Kaseys Korner

Rules of Civility

I only discovered Amor Towles a few years ago (when 'A Gentleman in Moscow' was published) and I knew after I finished that book, I wanted to read more by him. He writes so beautifully and intelligently, you almost feel more sophisticated & educated for just having ingested his words. Finishing 'Rules of Civility' had exactly the same effect on me as when I completed 'A Gentleman in Moscow,' ~ I wanted to be a better human being. Smarter, more cultured, more versed in etiquette, etc. His characters inspire that in me. I absolutely loved the protagonist, Katey Kontent. Born of a Russian emigree, she's incredibly grounded and most especially, well read! Assuming everyone on Good Reads is a bibliophile, that last attribute is a quality we can all appreciate. Her reading library tho made mine look juvenile in comparison ~ stacked full of heavy weight classics and categorized by country!!! Wow, do I have a ways to go!

The setting of the late 30's in New York City was really fabulous to read about. It was a period at the end of the depression and on the cusp on another war. Paying cents for items, stretching pennies for as much mileage as possible, but still finding enjoyment in daily life. Katey works hard and plays every bit as hard. She initially has a cohort, Evey, but halfway thru the novel, Evey drops off the pages. Katey claims that Evey & Tinker were very influential in her life but both of them disappear for giant chunks of time during the book. At the end, when Katey is reflecting on choices she made and says she made the "right" ones, I wonder??? Tinker seems like the one that got away. Mr Towles likes to be a bit ambiguous tho & totally omits the way she got together with her eventual spouse. If you are an astute reader, you might recall him from a party midway thru the book but nothing exceptional stood out (to me) about their encounter at that time. I especially would not have guessed the book would end with her married to him.

The stand out man of all the men she dated (at least in my opinion) was Wallace Wolcott. *sigh* With his exceptional character & love of guns, it made sense he wanted to go fight in the Spanish Civil War but dang it ~ we all knew what would happen when he left. I doubt they would have ever been together in the romantic sense, even with a different outcome, but he grew on me so much, I hated his loss.

An added bonus at the back of the book were all 110 Rules of Civility that young George Washington wrote. I wish those rules were required reading today. I liked them so much I ordered a hard copy for my library. I also added 'Walden' to my wtr list & moved 'Great Expectations' up, because of how often they both were mentioned throughout the pages. I love a book that challenges me to think and exposes the gaps in my education. (i.e.: thinking of when Katey was doing the crossword puzzle ~ I did not know one of those clues as much as it pains me to admit.) A novel that is enjoyable and simultaneously stretches my mind gives me even more ambition to continue on a lifelong reading journey. Excellent, excellent book.

 

 

Oblomov

For 166 pages (and what my kindle suggested would take 2 hrs to read) this little book almost did me in & took over 6 excruciating days to finish. Several times I came close to abandoning the effort. I can't conceive of what the full 500 page version would be like to read when I could hardly get thru the abridged one???

Twenty pages of reading about a Russian gentleman who couldn't "adult" was exasperating. 146 more pages ~ laborious in the extreme! Maybe today someone would diagnose Oblomov with depression? or an anxiety disorder?? The closest he came to exhibiting any energy or interest in LIVING was when he fell in love with Olga but even the euphoria of that fine emotion couldn't motivate him to get his affairs in order or his life on track. The stress of just thinking about what married life would mean sent him back to his bed and lethargy. I'm almost depressed writing about it. When he died, everyone remarked what a fine person he was ~ and sure enough, he was not a bad person, he just completely wasted his life. One could argue it was his to waste & the ground work for his behavior was set in childhood but it still seemed a pitiful existence.

I've never thought reading of any kind was a waste of time, but I'm not sure how Oblomov has enriched my life??? I kinda even want the hours back I spent on him!  Skip this one & almost anything else is bound to be more stimulating.

A Tree Grows in Brooklyn

How lucky am I to be enjoying a "glut" of 5 star reading? Add 'A Tree Grows in Brooklyn' to that list and a big thank you to my fellow reading friend Whitney for the recommendation.

This book (at least to me) was about so much more than a coming-of-age girl in Brooklyn, New York, named Mary Frances Katherine Nolan, aka Francie. I don't know if I just went way too deep with it or what but it resonated with me on that "other" level. It felt like a very real tribute to our ancestors and what an enormous gift they laid in our laps, in the form of 'opportunity,' when they immigrated to America. If there were still such a thing as Civics class, reading this should be a mandatory assignment. It gave me a greater understanding of what a beacon this country was (still is) for the poor & oppressed. Whether they achieved it or not, there was the opportunity for mobility between socioeconomic classes, where there was zero chance of that in the 'Old Country.' For Americans some generations removed from the early 1900's, we've forgotten the power of that lure & the significance of its meaning. That privilege was earned so long ago for us, this was an eloquent and maybe much needed reminder. I also finally comprehended why there was such motivation to "own your own home" ~ so that there was no way it could be taken away. In today's world, sometimes people question why that's so important and if it isn't more a burden/hindrance to achieving dreams. No one immigrating to America in the early 1900's would understand or even consider that! Thinking about putting pennies in a tin cup to get what I have, makes me want to be more grateful for it.

Francies little slice of Brooklyn was such a rich diversity of cultures. It seemed a true "melting pot" neighborhood which I've often heard the United States represents but maybe is only truly experienced in cities? I loved that she knew so much about so many different ethnicities by growing up in close proximity with them. I don't know if all immigrants were the same or if my family was just similar to Francies but there were a lot of times I'd come across something I'd heard or grew up with myself as a child. Like working three jobs or doing whatever necessary instead of accepting charity. And that education is still a way to a better life. Even little things like "your hair is your crowning glory!" My Dad would say that to me whenever I wanted to cut mine.

So now that I've talked about all these other things, there's a little matter of our protagonist, Francie. I made a connection with her right away. I don't know if it was her love of books, her curiosity, her longing for acceptance or just the total sum of how she was portrayed ~ I just rooted for her. I loved her relationship with her papa, he considered her wishes in a way her mother did not. Perfect example: when he signed her up for the new school. And then the bawl fest when he'd prearranged to send her flowers on her graduation, knowing he wouldn't be there. Irregardless of his faults, he loved his children and his family. The relationship Francie had with her Mama was more complicated. I could respect Katie for her hard work but when she denied Francie the chance to go to high school, I got mad for her. If there was an inequality in family dynamics, it was between Francie and her Mother. It seemed to work out in the end but the "bumps" all seemed to veer more in Francies direction. Something that jumped out at me was how different childhood is today versus 100 years ago. Then it consisted of hard work and pitching in just for the sake of survival. Today childhood is luxurious in comparison (at least for so many American children.) It's really a stark contrast and amazing what a difference a 100 year time span has made.

This book will make you think, make you cry, reflect on your childhood, examine your family & its members and understand how the phrase "it takes a village" was just as pertinent then as it is now. I downloaded my reading copy from the library but I've just purchased a book because I want it in my library. I think it's a story that quintessentially represents America.

Bitter Greens

What an unexpected surprise this book served up. Obviously, I thought I might like 'Bitter Greens' since it was on my "wtr" list but I did not expect to LOVE it as much as I did.

Rapunzel was one of my favorite childhood fairytales. I had reddish blonde hair that was long (down to my waist) and a penchant for dreaming and believing in what some people might consider the far fetched. (It possibly set me up for an adulting downfall??!!) Some days, my pre-teen self would dangle my hair out the window, swish it around like a lure and wish fervently that a prince would spot it & come save me!! Never happened (ha!!) but after reading this book, I love the tale all the more. It so perfectly illustrated, far beyond the depths childhood fantasies reach, that dreams aren't just plopped in your lap but achieved after a lot of side tracks, turbulence and unexpected life twists.

Three POV's were seamlessly woven together so that empathy & compassion are felt toward each character. Yes, even toward the witch who imprisoned "Rapunzel" (in this case, Margherita, aka Petrosinella.) Selena Leonelli, the witch, had her own sad & heart-breaking past. I love that the lines between who's "good" and who's "evil" were messy and blurred. So authentic to life, where there's rarely anything 100% black & white!

I had to go back & reread the foreword when I finished the book. It is MOST fascinating that the tale of Rapunzel was written by two separate people, years apart, in different countries even, whose paths had never crossed. There's some twilight zone for you! Also, stunning revelation, Charlotte-Rose de Caumont de la Force was a real person! I didn't realize that until the end either. Throughout the story, I felt the least sorry for her than any of the other characters (her personality was the least likable) but even she redeemed herself thoroughly by the end. Now that I realize she's not a fictional character, I might have to rethink my opinion??!! I definitely want to google & see what else I can find out about her. If the book accurately portrays her (& why wouldn't it??), she certainly lived an interesting and atypical life from her peers.

So, so much in this book. LAYERS UPON LAYERS. Really, there's something for everyone. Romance, fantasy, magic, history, etc., (loved reading about the Sun King, Versailles, and even the horrible persecution of the Huguenots.) The title and the cover are also every bit as beautiful as the contents. It sounds like I'm a salesperson for the author/publisher, doesn't it??!! Not true, I just absolutely LOVED 'Bitter Greens' so I don't mind shamelessly recommending it AT ALL!!!!