Unbroken by Laura Hillenbrand, 2011

Having read Seabiscuit back in yesteryear when it was a hit (it was released in March 2001), I, along with many others, anxiously awaited the arrival of Laura Hillenbrand's next book. I loved all of the backstory and decisions and luck and atmosphere and characters that came together in Seabiscuit, that fit perfectly in order for a great racehorse to have been what he was. Hillenbrand wove a story from a million seemingly small details, and I was curious what she would do with her next undertaking. And now, for our reading pleasure, we have Unbroken: A WWII Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption.

Unfortunately, Ms. Hillenbrand suffers from chronic fatigue syndrome (read "A Sudden Illness", an essay she published in the New Yorker in July of 2003). She must very deliberately work through such well-researched books as Seabiscuit and Unbroken. Kudos to her for presenting us with this new read: the fascinating story of Louis Zamperini told through detailed and precise storytelling. The book had been out for a while, and I had heard talk of greatness, but I hadn't got my hands on it until this February. While visiting family in D.C.,  I spied a copy on a bookshelf. It turns out my sister-in-law had gifted it to my dad for Christmas. He had finished reading so I was able to "borrow" it. And shoot dang! Just look at that cover! That tile with that image? My heart was aching before I even read the inside jacket, before I even cracked the spine!

From the subtitle, you can discern that the truly harrowing, page-turning parts of the book are those that chronicle Zamperini's time lost at sea and as a POW in Japanese territory. However, be prepared for a detailed description of this young man's life growing up in southern California and pursuing his running dreams at the Berlin Olympics in 1936. Having read Seabiscuit (though my memories of it are faint...a good candidate for a reread!), I was aware of Hillenbrand's tendency to set the stage with a lengthy backstory. I give you this warning so you can prepare yourself and not put the book down when you find yourself mired in early life details. Once you're further into the read, you'll appreciate the wealth of knowledge you have of Zamperini. The backstory will help you understand how he endured incredibly cruel conditions at the hands of prison guards  in Japan, how he fought off sharks with swift kicks while hiding under a rubber raft in the middle of the Pacific in an attempt to escape artillery from a Japanese aircraft, and how he faced Japanese citizens in mile races around the perimeter of his prison camp...just a few of the amazing feats he endured. What did you do today?

And while you're getting caught up in Louie's personal story, you'll learn quite a bit about the Pacific theatre during WWII and the lives of airmen. But Hillenbrand does this in the skillful way good historical nonfiction writers do...that way where you don't realize what you're learning while you're learning it. Another interesting side affect besides strengthening your WWII knowledge is you'll long to be a part of the "Greatest Generation" (thanks, Tom Brokaw). Okay. You won't really want that because of all of the suffering and sacrifice and "do your duty" and other terrible things war brings on a generation. But you will really appreciate the hope for the future, the devotion, and the bravery millions of ordinary people, ordinary YOUNG people displayed.

ANYWAY, just read the book because it is one of the best I've read in a long time.

*Thanks BarnesandNoble.com for the picture!

Favorite Grown Up Books from the Land of the Adolescents

Alright, alright. Let's read something grown up. Since I work in a high school, I spend a lot of time trying to remember what it was like for me at that time in my life. And that's what everyone wants to do right, dig up their high school days?


Besides all of the pitfalls of minimal self confidence coupled with ill-fitting clothing and self-cut bangs, I actually had a pretty good time in high school. I wouldn't go back, but most of the memories don't make me cringe. And I discovered my literary self through some assigned reading and a mutual quest with a kindred spirit to read something that really had meaning. My friend Martha and I spent a lot of time seeking out well-written books, books that were overly emotional and passionate and beautiful because, after all, we were melodramatic yet also endearing high schoolers. 
Nonetheless, these are a very few of my favorites from the wonder years, and I do think they stand the test of time:

Atonement by Ian McEwan, 2001
The book opens on a hot summer day in England, 1935. You follow 13 year old Briony and her family as they prepare for a dinner party. Briony misinterprets the relationship between her older sister Cecelia and her childhood friend Robbie and makes a snap judgement that will shape all of their lives. The book is divided into four parts and jumps from the mid-1930s to the heart of WWII. It may start slow, but give it time. Atonement is a story of regret and whether or not we can overcome our wrongdoings.

Everything is Illuminated by Jonathan Safran Foer, 2002
Published when Foer was just 23, Everything is Illuminated tells two tales at once: that of the Urkanian village Trachimbrod and its residents and the tale of Alex, a Ukranian teenager hired to guide Jonathan, a young American in search of the woman who saved his grandfather's life when Nazis overtook Trachimbrod. The juxtaposition of Alex's broken English and the magical imagery of Trachimbrod combine to create a fantastic and wrenching read. Bravo!

One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez, 1967

Sigh! No doubt you've heard of this probably most popular of Gabriel Garcia Marquez's books. He has a whole lot of titles to choose from, but this may be (I am assuming) the most well read. But for good reason! Considered a prime example of magical realism in which fantastic and extraordinary events are woven in to every day life, read this book more for the beautiful words and style rather than the plot. The story follows one family through generation after generation. Try not to get hung up keeping track of who's who and just let the words do their work. Here's the famous opening line:
"Many years later, as he faced the firing squad, Colonel Aureliano Buendia was to remember that distant afternoon when his father took him to discover ice" (GGM, One Hundred Years of Solitude). I mean, come on! Even the translation from Spanish is pretty killer.

Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress by Dai Sijie, 2000 (French) and 2001 (English)
This is a fabulous little gem of a book about two loves: the love of reading and the love of the girl next door. During China's Cultural Revolution in the late 1960's, two teenage boys are sent to the countryside to be "reeducated". There, they fall in love with books and the tailor's daughter. Another book of beautiful imagery (noticing a trend?), Balzac and the Little Chinese Seamstress is a small, quick read that you'll want to keep on your bookshelf forever.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte, 1847

Martha gave me her copy of this book probably on loan, but I think I still may have it. And to be honest, I cannot remember if I read it when she gave it to me in high school OR not until my 19th century British literature class in college. Either way, this is a classic story of an untraditional girl growing up on the windswept moors of England with no one and nothing but her convictions. Follow Jane as she steadfastly refuses to compromise herself and determines her own fate. It is so good, and you'll feel smart because it's old and "classic" and part of the canon.

Fast forward to last year: Martha and I reunited in April of 2011 which was perfect timing for a viewing of last year's Jane Eyre film! There are probably a dozen movie versions of this book, but we both really loved this one and thought it captured the dreary moor and should I say terrifying circumstances pretty spot on. Watch the trailer!

In conclusion, I read some great fiction in high school and very little nonfiction. And I need to get back to some great adult (not young adult) fiction now. Right now! To the library! Any suggestions?

*Thanks BarnesandNoble.com for the images!

Brookline Booksmith, you da best.

Don't you just love having a bookstore close by where you can browse away an afternoon (or Friday night)? Where do you do your book selecting?
This is my local bookstore as of the past year and a half:

It is a wonderful place, not too big, not too small, just the right size.
I can walk to it or take the bus though I prefer to walk.
It is open reasonably late.
It has little book cha chis in addition to actual books.
It has magazines.
It has author visits.
It has other people who like books which is the best part of all.
I think I'll go there right now. Bye!

*Thanks for the picture, Eric Wilbur on About.com.