on the road

Wow.

My reaction to this book: wow.

Holy crap, Kerouac is a genius.. and I wish he had entered my life sooner. I really, really do.

Now, here's why I chose Kerouac: some of you may know my fascination with a Mr. Ben Gibbard, the leader singer of a wonderful band named Death Cab for Cutie. Now, he wrote this song for the album Narrow Stairs called Bixby Canon Bridge, which was about his journey to the cabin in Big Sur that Kerouac spent days in (Side note: with my continuing growing knowledge, I have realized that there are actually quite a few references to Kerouac in Death Cab's work, I just had no idea). It was all about hoping to be hit with inspiration, but only finding disappointment. I'm sure we've all been there: traveling somewhere we've desperately wanted to go because we think it'll be this life changing experience.. but it's just another place. Anyway, this is when I first heard about Ben's idol as a writer: Jack Kerouac. I had heard abut him before.. but never in much detail and I had no idea who he was, or what he meant to his generation. Then, about a year later, Ben Gibbard did an album with Jay Farrar entitled One Fast Move or I'm Gone: Music from Kerouac's Big Sur. Both of the singer/songwriters were influenced by Kerouac in a VERY deep way, and the quality of the album reflects that. All the lyrics are taken straight from Kerouac's novel, Big Sur (Ben's personal favorite), and before I had even read Kerouac I was in love with his words (although with Ben singing I would fall in love with anything). This then brings me to last August, when I made my list. I knew the impact Kerouac had had on my favorite writer.. why wouldn't I want to read his work? So I jumped at reading On the Road and it was one of the ones I was most looking forward to.

Now, I trust Ben's judgment. I really do. He is one of the most brilliant writers I've ever encountered. As a writer, I'm awed by his talents. And yeah, I was expecting a lot out of Kerouac. But what I actually experienced was far more than I had ever expected. And yes, this book is an experience.

On the Road, in it's entirety, is a journey. It follows Sal (Clarification: the main character's name is Sal Paradise, but this is a book taking directly from his own experiences.. think of it like a biography with a different name for the main character) as he travels from New York to California and back again (multiple times) with his friend Dean. I would liken Kerouac's writing style to more of a stream of consciousness approach: it is fragmented, disjointed, crazy, and absolutely beautiful. He has a way of capturing people in their entirety: Kerouac has this way of seeing through everything to the depth's of the soul, and making even the most ugly and despicable person beautiful. You get the sense that he understands that humans are intrinsically flawed and still sees them as these fragile and beautiful people, and the more flawed the more beautiful.

There is also, for me, a hugely nostalgic feel about this book even though I was about.. 40 years away from being born. It makes me sad for our generation and future generations. Gone are the days of traveling across the country on a whim, with just a vague inclination of where you're going (and possibly a road map), and the promise of the open road. Stopping where you will, interacting with the people across the country.. I can't even describe it. These days, it's too easy to plan from point A to point B taking this road to that road and not stopping. Everyone has cars, no one has time, everyone has a plan.

Kerouac has no fear. Half the time he picks up his life, travels across the country, and doesn't even really know why. He has no money, but he's inclined to think "I'll figure it out when I get there." I wish I was brave enough to do that.

To put it simply, Kerouac's writing is some of the most beautifully honest, heart-breaking, and simple prose I've ever read.. and the fact that he wrote it in three weeks on 24 sheets of paper taped together on his type writer.. the work of a genius. I find the writing impressive in an entirely different way than anything I've read so far on this list.
I finished this novel last night. What did I buy after work today? You guessed it.. The Big Sur. I will read it after my next Classics selection.. Passing by Nella Larsen.

I'll leave you with this:
"Dean took out other pictures. I realized these were all snapshots which our children would look at someday with wonder, thinking their parents had lived smooth, well-ordered, stabilized-within-the-photo lives and got up in the morning to walk proudly on the sidewalks of life, never dreaming the raggedy madness and riot of our actual lives, or actual night, the hell of it, the senseless nightmare road. All of it inside endless and beginningless emptiness. Pitiful forms of ignorance. "Good-by, good-by." Dean walked off in the long red dusk. Locomotives smoked and reeled above him. His shadow followed him, it aped his walk and thoughts and very being. He turned and waved coyly, bashfully. He gave me the boomer's highball, he jumped up and and down, he yelled something I didn't catch. He ran around in a circle. All the time he came closer to the concrete corner of the railroad overpass. He made one last signal. I waved back. Suddenly he bent to his life and walked quickly out of sight. I gaped into the bleakness of my own days. I had an awful long way to go too." - Jack Kerouac, On the Road

dubliners

As little r pointed out.. no posts for awhile. On my part, that's because I finished Dubliners on Thurs. and never got a chance to sit down and write about it until now (this being my first day off in a week).

Having had such problems getting through Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Tales I was dismayed to find my next selection, Dubliners, a series of short stories as well. I got through this one in about a week, which was good.

(note, I'm basically going to be comparing Irving and Joyce in this post.. if you need to see my reasons about why I can't comment on short stories, see my post about the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Other Tales)

I believe that Joyce did a better job of creating a coherent whole out of disjointed stories. Whereas Irving was trying to create sketches in time, Joyce was trying to create a portrait of a people. Irving's stories seemed to largely be disjointed, focusing on separate instances / people and capturing them in that moment. He was not trying to paint a portrait of a collective people like Joyce, rather a portrait of experiences. Irving focuses largely on specific incidents: sometimes melancholy, sometimes supernatural.

Just like Irving, Joyce does a wonderful job of describing people and their habits, but unlike Irving he is able to connect all of his characters under the umbrella that they're all "Dubliners." This is how he connects each of his stories to the next, allowing his characters to relate to each other through their shared heritage, culture, and interests. I think this is largely what makes me feel like Joyce was able to connect his stories in a better way to each other.

Does this make it better than Irving? Not necessarily. There are some things I really loved about Irving's supernatural stories, or the ones that really got close to the human condition (the Widow and Her Son). By the same token, there are some things about Joyce's stories that I would elevate above Irving.

That having been said, I am starting Kerouac's On the Road today, and really really looking forward to it. I had to have a short break to read the finale to a series I've been reading for 5ish years now, though. Finished it last night, so I'm all ready for my next classic! :)

What "little r" Has Been Up To

No new posts since Feb 28th?! What is happening to us people! Penguin year team - lets pull out the stops this week!

In honor of my lack of blogging, I would like to explain what I have been doing instead. Nothing is a good replacement for some enjoyable reading but this blog is also about what KEEPS me from doing the reading I love and since it has been quite a while since I finished a letter, I thought I would share.

I think the first stumbling block was my letter "E" itself. Electra and other plays by Euripedes. Oy. All tragedies. what was I thinking? I hate tragedy! Positive energy! I started it with the play "Andromache" which was all about death and murder and rape and other awful things, in ancient Greece. Needless to say, I couldn't get into it. I have skipped ahead to the last play (I think there are about five) which is the namesake of the book, Electra. It is also beginning with tragedy but I am hoping it picks up a little more.

In other news, I have been working like crazy in the department. So many tests, article critiques, and thesis related projects to work on I have been in the office more than my usual 45-50 hours. Last week, I got home one night at 630, which was EARLY and I thought to myself, I have made some poor life decisions. I know it will turn out in the long run but some days, oy.

In good news, my thesis is coming along swimmingly; I am completely decided on the design all those other good things, now its implementing and writing, writing, writing about it to get it going.

Please share what is keeping YOU from doing the reading you love.

Lewis Carroll- Alice's Adventures in Wonderland

This book was a pretty quick read.  The version I checked out from the library had a lot of illustrations that I enjoyed as I read the book.  I now want to watch the Disney version* of Alice in Wonderland again... I can't remember if everything in the book was in the movie or if I read the book when I was younger and just didn't remember.  I wanted to read it all in one night since it was due back at the library the next day (shouldn't have checked out 3 books at once) but I got kind of bored after a couple hours of reading.  I could see myself reading it to a little kid and enjoying that more than reading it myself.

I'm sure you are all familiar with the story but just in case you aren't, it is about a little girl named Alice who gets bored sitting with her sister and ends up crawling down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world where everything and everyone is "mad".  I enjoyed the wit and all the puns in the book that made some of the character's conversations almost nonsensical.  There are also quite a few riddles that don't have answers.  Overall, this was just a funny book.

After reading the book, I went back and listened to Jefferson Airplane's song White Rabbit- interesting song!

Alice in wonderland - white rabbit by Jefferson airplane from BPlotkin on Vimeo.


*I think the Disney version combines Alices Adventures in Wonderland with Through the Looking Glass because some of the characters I was expecting were not in the book.

Introducing our Guest Blogger

Hello all!

I just wanted to say a few words thanking Katie for guest posting and introducing our guest blogger who I hope will continue to share some of her thoughts with us.

Katie and I have been friends since middle school and thus, have loved books together for many years. Katie is currently an art teacher and the only one still in KS (I MISS OUR STATE) and so adds another perspective to our blog.

A few random thoughts:

I found it so fun and interesting that one of your first books was Jane Eyre. I remember Mrs. Arnold encouraging us to read it long ago. I think I started it and was unable to finish it. I can't say much more because I didn't read that part of the post because I want to read the book eventually.

Jane and Jane

Hi everyone!  The first two books on my challenge list were Jane Austen's Northanger Abbey and Charlotte Bronte's Jane Eyre.  I'm sure this will be long as I love details and am not so great at being concise.  You've been warned.

Northanger Abbey- I picked Northanger Abbey because I am more familiar wth Austen's other books and had never really heard about Northanger Abbey.  Also, the heroine's name is Catherine (my name is spelled Catharine) and that made me happy.  As a child, Catherine is described as sort of a tomboy, more interested in playing outside in the dirt than tending to flowers and her studies.  When she grows to the ripe old age of 17, Catherine travels to Bath with friendly neighbors, the Allens, where she makes new friends, goes to balls and plays, and finds a love interest, Mr.Tilney.  Catherine is naieve and doesn't see anything but the best in others.  Her first friend, Isabella, is obviously just using Catherine and is way more interested in flirting and trying to "marry up".  Catherine's brother, James, comes to visit in bath so they spend some time with Isabella and Isabella's brother, John (who is a tool and wants to marry Catherine.)  Catherine would rather be spending time with Mr.Tilney (I like him) and his sister Eleanor, who she had befriended.  Finally, Catherine ditches her Isabella and John when she starts to realize they aren't the best company and is invited to accompany the Tilney's to their home in Northanger Abbey.  Catherine and half the other characters in the book are interested in reading Gothic novels which were apparently popular at the time (they especially like the Mysteries of Udolpho) so she's pretty excited to be going to stay in an Abbey.  Mr.Tilney is several years older than Catherine and while she amuses him with her observations and good naturedness, Catherine enjoys learning from him.  I don't think I've included any spoilers so far, you know from the title of the book that she will end up at Northanger Abbey!  So without telling you too much about the end, something bad happens then all loose ends are tied up and she lives happily ever after.

Observations:

• I really like the long sentences!  Some are as long as a paragraph.
• The language used was very interesting to me.  I read most of the book in a day but felt I had to concentrate on the vocabulary since several words are used differently than today.
• The book was Austen's first written and last published.  I have not read her other books yet but I kind of felt like it was written early.  She seemed a bit unsure of herself as an author.
• I watched the Jane Austen Book Club on Lifetime after reading the book and I liked some of their opinions of the book and characters.  Mr.Tilney was described as "such a flirt" and another character observed that it was a novel about novels.
• Austen is all  about propriety (seriously, when you look it up in the dictionary, it should say "see: Jane Austen's novels") but I didn't feel her female characters were limited or subdued.

Jane Eyre- LOVED this book.  Jane Eyre is described as plain physically but has an unusual personality.  She is independent and feels she must speak out when something is unjust, even if it is not "her place" to do so.  I got on wikipedia to see what year the book was published (1847) and they split the book into 5 sections.  As I was reading, I mentally split the book into three sections.

SPOILER ALERT!  I apparently love this book too much to not write about what happens.  You could read the first section safely and If you just want general observations about the book, scroll down.

1. Jane's childhood: Jane is an orphan who lives with her aunt and three cousins.  The aunt never wanted Jane but was made to promise her husband on his deathbed that she would raise Jane as her own.  Jane is allowed to live with them but is treated like a second-class citizen in the house.  Jane is treated awfully and her aunt ignores the constant abuse inflicted by her son.  Jane is eventually sent to Lowood school, a school for orphans.  At first the conditions are awful, until after an illness broke out and many of the girls died.  After the illness brings the school into the public eye, conditions improve.  Jane does well in her classes and teaches for a couple years until at age 18, she wants a new situation.  Jane advertises looking for a governess position and is offered a job at Thornfield.

2. Thornfield: Jane is governess to a little French girl, Adele, who is the ward of Mr.Rochester.  Mr.Rochester is almost 20 years older than Jane, kind of rough around the edges, and has lived a bit of a wild life.  Jane amuses Mr.Rochester and it is obvious to the reader though not to Jane, that he is falling in love with her.  He asks her to join him in the evenings and they talk.  Jane is very frank and give answers/observations that are unusual because they are so honest.  I'm always amazed at how the rich seem to have lived at the time.  They would go to a party and stay for a couple weeks socializing, playing games, and when visiting Thornfield, insulting anyone seen to be in a lower class.  Mr.Rochester tells Jane to join the party in the evenings but she tries to stay out of the way.  Some of the party-goers think nothing of insulting governesses and saying Jane looks stupid, etc. right in front of her.  Mr.Rochester seems to be courting Miss Ingram.  She is always by his side at the party and it is rumored they will marry.  Jane is jealous, of course, but tries not to think of it since she is just poor, plain Jane and her "master" can certainly not think of her the way she thinks of him.  Jane leaves for a while, to go visit her dying aunt who has requested her presence (she lied in a letter to a man who said he was Jane's uncle and wanted to leave her his money).  Jane is gone for a month and finally returns to Thornfield.  They converse in the garden and he speaks about his upcoming wedding.  Jane thinks he is talking about Miss Ingram and finally he explains that he always intended to marry Jane and only pretended to court Miss Ingram (gold digger) to make Jane jealous and realize that she is in love with him too.  I was so happy when it looked like there would be a happy ending.  Plans are made for a quiet wedding and Mr.Rochester tries to spoil Jane with gifts which makes her very uncomfortable.  THEN I realized that there was still a lot left in the book and I knew something bad was going to happen. 

3. Something crazy happens and the wedding can not take place.  Jane somehow finds the strength to leave her love because she feels it is the right thing to do given the situation.  She pays someone for a ride and when she gets out of the carriage, realizes she has left her money.  Jane is totally broke, hungry, exhausted, and without a friend in a strange place.  She tries to find work, tries to trade her gloves for her food, and wanders, destitute.  Jane eventually comes across a cottage, asks for food and is turned away by the housekeeper.  She can go no further and lays down on the doorstep to die.  A new character shows up, lets her in.  She eats, sleeps for days, regains her strength and stays with the family (two sisters and their brother) for a month.  Jane adopts an alias, gets a position as a teacher for peasant girls and is moderately happy though she still thinks of Mr.Rochester.  Then, hey!  Good news!  It turns out that Jane's uncle has indeed left her quite a bit of money and a lawyer has been searching for her for quite a while.  She admits her true identity and it turns out that the family she had stayed with are her cousins.  She shares the money with them because she's awesome.  The brother of the family is going to be a missionary and though he does not love Jane, he wants to marry her because she would be a good missionary's wife.  She refuses to marry him because she knows what it's like to be loved!  She decides to go see if Mr.Rochester is ok and finds out that he was injured in a fire.  He is left blind and without one of his hands.  He is so happy she has returned (he feared she was dead), the obstacle has been removed, and they marry and live happily ever after.

Observations

• 
  
  I think Jane is a good role model.  She does what she thinks is right, is independent and her own person.  When not satisfied with her place in life, she does something about it.  She put herself in danger to do the right thing.
• 
  
  When Jane's student, Adele, speaks, it is mostly in French.  This was a bit frustrating since I don't speak French but you could get the gist of the conversation based on Jane's answers being in English.
• 
  
  When mentioning towns, the author would frequently write "---shire" or "S----" instead of writing the whole word.  I'm all about imagination but that bugged me for some reason.
• 
  
  This book was described as an unusual love story and I think that's fitting.
• 
  
  Did I mention how much I LOVED this book?  You should totally read it.

Compare/Contrast

• I could tell that it was written later than Northanger Abbey because though longer, it was easier for me to read.
• Both books had female lead characters.  Both characters were good people, but I liked Jane's strength.
• Bronte spent more time in the conclusion than Austen.  The end of Northanger Abbey was very sudden.  The conclusion of Jane Eyre had more details and told more of the characters' future.
• I want to read more books by both authors.  Northanger Abbey was ok, not my favorite book but I do want to read the others (Pride and Prejudice, etc.)

the legend of sleepy hollow and other tales

It took me too long to read this (a few days less than it took to read Les Mis and about 900 pages shorter? Yeah..) I have an idea as to why. I've always had trouble staying interested in a collection of short stories, I think because I feel like I can put the book down and walk away from it for awhile because there's no overarching plot line that I'm invested in. That being said, let me make it clear my disinterest in finishing this in a timely manner (my original goal was a week, which I feel like would have been easily done) wasn't due to the content, it was just my difficulty with short stories.

I don't have much to say about this (again, because of the short story format). I enjoyed it.. Irving was really great at capturing humans in a really eloquent way. All of his characters were very much their own person, in that they all undeniably human. He painted these people that were extremely quirky, but human. Each had their own personalities. The interesting thing is that he never really spent much time describing the lesser characters. The only story I can think of (off the top of my head) that he really described more than two characters in depth was Sleepy Hollow (there I can think of four). The others, there was one (or two) main characters he focused on, and let all of the others gray in the background. Which is fine, it made the main characters all that more vibrant.

He also had a way with describing scenery, which was really great. Again, with his scenery he threw in details that were minor, and some might question the necessity for it, but it was those details that made the scenery that much more believable.

I found it really interesting that this collection of stories is what opened up American literature as a respectable work in the English's eyes. I never thought about it, but when America was first standing on its feet as its own country, there would be a lot of work in finding a distinct culture from their parent country and breaking out of that mold. Before Irving, the British looked down upon American literature as silly and flippant. There was a LOT of pressure as an American writer because much of what was popular in America was laughed at in Britain. As a newly formed country trying to find its place in the world to show England it can be just as good as them.. I can see how that would create fear in American writing.

My favorite stories from this collection are the ones that either deal with love or the supernatural.. Irving was very good at describing those two things.
- Rip Van Winkle
- The Broken Heart
- The Widow and Her Son
- The Spectre Bridegroom
- The Pride of the Village
- The Legend of Sleepy Hollow

Now, onward to Joyce's Dubliners.. after a quick break to read the next two Percy Jackson books :)