.” pg 49


The Fact on the Fiction: The description of this book reminded me a bit of Marlowe’s play, Faustus. Wikipedia agrees. “Wilde himself stated that ‘in every first novel the hero is the author as Christ or Faust.’ As in Faust, a temptation is placed before the lead character Dorian, the potential for ageless beauty; Dorian indulges in this temptation. In both stories, the lead character entices a beautiful woman to love them and kills not only her, but also that woman's brother, who seeks revenge. Wilde went on to say that the notion behind The Picture of Dorian Gray is ‘old in the history of literature’ but was something to which he had "given a new form." Wikipedia

Wednesday, June 17, 2009

Day Seventy-Seven

6/17

The Book: Daughter of Destiny by Benazir Bhutto

ISBN: 0-06-167268-2

Suggested By: Sissy Vaughn

Where: Home

When: 9-9:45P

Music: None

Company: The Family

Pages: 375-435 (60)


The Lead In: When you know the end of the story, it’s a little depressing, especially when it’s a true story. Needless to say, this book has really given me much insight into the Pakistani world. More on that in the 20/20


The 411 on the 55: Zia died in a plane crash, which effectively took down the entire corrupt power structure. Elections were held and Bhutto’s party, the PPP, won majority, making her the PM. What a turn around! Eventually her government was overthrown by the military, only to win election again after a brief period. That government was again overthrown by the military.


She lists her goals and accomplishments as PM, and they are impressive. Some had claimed her legacy was tarnished by the accusations of corruption, but she dismissed those as excuses for the military to overthrow the government. While she was probably not spotless, it certainly makes sense for the military to concoct a lie to toss her out.


She, of course, died in a bomb blast (or gun shot wounds) after requesting the military government to supply her with protection. Regardless of her death, her life has left a mark on the history of Pakistan.


The 20/20: Daughter of Destiny is an interesting book about and by a powerful Muslim woman. Her life was an insane roller-coaster, full of despair and sadness dovetailed into intense moments of success and happiness. The book is inspirational and informative, especially from a Western point of view. I found myself exposed to elements of religions, geography, history, and politics. It was a sweeping view of the last 30 years of Pakistani life.


Line of the Day: “It is said that ‘there is nothing new under the sun’. When it comes to politics in Pakistan this certainly seems to ring true. Friends, allies and enemies spin around and flip like in George Orwell’s novel Nineteen Eighty-Four.” pg 424


The Fact on the Fiction: Yesterday, I mentioned that I would focus on the claims concerning her corruption, but, after finishing the book, I think they are a load of crap. She may not have been a saint, but it was obvious that she was a target of a system built on misogyny, jingoism, and tyranny. So I will close this with the amazing piece of information that her widower husband, Asif Ali Zardari, is now the democratically elected president of Pakistan. Wikipedia

Tuesday, June 16, 2009

Day Seventy-Six

6/16

The Book: Daughter of Destiny by Benazir Bhutto

ISBN: 0-06-167268-2

Suggested By: Sissy Vaughn

Where: Home

When: 8-8:20P

Music: None

Company: Alone

Pages: 319- 374 (55)


The Lead In: I have begun to question the actuality of Ms. Bhutto’s sainthood. She only focuses on the good in her family, and, to be honest, that is what troubles me. Even when her brother is an obvious terrorist, she glosses over his acts.


The 411 on the 55: Bhutto decided it is time to return to Pakistan from living abroad. Upon her return almost 3 million people rushed the airport to support her. 3 million people is a lot of people, I tried to imagine something that could bring out 3 million people in the US, couldn’t. Maybe living in a third world country leaves little options for entertainment?


And though she is allowed into her country, Zia still denied the right to run for office, delaying and canceling elections steadfastly. In this time of uncertainty, Bhutto decided to participate in an arranged marriage. And, contrary to her fears, was extremely happy with her family’s choice.


It is interesting to read her thoughts on arranged marriage. She was educated in the West and reading the emotions of a feminist-leaning-muslim (if there is such a thing) is fascinating. She was terribly worried that it would be misconstrued as her settling down and leaving politics, and so contradicted every report with statements and actions.


Line of the Day: “We didn’t love each other yet, though my mother assured me that love would come later. Instead there was a mental commitment between us, a realization that we were accepting each other as husband and wife totally and for always.


The Fact on the Fiction: While I still have one day’s worth of reading, I will leave the final day to consider Bhutto’s mark on Pakistan as well as the claims concerning her embezzlement (which are mentioned in today’s link). So today, let us consider her death, at the hand of either a gunman or bombed (there is some debate). “Benazir Bhutto died from a fractured skull caused by hitting her head on part of her car's sunroof as a bomb ripped through a crowd of her supporters, a spokesman for Pakistan's Interior Ministry said Friday.” CNN

Monday, June 15, 2009

Day Seventy-Five

6/15

The Book: Daughter of Destiny by Benazir Bhutto

ISBN: 0-06-167268-2

Suggested By: Sissy Vaughn

Where: Home

When: 8-8:45P

Music: The Fountain Soundtrack

Company: Alone

Pages: 262-318 (55)


The Lead In: The Fountain Soundtrack is amazing for reading time. Featuring the Kronos Quartet, its perfect setting music.


The 411 on the 55: Today focused on her brother’s death.


On vacation at the French Riveria with her family, her brother, Shah, confided in Benazir that he and his wife were not happy and he would probably seek a divorce. She iwas sad and talked him out of it, leading to his eventual death. Later, her brother was found dead, poisoned in his own home. His wife was eventually charged with failing to aid him after his poisoning. Due to her American citizenship she was let off and allowed to return to the US.


Benazir and her family decided to return Shah’s body to their family plot in Pakistan. Though it would probably mean their arrest, they brought him back and over a million people turn out for the burial. Afterwards, Benazir is indeed arrested and held until the US put pressure on Zia to release her. 


Line of the Day: “I will prefer to be hanged than live under the oppressor. To give in is not our principle. We are not ready to call a donkey a horse, or black, white, out of fear of Martial Law.” pg 276


The Fact on the Fiction: There was a powerful scene in today’s reading when Shah’s body is prepared for burial by the family and servants of the house. They gathered and washed his body together, eventually wrapping him in a shroud before burial. It is the Muslim tradition and something that seems a really beautiful and sincere way to say goodbye to a loved one. About

Sunday, June 14, 2009

Day Seventy-Four

6/14

The Book: Daughter of Destiny by Benazir Bhutto

ISBN: 0-06-167268-2

Suggested By: Sissy Vaughn

Where: Home

When: 8-9P

Music: None

Company: The Family

Pages: 206-261 (55)


The Lead In: A thousand chores to do today, the dog will not stay out of trouble, and my reading was constantly chopped up. Not a good day for focused reading.


The 411 on the 55: After fives years of solitary (for the most part), Bhutto was released from prison for medical reasons. An inner-ear affliction, constantly ignored by the jailers had gotten to the point that her face was going numb and she was losing hearing. Reports had begun to circulate in the West, and Zia was pressured into releasing her for that reason.


Once in England, surgery relieved the pain in her ear, however, she was told that she had to wait for 9 months for a follow up surgery. Unhappy to be away from Pakistan, she began to work to get the true story out. She spoke in the US before several congressmen and senators, trying to get the US to tie aid with human rights.


Line of the Day: (reminds me of Kafka’s The Trial) “No one needed to be informed when a trial was taking place, who the accused were, what the charges were against them, or the resulting sentences.” pg 231


The Fact on the Fiction: 70 Clifton is the home of the Bhutto family and is mentioned throughout the book as a sanctuary from all the pressure and ridiculousness of Zia’s persecution. GoogleMaps

Saturday, June 13, 2009

Day Seventy-Three

6/13

The Book: Daughter of Destiny by Benazir Bhutto

ISBN: 0-06-167268-2

Suggested By: Sissy Vaughn

Where: Home

When: 7:30-8P

Music: None

Company: The Family

Pages: 149-205 (56)


The Lead In: It is troubling that how the US constantly sacrifices its principles concerning human rights when the contradict the political or economic goals of the government. Isn’t our morality more important than anything else? Why on earth do we lower ourselves below the level of our conscience? Or maybe this is all a sham and we are no better than our actions. Aristotle claimed that a man is what he does, not what he says he is. Can that be applied to countries as well?


The 411 on the 55: PM Bhutto was executed and the country descended into chaos, all overseen by a military government, ruled by Zia. Today’s reading, for the most part, centered on the experiences of Benazir and the other members of the PPP: torture, exposure to the elements, restriction of medical treatment, etc.


A plain was highjacked, and the PPP was blamed. To extract confessions, Zia turns to pulling out toenails and starving prisoners. The effort failed to implicate the PPP or the Bhutto family. 


Today’s reading ends with a mention of US foreign policy. Because of the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, the Reagan administration offered military hardware and money to Pakistan. In exchange, the Pakistani government would allow the US to funnel arms and supplies to the Afghani resistance. Bhutto questions why the US didn’t look into the human rights violations going on in Pakistan. And so should we all. Why?


Line of the Day: “Now Zia was successfully banking on the presence of the Russians right on Pakistan’s border to overshadow America’s concern about Pakistan’s nuclear programme.” pg 204


The Fact on the Fiction: Reading into the Soviet war in Afghanistan is interesting. The government of Afghanistan actually requested the Soviet army into its country to fight against an uprising of “mujahideen” (someone involved in a jihad). The US picked the resistance because of the Soviet influence. Wikipedia 

Friday, June 12, 2009

Day Seventy-Two

6/12

The Book: Daughter of Destiny by Benazir Bhutto

ISBN: 0-06-167268-2

Suggested By: Sissy Vaughn

Where: Home

When: 4:30-5P

Music: None

Company: Alone

Pages: 93- 148 (55)


The Lead In: While some say you should never judge a book by its cover, I disagree. And though the cover of Daughter of Destiny isn’t all that impressive (a simple picture of the author), Ms. Bhutto’s eyes are extremely intense. I can spot the book across the room and feel as if she is staring at me from the grave. Its a little eery.


The 411 on the 55: Today’s reading focused on the overthrow of the government of Pakistan in the late 70’s by the Pakistani Army. Led by one of Bhutto Sr.’s most trusted generals, Zia, the country was put under martial law for extended periods of time. Most, if not all, of the leadership of the country was arrested and placed into prison.


Bhutto, the Prime Minister, was charged with a flimsy murder rap which, at least within this book, was never evidenced in the court during the trial. The PM was sentenced to death, but the defense protested the ruling and filed an appeal. The people of Pakistan, very much in support of the PM, rallied to his daughter and their political party, PPP. 


Line of the Day: “Instead of deserting my father, the people’s loyalty was returning one hundred-fold.” pg 101


The Fact on the Fiction: While this Zia guy was a tool, he had a fantastic mustache. Wikipedia





Thursday, June 11, 2009

Day Seventy-One

6/11

The Book: Daughter of Destiny by Benazir Bhutto

ISBN: 0-06-167268-2

Suggested By: Sissy Vaughn

Where: Home

When: 5:45-

Music: None

Company: Alone

Pages: 37- 92 (55)


The Lead In: My wife put this book on the list and is thrilled that it was next to be read. I hope that reading about this now-dead, leader of Pakistan will give me some insight into the politics of India, Pakistan and the East.


The 411 on the 55: This story begins with reflections on the youth of the author. She discusses being raised in the family of a prominent politician in Pakistan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto. She traces his rise to power, through conflicts with other political parties, the CIA, and India. She also talks about her journey to the US for school and then on to Oxford in England.


One aspect of today’s reading that struck me was the a brief paragraph on the removal of Nixon as President. Her perspective was slightly awed as she considered the removal of an almost absolute ruler by democratic means. It is an interesting look at how Nixon and his fall are viewed from other (especially third-world) countries. Rather than revolution, Nixon was nailed by law and escorted out the door.


Line of the Day: “If the Soviets are here, tell me the Chinese are calling. If the Americans are here, tell me tat the Russians are on the line or the Indians. And don’t tell anyone who really is here. One of the fundamental lessons of diplomacy is to create doubt: never lay all your cards on the table.” pg 57


The Fact on the Fiction: During the Indian invasion of Eastern Pakistan, Bhutto (the elder) went to the UN Security Council and called the out. Here is the speech via Youtube. Take a look. He is very eloquent and convincing.



Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Day Seventy

6/10

The Book: Snow White by Donald Barthelme

ISBN: 0-684-82479-5

Suggested By: Brandon Shuler

Where: Home

When: 12-12:30A

Music: None

Company: The Family

Pages: 168-187 (55)


The Lead In: Glad this is over. Thanks for nothing, Brandon.


The 411 on the 55: Bill is put on trial for a crime and found guilty, then hung by the remaining six. Paul dies drinking a drink intended for Snow White. Hogo replaces Bill in the house.


Line of the Day: “he was fond not of him but of the abstract notion that, to her, meant “him.” pg 186


The 20/20: Didn’t like it. Thought the book stunk. It was overly thought-out. It was trying too hard. Too much of an experiment, not enough novel.


The Fact on the Fiction:

“Q: Is the novel dead?
A: Oh yes. Very much so.
Q: What replaces it?
A: I should think that it is replaced by what existed before it was invented.
Q: The same thing?
A: The same sort of thing.
Q: Is the bicycle dead?” Scriptorium

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Day Sixty-Nine

6/9

The Book: Snow White by Donald Barthelme

ISBN: 0-684-82479-5

Suggested By: Brandon Shuler

Where: Home

When: 9:45-10:10P

Music: None

Company: The Family

Pages: 112-167 (55)


The Lead In: There is so much sexual symbolism in the old fairy tales. All the kissing, the sword play, the storming of castles, and magic. Yeah, people were horny, but wanted to put a layer of story on top of the dirtiness. 


The 411 on the 55: The leader of the seven, Bill, has grown tired of the lifestyle and wants to move on. Of course, his fellow dwarves resent this and think he thinks he is better than them. This culminates when Bill decides not to take off his pajamas when the sex is supposed to happen, and Snow White decides not to nail them all because of it.


Snow White is in need of a prince, but is dabbling in feminism, refusing to be objectified by the seven. She has begun to deny them sex.


Line of the Day: “Take me home instantly. If there is anything worse than being home, it is being out.” pg 123


The Fact on the Fiction: So I was trying to figure out why the number of dwarfs was seven, and stumbled on the craziest site. Apparently there was a traveling family dwarf entertainers who were almost put to death in Auschwitz. They were saved at the last second (literally, the gas was pumping in) by Josef Mengel, famous for his experiments with human subjects. They survived, eventually moving to Israel and living for another 50 years. Mengel called them his “seven dwarfs of Auschwitz.” Heretical

Monday, June 8, 2009

Day Sixty-Eight

6/8

The Book: Snow White by Donald Barthelme

ISBN: 0-684-82479-5

Suggested By: Brandon Shuler

Where: Home

When: 7-730P

Music: None

Company: Alone

Pages: 56-111 (55)


The Lead In: Ever meet that guy who was convinced he was a genius so he used the most difficult words he could think of, making communication incredibly irritating. Barthelme may be one of those types of writers. He’s outthinking the form. I’m sure I will irritate the hell out of my English major buddies, but I’m not sure I enjoy this book.


The 411 on the 55: Snow White is tiring of the daily bump and grind (see that? nice, huh?) and begins wishing that her prince charming (Paul) will come and save her from her life with the seven pervs. To do this, she begins waving her hair out the window.


Paul also writes poetry, and his sections in the book are riddled with bad poetics and irritating sections of words disconnected from each other. The dwarves know something is up and are already planning on life without Snow White.


Again, at the end of section one, there is a 2 page questionnaire on the book so far. I find that a little smart-ass. Drop the game, buddy, write a book. Maybe I am too much of a snob to tolerate people tinkering with the genre.


Line of the Day: “Now it is necessary to court her, and win her, and put on this clean suit, and cut my various nails, and drink something that will kill the millions of germs in my mouth, and say something flattering, and be witty and bonny, and hale and kinky, and pay her a thousand dollars, all just to ease this wrinkle in the groin. It seems a high price.” pg 70


The Fact on the Fiction: Holy Crap! “In the December 2001, writer Paul Limbert Allman accused Prof. Donald Barthelme of orchestrating the 1986 attack on Dan Rather, citing unusual passages in Barthelme's writing, including the phrase "What is the frequency?", a recurring character named Kenneth, and a short story about a pompous editor named Lather. Allman admits that he finds his own theory "difficult to accept," and that the assailants could also have been "loose cannons armed with quotes." Wikipedia