Book Review (including audiobook): The Eyes of Willie McGee by Alex Heard

• Synopsis
• Thoughts on the Book
• Thoughts on the Audio Production
• Overall

Title:	The Eyes of Willie McGee
Author:	Alex Heard
Publisher:	Harper Collins Publishers
Narrator:	J.D. Jackson
Production Company:	Harper Audio
Date:	2010
ISBN:	97800-61284-151
Genre:	Non-Fiction
Format:	MP3 (unabridged)
Playing Time:	14 hours
Rating:

Synopsis:

In a nutshell, and from the publisher's website, The Eyes of Willie McGee is the story of a black man convicted in 1945 of raping a white woman in Laurel, Mississippi and sentenced to death by an all-white jury who deliberated for only two-and-a-half minutes.

Considering all of the evidence, various accounts from both communities indicate that Willie McGee and Willete Hawkins were engaged in a romantic affair. Based on this fact, it becomes apparent that Troy Hawkins (Willette's husband), came home unexpectedly during one of their trysts. After Willie escaped, Willette was forced naked into the streets of Laurel to escape the wrath of her husband. But rather than suffer the embarassment of such an admission, she decided to cry, "rape." Thus began the case of Willie McGee.

The testimony of alleged victim, Willette Hawkins, includes such a ridiculous statement that I'm surprised no one questioned it.

Mrs. Hawkins said it was too dark to see the rapist’s face, but she knew he was black by the texture of his hair.

Now, I'm no expert; but I was immediately struck by the obtrusiveness of such a ridiculous claim. Willette Hawkins' background description doesn't indicate that she was a barber; and texture is not something that can be described based on sight alone. So, to substantiate her testimony, on what occasion would she have come in contact with the head of a Black man to be able to make this comparison? If the defense had asked that question, this trial could have taken a different turn. Granted, in 1950's Mississippi, the impact on Willie McGee and his family would have been the same.

Thoughts on the Book

Heard has performed extensive research in the matter of Willie McGee. His dedication to the case is quite convincing. His sincerity helped him to win the confidence of various family members and witnesses who eventually granted interviews. Heard painstakingly assembled the results of his research with the content of these interviews to challenge the trial that officially ended with the execution of Willie McGee. Yes—officially—because the facts uncovered in this book have resurrected every participant, willing or unwilling, to divulge the truth surrounding the wrongful death of Willie McGee.

I was an infant when this execution took place. Unlike other misappropriations of justice of the era, I never heard this case discussed in our home. Heard's research brought attention to other cases that have morphed into the shadows of history. As I read and listened, I made notes to review some of the other cases that were referenced.

Thoughts on the Audio Production

I enjoyed the audiobook edition. Most of the time I was aware that I was listening to a historical narrative. But, at times it seemed like I was listening to a news segment.

Jackson delivers his narration meticulously. His changes in intonation are noticeable enough to indicate the character transitions. I'm becoming used to hearing a man narrate in a woman's voice. Though my attention to it may diminish, remarking about it may just be something I'll always do. In any event, Jackson pulls it off seamlessly and with the intended effect. A lilting violin solo served as both the introduction and prologue to this magnificent audio production.

Overall

The many references to events of the Civil Rights Movement will interest the reader and/or student of African American history. Alex Heard has conducted monumental research regarding this historical case. I believe his efforts have destined him for literary distinction. With the exception of the non-fictional McGee's supporters, the comparison of his case to that of the fictional Tom Robinson of Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird rings true. Among McGee's supporters were: Josephine Baker, Albert Einstein, William Faulkner, Norman Mailer, Jessica Mitford, and Paul Robeson—all of whom spoke out on his behalf. Despite the obvious difference in genres, this book has been likened to Harper Lee's To Kill a Mockingbird. I must say both cases bare resemblance with regard to the trial, the reaction of the public, and the outcome of the accused. If the timing of its release was planned to coincide with TKaM's 50th anniversary, that decision was ingenious.

I would like to thank Crazy Book Tours for the opportunity to read The Eyes of Willie McGee. Though I completed it after forwarding it to the next reader, I would still like my review to be a part of the tour. Since I plan to allow myself more time for a re-read, I anticipate amending this review at a later date.

Book Review Beyond Opinion by Ravi Zacharias

Description from Ravi Zacharias International Ministries :

Respected apologist Ravi Zacharias was once sharing his faith with a Hindu when the man asked: "If the Christian faith is truly supernatural, why is it not more evident in the lives of so many Christians I know?" The question hit hard, and this book is an answer. Its purpose is to equip Christians everywhere to simultaneously defend the faith and be transformed by it into people of compassion.

Title:	Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith We Defend
Author:	Ravi Zacharias
Publisher:	Thomas Nelson
Date:	2007
ISBN:	9780849946530
Genre:	Non-Fiction
Format:	Trade Paperback, 338 pages
Rating:

Beyond Opinion: Living the Faith We Defend by Ravi Zacharias is a strong volume on the topic of apologetics. In Section One: Addressing the Difficult Questions, the author goes into great detail to address challenges against the Bible from five specific areas: atheism, youth, Islam, Eastern religions, and science. With the exception of youth, the majority of the groups included in this section have developed specific belief systems that are at odds with those of Christianity. For this reason, Challenges from Youth appears to be out of place in this section. I understand its inclusion in Part One: Giving an Answer. But since it talks about preparing Christian youth to defend their faith, I would expect to see it included in Section Two: Addressing the Questions Behind the Questions.

In Beyond Opinion, Zacharias assembles a team of eleven contributors and presents their views of various topics. Nine are workers in his global ministry: Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). This book was my introduction to RZIM.

When I read in the description that the focus of this book would be apologetics, I expected to read commentary that would prepare the reader to defend his faith. But the sub-title, Living the Faith We Defend, describes the true essence of the author's message. The examples a Christian sets as he lives the faith he defends can do so much more than any argument he could "win." My church's slogan lines up with this concept—and exhorts members to be "living proof of a loving God to a watching world." Having internalized this slogan, it was easy to grasp the concept behind the sub-title. Consequently, my favorite chapter is entitled The Church's Role in Apologetics and the Development of the Mind, written by the author.

• As we have noted in this book, the ultimate calling upon the Christian is to live a life reflecting the person of Christ. This involves a threefold process. First, we cannot take seriously the skeptic's difficult questions until we ourselves have also worked through them. Second, when such answers are known, they must then be internalized (the process of spiritual transformation) so that, third, these answers will be lived out before a hurting and hungry world.
  
• . . . The Irish evangelist Gypsy Smith once said, "There are five Gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke, John, and the Christian, and some people will never read the first four." In other words, apologetics is seen before it is heard.

Beyond Opinion read like a textbook for me; and I struggled with the presentation. The reader with a strong background in theology is the one who will get the most from the discussions it presents. There is a lot of detail for the layman to absorb. As I read I was reminded of a pre-blog review I wrote of Building a Biblical Worldview Verse by Verse by Brannon Howse. In it I recall making a statement about apologetics—or what I thought it was. On a 0-to-10 scale, the ease of Howse's presentation places it in the 3 range while the complexity of Zacharias' book places it at about 9. The ideal book for me would be somewhere in the 5-to-7 range.

Though I've read many books on Christianity, I didn't recognize the names of his colleagues. And my preference leans not toward the contemporary evangelistic authors of this century and the latter part of the last. I'm comfortable with the more spiritual writings of Henry Drummond, Oswald Chambers, Brother Lawrence, and Andrew Murray. With Beyond Opinion, I was introduced to a league of apologists that my brother, a Baptist Minister, might read. I did, however, come away with a better understanding of what constitutes apologetics.

As a reviewer for Book Sneeze, I received a complimentary trade paperback edition of Beyond Opinion directly from the publisher. This has in no way influenced my review of the book. I have neither been offered nor received monetary compensation from the author, publisher, or other literary agents. I thank Thomas Nelson for allowing me the opportunity to write an impartial review. Similar versions of this review will be posted on LibraryThing and at the Barnes & Noble website.

Book Review: Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury Banned

Title:	Fahrenheit 451
Author:	Ray Bradbury
Publisher:	Del Rey Books (Randomhouse)
Date:	1996 (1953)
ISBN:	9780345410016
Genre:	Science Fiction
Format:	Trade Paperback, 179 pages
Rating:

I was immediately drawn into Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. It was a very good fit for me. I read it because it turned up repeatedly on Banned Book Week displays as well as on banned lists. As I read, I could find nothing that warranted banning. I began to second-guess myself—thinking that I had misunderstood. Maybe it was recommended reading for the week since it was about the banning of books. But that was not the case. Some reasons given for the banning of Fahrenheit 451 include (1) offensive language and content, and (2) questionable themes.

From the back cover:
"The system was simple. Everyone undestood it. Books were for burning, along with the houses in which they were hidden."
Guy Montag was a fireman whose job it was to start fires. And he enjoyed his job. He had been a fireman for ten years, and he had never questioned the pleasure of the midnight runs nor the joy of watching pages consumed by flames ... never questioned anything until he met a seventeen-year-old girl who told him of a past when people were not afraid. Then Guy met a professor who told him of a future in which people could think. And Guy Montag suddenly realized what he had to do ...

The setting is futuristic America. I've read commentary that places it in either the 21st or 24th century. Regardless, the setting plays a significant role in the plot. There's a police-state atmosphere. Beautiful landscapes are replaced with smaller patches of real estate upon which houses with "standard appointments" are built. Though many have conformed to this soulless society, there are still those who remember "how it was." I found the primary characters of Guy, Clarisse, Mildred, and Professor Faber to be the most developed. A suspense element drives the plot and supports the suspended delineation of the secondary characters.

I can only marvel at the similarities between Bradbury's dystopian society and that of today. The similarities are uncanny! Our mammoth flatscreens are only small one-dimensional versions of the parlor walls. Images constantly invade our minds—numbing our thought processes. Though not as often, I still sometimes leave an unwatched-tv on in a room. I thought my saving grace was that it was tuned to the cooking channel—or better still, a religious sermon. When I enter the room, someone is there demonstrating a cooking method or sharing a recipe or preaching or praying. But it actually doesn't matter what's on. The fact still remains that what's coming out of the tv (the wall) is being introduced into my psyche with little effort on my part. We still have time to reclaim the segments of our minds currently placated by what comes out of the flat-screen wall.

We are fastly approaching the society depicted in Fahrenheit 451. Whether books are banned or burned, the fact still remains that they are not being read. Our mp3 players are equivalent to the seashells the people placed in their ears. And while calling 222-TIPS (or its equivalent in your locale) is quite beneficial to society, it can still be likened to the parlor walls instructing citizens to open their doors at a given time in order to help catch Montag. These are but a few of the similarities shared between today's society and that depicted in Fahrenheit 451 .

This book should be an eye-opener to all of us. It certainly was to me. Rather than being engaged in thought-provoking activity, we have become a society of spectators, constantly needing to be entertained. The scenes depicted in the book are so much like the times in which we live. Bradbury is a thinker. Over fifty years ago, he could see where society was headed. I enjoyed reading this author so much that I picked up Now and Forever, a compilation of two previously-written short stories. I recommend Fahrenheit 451 to all readers. The following quote from wiki answers echoes the thoughts I entertained while reading Fahrehheit 451.

Like the opposition to "1984", the opposition to "Fahrenheit 451" seems to grow as the depicted society grows too similar to our own. One of these uncomfortable parallels is today's increased use of entertainment in place of learning and culture. Ray Bradbury has stated that this dumbing down was one of the concerns he was trying to raise.

Wondrous Words Wednesday 3 (Abzugian)

Each week, Kathy at Bermuda Onion hosts a meme where bloggers can talk about new words they've encountered in their reading. Because of all the work it caused me, this week's Wondrous Word is not so wondrous. (I actually enjoyed the challenge.) ;-) It shot out at me from the audio edition of The Eyes of Willie McGee by Alex Heard—narrated by J.D. Jackson.

The word is Abzugian. And I have to spell it phonetically since I don't have access to a print edition. Internet searches of all the variations I could come up with turned up nothing. I did get a chuckle, however, when dictionary.reference.com asked, "Did you mean OBS/GYN?" I can't wait to see how this word is spelled; but I think I came pretty close. Not only did I have to guess at the spelling. I had to make up the definition, too.

• Abzugian: as it's used in The Eyes of Willie McGee by Alex Heard is a made-up word which basically consists of a person's last name with a suffix added to it. It's a reference to female activist Bella Abzug.

  Here's how it's used in the book:
  In the interim, Liz showed up with her partner, a woman named Erica Forman, coming into the room on a wave of Abzugian energy.

  So here's my definition based on the above useage:
  Abzugian (adj.) projecting the demeanor of Bella Abzug; highly confident; possessing a pioneering spirit

After learning a few facts about Abzug, I have a better understanding of why Heard created this word. Abzug was an attorney, Congresswoman, social activist and a leader of the Women's Movement. The wiki article also states that she appealed the case of Willie McGee.

That's all I have for this week. Have you encountered any new (to you) words in your reading? Any search techniques for definitions? We'd like to hear about them.

Article: Indian Summer

Autumn is my favorite season—the season so indescribable it's been given two names. These days, my lips say fall; but my heart will always sing autumn. It also bears the distinction of having a season within it—called Indian Summer. Next to family, autumn is what I miss most about living in the Midwest. I suspect Indian Summer has a lot to do with it. My basic understanding of this phenomenon is "an unusually warm spell following the first freeze."

I first learned the legend of Indian Summer in what was then called, The Gary Post Tribune. Then with each October's arrival, I would anxiously wait for it to repeat. I couldn't miss it since it occupied a good portion of the front page. It was the right time of year; and the talk of spirits fascinated me and added body to the legend. The image below links to a replica of the legend as it ran in the Chicago Tribune (which my Mother purchased daily) on September 30, 1907. Decades later, children of the midwest, steeped in Indian folklore, scurried atop couches and easy chairs or sat cross-legged in the middle of living room floors to read John T. McCutcheon's legend of Indian Summer. I was one of those children that soaked up all the local trivia—including the State Flower, the State Bird, and the State Song. So this was right up my alley.

I hope this pre-Halloween tradition is still in place. The Chicago Tribune is the original source of this legend. So grab a cup of your favorite brew. Take a load off for a minute or two; and soak up some midwest flavor as you read the enchanting legend of Injun Summer by John T. McCutcheon.

John T. McCutcheon's Injun Summer
as it appeared in the Chicago Tribune on September 30, 1907

I found a Wiki article about Indian Summer that gives a less colorful definition. And there's probably much truth to it; but I prefer to hold on to the legend's definition: " ... when all the homesick Injuns come back to play."

Last line of unofficial state song
When I think ♫ about the moonlight on the Wabash,
then I long for my ♪ Indiana home.

It's Monday! What are you reading? (6)

It's Monday! What Are You Reading? This weekly meme is hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. Bloggers gather there each week to link up to their respective posts about recently-completed and/or current reads. Last week, I completed an excellent book, Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury. I also continued In the Fullness of Time by Vincent Nicolosi. As I savor the final pages—I'm not looking forward to ending this wonderful book.

I'm still considering two books for this week. I haven't decided which one I'll read next:

• Some Sing, Some Cry a Novel by Ntosake Shange and Ifa Bayeza
  Ntosake is the playwright of Obie-Award-winning for colored girls who have considered suicide/when the rainbow is enuf and has authored other works. She co-authors this book with her sister, Ifa Bayeza. I'm less familiar with Bayeza's works. After learning about her, I have added The Ballad of Emmet Till to my TBR.
  
• From the front flap: The Cookbook Collector by a Novel by Allegra Goodman

  ... is a novel about getting and spending, and about the substitutions we make when we can't find what we're looking for: reading cookbooks instead of cooking, speculating instead of creating, collecting insted of living. But above all it is about holding on to what is real in a virtual world: love that stays."

And last week, I was pleased to learn I was the winner of the weekly contest! I didn't participate last week; so I actually didn't find out until this weekend. I found a rather obscure title in the prize box and requested it. I can't wait to read it. Thanks, Sheila! So, bloggers, be sure to post your comments and report back to Sheila about how many blogs you visited. I'm a living witness that it works!

Sheila's Instructions for entering the weekly contest:
I love being a part of this and I hope you do too! As part of this weekly meme I love to encourage you all to go and visit the others participating in this meme. I offer a weekly contest for those who visit 10 or more of the Monday Meme participants and leave a comment. You receive one entry for every 10 comments, just come back here and tell me how many in the comment area.

So . . . It's Monday! What are you reading?

Book Review (audio): The Help by Kathryn Stockett

• Synopsis
• Thoughts on the Book
• Thoughts on the Audio Production
• Overall

Title:	The Help
Author:	Kathryn Stockett
Publisher:	Amy Einhorn Books (Putnam) Penguin Audiobooks
Narrators:	Bahni Turpin, Others
Production Company:	Penquin Audio
Date:	2009
ISBN:	9780399155345
Genre:	Fiction
Format:	MP3 (unabridged)
Playing Time:	18:19:00
Rating:

I began hearing and reading about Kathryn Stockett's The Help before finally coming upon it in the bookstore. Still, I allowed a bit of time to elapse before I decided to read it. I finally purchased a copy—which sat on my shelves for months before I noticed it appearing on numerous recommendation lists during Audiobook Week. And long afterwards, reviewers continued to recommend it for new listeners.

Synopsis (from the publisher's website)

Kathryn Stockett's The Help revolves around three women in the town of Jackson, Mississippi, circa 1962. Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. . . Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. . . Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. . . Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

Thoughts on the Book

The characters in The Help are drawn from Stockett's memory of her childhood. As is the case with many novelists, Stockett seems to have used herself as the prototype for the character of the protagonist, Eugenia "Skeeter" Phelan. As a novel based on fact, the interaction among the characters is traditional. However, the originality of a Black housekeeper in 1960's Mississippi, working on an expose´ with the best friend of a member of another family is definitely an original approach.

I respect the author's disclaimer in her prologue entitled, "Too Little, Too Late." And I'm glad she included it—wherein she states:

"I was scared, a lot of the time, that I was crossing a terrible line, writing in the voice of a black person. I was afraid I would fail to describe a relationship that was so intensely influential in my life, so loving, so grossly stereotyped in American history and literature."

I think Stockett did a fine job of communicating the love they shared and the influence her mother's "Help" had on her life. I believe she successfully wrote "in the voice of a black person." But I'm not too sure she consulted reliable sources before attempting to write in our dialect. Aibileen's name is one that could have been spelled any number of ways; so I'll give her that one. But, even considering the creativity some of us employ in naming our offspring, I don't think anyone would name their daughter, "Yule Mae." There were certainly enough of us named "Eula" during that era to demonstrate that we knew how to spell it. Hearing "Yule Mae" spoken in the audiobook was one thing; but seeing it spelled that way in the print edition bordered on ridiculous. And she could also have left the "d" at the end of "Lawd." We may have cut the "d" sound a little short; but we didn't cut it off completely—not in 1962.

The plot includes references to the assassinations of Dr. Martin Luther King, John F. Kennedy, and Medgar Evers. I think the author captured and delivered an accurate description of the feelings of both races. I'm always receptive to novels that include truthful depictions of African American history. However, race is not the only issue addressed in The Help. There are episodes where the women are "just women" and support one another with no regard for race. And as I listened, I noted Skeeter Phelan's continual struggle to break the mold to which her mother, Charlotte, so adamantly insisted she conform. Skeeter trailblazed her way right out of the "Stepford Wives" society of the era.

Another problem I had was with a disgusting incident the author attributes to Minny. The vagueness in my wording is an attempt to avoid spoiling the plot for the uninitiated while recalling it to those who have read it. Regardless of how it turned out, it was absurd; and it was not amusing if that was Stockett's intent. And, finally, I think it painted a picture of Black housekeepers that they do not deserve.

Thoughts on the Audio Production

I was very impressed with the quality of this production and could readily identify three of the four narrators:

• Bahni Turpin as Aibileen
• Octavia Spencer as Minny
• Jenna Lamia as Skeeter
• Cassandra Campbell (by process of elimination) as Hilly Holbrook and possibly Celia Foote

Turpin's characterization of Aibileen always made me feel like I was sitting across the kitchen table from her—sharing privileged information over a cup of coffee. Spencer brought the fire and sass that Minny's character demanded. I knew she was not to be crossed. Finally, Lamia's Skeeter was a grown-up version of Sissy Spacek's Scout from To Kill a Mockingbird. She delivered a believable sincerity that completely drew me into the story. I'm not sure who narrated Hilly Holbrook. By process of elimination, it would seem to be Cassandra Campbell. I could feel her looking down her nose at anyone who questioned her actions or disagreed with her about anything. Ms. Hilly Holbrook "needed to be brought down a peg or two." And I didn't mind having to wait for it. Only powerful performances can evoke these types of feelings from a reader.

Overall

Kathryn Stockett has basically written an expose´ within a novel. The historical facts woven throughout the story caused me to reflect on days gone by. I can personally identify with the loving bond that forms between a child and the caretaker who is given charge over her. I still plan to read the print edition; and give the audiobook another listen at a later time. Despite my misgivings about some aspects of Stockett's debut novel, I've awarded a 4-star rating based on overall content and originality. The Help movie began filming this summer in Mississippi; and is scheduled for release in April 2011.

Wondrous Words Wednesday 2 (theremin)

My word for this week's Wondrous Words Wednesday will probably not find its way into my vocabulary. But it captured my interest as I read Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451. Each week, Kathy at Bermuda Onion hosts a meme where bloggers can talk about new words they've encountered in their reading.

The word is theremin. With the ending of this word being the same as the endings of some chemicals or medications, and also with the way it was used in the sentence, I was sure I would find a description of some type of injectable drug including its indications and possibly interactions. The verb sting caused me to make that assumption. But I was way off base.

• theremin: from Fahrehneit 451 by Ray Bradbury:

  If the drama is bad, if the film says nothing, if the play is hollow, sting me with the theremin, loudly.

  According to wiktionary: (noun) An electronic musical instrument that generates sound of varying pitch and volume depending on the proximity of the musician’s hands to two antennae mounted on the instrument.

Since photos do not depict any sharp protrusions, this increased my understanding that the stinging must come from electronic vibrations emitted from this instrument. the last word in the sentence, "loudly," should have tipped me off that it was not referring to a sharp-pointed object. I really can't see any use I would have for this word. But curiosity prevailed; and I had to look it up.

The theremin was invented by Léon Theremin, a French musician, in 1920. In addition to other musical instruments, Theremin also invented a burglar alarm or "Signalling Apparatus" in the 1920's which used a Theremin affect.

That's all I have for this week. Have you encountered any new (to you) words in your reading? Any search techniques for definitions? We'd like to hear about them.

Read-a-Thon Update Post #3

I forgot to add Fahrenheit 451 to my list this morning. I didn't have the book in-hand to include in the photo of my stack. But I intended to include it in the list with the explanation that I would pick it up from the library when I ran my 2:30 errand. Well that's exactly how it worked. So I've included it in my list of reads below. I had already begun reading it at Borders during Banned Book Week. So it's the one book I'm pretty sure I'll finish during the Read-a-Thon.

Title of book(s) read since last update:	The Eyes of Willie McGee (audio) In the Fullness of Time (print) Fahrenheit 451 (print)
Number of books read since you started:	0 completed
Pages read since last update:	70
Running total of pages read since you started:	141 (print) 3.5 hrs (audio)
Amount of time spent reading since last update:	3.5 hrs (audio) 2 hrs (print)
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!):	3.5 hrs (audio) 4 hrs (print)
Mini-challenges completed:	3
Other participants you’ve visited:	10
Prize you’ve won:	0

Read-a-Thon Mini Challenge #3 (Title Word Scramble)

Here are my answers to the Title Word Scramble. This was a nice break from reading. It was very mind stimulating. Just what I needed as I was beginning to doze off!

1. yfferil enal:     Firefly Lane
2. aste fo eend:     Seat of Need
3. retwa orf pntshleea:     Water for Elephants
4. ot lkli a ckomgnrbdii:     To Kill a Mockingbird
5. het gtaer ysbtag:     The Great Gatsby
6. yrhra tetrpo dna eth lyhdtea wollsah:     Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows
7. ht e rat fo nrgcai ni eht nair:     The Art of Racing in the Rain
8. eth mite reslveart efwi:     The Time Traveler's Wife
9. eht rlig ithw eht gnodar ooattt:     The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
10. ydira fo a mypiw idk:     Diary of a Wimpy Kid
11. a kwrlnei ni emit:     A Wrinkle in Time
12. het rpoal sxprese:     The Polar Express
13. vole dewlak ni:     Love Walked In
14. reehw eth dwli hingts rea:     Where the Wild Things Are
15. eht ginnhsi:     The Shining
16. dnohogigt oonm:     Goodnight Moon
17. vwtienrie hwti a pvmarie:     Interview with a Vampire
18. eht cretse file fo eesb:     The Secret Life of Bees
19. eht raesch:     The Search
20. het pelh:     The Help

Read-a-thon Update Post #2

Title of book(s) read since last update:	The Eyes of Willie McGee (audio) In the Fullness of Time (print)
Number of books read since you started:	0 completed
Pages read since last update:	71
Running total of pages read since you started:	71 (print) 3.5 hrs (audio)
Amount of time spent reading since last update:	3.5 hrs (audio) 2 hrs (print)
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!):	3.5 hrs (audio) 2 hrs (print)
Mini-challenges completed:	2
Other participants you’ve visited:	8
Prize you’ve won:	0

Read-a-Thon Update Post #1

Title of book(s) read since last update:	The Eyes of Willie McGee (audio)
Number of books read since you started:	0
Pages read since last update:	n/a
Running total of pages read since you started:	n/a (print) 2.25 hrs (audio)
Amount of time spent reading since last update:	2.25 hrs (audio)
Running total of time spent reading since you started: (keep track of this one to be eligible for a prize!):	2.25 hrs (audio) xxx pages (print)
Mini-challenges completed:	1
Other participants you’ve visited:	4
Prize you’ve won:	0

Read-a-Thon Mini-Challenge Post 1: Back in the Day Children's Books Challenge

I must have read every Little Golden Book there was when I was coming up. Every Saturday, I'd tear myself away from cartoons to tag along with my mother while she did the grocery shopping. First was the outdoor farmer's market on 12th & Washington; then Piatek's Meat Market in Glen Park; and finally Joe Title's supermarket which was across from the Village Shopping Center. I'm not going to "shout out" the city and state because if anyone does recognize these places, I'm sure I'll get a response.

Anyway, when we reached the supermarket, I'd run straight to the aisle with the children's books. Most of the time, all I had to do was put what I wanted in the grocery cart. Like any parent, Momma was glad I was reading. In fact, I don't think I ever had to pester her for a book. After my "Golden Book" stage, I progressed to The Bobbsey Twins. Next it was on to Nancy Drew and the Hardy Boys.

As you can see, this meme has brought back some precious memories for me. But the book I remember most from my beginning reading years is Carl Anderson's Henry in Lollipop Land. For some reason, I remembered one line in the whole book:

"Candy on a stick. Candy on a stick.
Come now, Henry, don't you want a lick?"

???? I guess because it rhymed. But I had the fortune of winning a copy on e-Bay several years ago. And that's my favorite children's book.

— The End—

Dewey's 24-Hour Read-a-Thon: Start-up Post (October 2010)

Well, here's my stack for the read-a-thon. This is my first time participating because I was still learning my way around the blogosphere during the April event. The base of my stack is my current read. Then I added books that I wanted to have handy depending on my mood. The image isn't the greatest; so I'll also list them.

1. In the Fullness of Time by Vincent Nicolosi: This is my current read. I plan to complete Section II during the read-a-thon.
2. Natural to Super Natural Health by David Herzog: I received this from the publisher last month. It's thin; so I should be able to finish it.
3. How Did You Get This Number? by Sloane Crosley: After reading another blogger's review, I went right out to the library and checked it out. I'm looking forward to what promises to be a fun read!
4. Pudd'nhead Wilson by Mark Twain: The name is actually Pudd'nhead Wilson and Those Extraordinary Twins. But for today, I'm only interested in Pudd'nhead. This is actually a classic; so it can count toward the Classics Challenge that ends this month.
5. New Town by Harry Blamires: I know nothing at all about this book which found its way into my shopping cart the other day. But it's thin; and I believe I can finish it if it's interesting. I was enchanted by the sub-title, A Fable . . . Unless You Believe, more so than the title.
6. What difference do it make? by Ron Hall, Denver Moore, and Lynn Vincent. These are Stories of Hope and Healing from the authors of Same Kind of Different as Me. I really need to finish this and return it to my church library. It's due tomorrow. I think I have one more renewal, though.
7. The Secret Lives of Baba Segi's Wives by Lola Shoneyin: I've just been wanting to read it.
8. The Exile by Pearl S. Buck: I thought I could sneak in another brief classic for the challenge.

I'm not familiar enough with all that the read-a-thon entails to break out an actual schedule. But during the first hour (7:00 a.m. CST), I'll browse around (while listening to an audiobook) and make notes of blogs I want to read and mini-challenges I intend to take. Then, beginning at 8:00, I'll continue listening to the audiobook while I set up for the rest of the day. Depending on which challenges I'll participate in, my reading from the above stack will begin around 10:00 and continue for at least 12 hours with an errand I have to run at about 2:30 p.m. (attached to my earbuds of course). That's truthfully as far as I can plan for my "maiden voyage." Who knows? I might still be "kickin' it" for a while longer!

Book Review: Nemesis by Agatha Christie

Title:	Nemesis
Author:	Agatha Christie
Publisher:	Pocket Books/Washington Square Press; New York
Date:	1973
ISBN:	0671459333
Genre:	Fiction, Mystery
Format:	Mass Market Paperback; 262 pages
Rating:

Nemesis is Agatha Christie's 11th installment out of 12 in the Jane Marple Mysteries series. I don't think the books in this series were meant to be read in the order in which they were published. I picked this one because the title appealed to my curiousity.

Miss Marple's assignment in this book is to find out who committed a murder several years ago (a cold case if you will). She is dispatched into the solving of the crime in a most ingenious way. The story opens with the death of Mr. Rafiel who has made earlier arrangements, through his attorneys, for her to investigate a murder.

Opening Lines: "In the afternoons it was the custom of Miss Jane Marple to unfold her second newspaper."

As I read, I couldn't help but compare one aspect of Christie's development of this plot to the only other of her books I've read. As in And Then There Were None, a group of travelers becomes the focus of suspense. This time the members of the group are on a "Home and Garden Tour." It was just the basic similarity that struck me. In this instance, the crime has already been committed; and I don't get the idea that the entire tour was devised for the purpose of investigating the crime. Others in the party, however, have been placed on the tour by Mr. Rafiel. He has gone to a lot of trouble to ensure Miss Marple's safety during her investigation. Mr. Rafiel may have thought that Miss Marple's love of horticulture would not only entice her to take advantage of his generosity, but possibly be useful in her investigation.

Miss Marple is an astute septuagenarian with a very sharp mind. Her mode seems to be recalling her knowledge of past crimes to solve current ones. Many people think she's overly cautious. Even though she possesses a highly critical nature, she is actually quite approachable; and most people like her. I like her.

My reading perks up whenever I encounter a book title—especially one I'm familiar with—in the storyline. This excerpt also echoes my feelings about some of today's books. While I think most publishers have gotten away from the covers described here, I have still caught myself gasping in astonishment at some of today's covers in this same manner.

There was by now no one else in the shop. Miss Marple looked with distaste at the jacket of the book, a naked girl with bloodstained markings on her face and a sinister-looking killer bending over her with a blood-stained knife in his hand.
"Really," she said, "I don't like these horrors nowadays."
"Gone a bit too far with some of their jackets, haven't they?" said Mrs. Vinegar. "Not everyone as likes them. Too fond of violence in every way, I'd say nowadays."
Miss Marple detached a second book. "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" she read. "Oh, dear, it's a sad world one lives in."

This mystery was not as easy to figure out as And Then There Were None. I was totally engaged as in sheer Christie fashion, the author devoted the final chapters to the unraveling of details leading up to the solving of the crime. In my "scavenger hunts" I've collected several Jane Marple mysteries—some encased in 5-book anthologies. I think I'll enjoy reading my way through this series.

Monthly Wrap-up: (10-09) September 2010

• Discovered
• The Month in Review
• Book Reviews
• Challenges Completed

September kept me busy completing challenges. I worked feverishly to complete my designated reads and post reviews. I finished what I could; and still have a few reviews to post. September also brought Banned Books Week (see below).

Discovered

After noticing some very creative banned books displays in local bookstores and libraries, I did a bit of research and discovered that Banned Books Week was approaching. It didn't take long for me to develop an interest; and during my introduction to the story behind banned books, I discovered that I have reviewed some and even more are on my TBR. Who knew?

The Month in Review

• I won two autographed books (cozy mysteries) authored by S. Dionne Moore: Murder on the Ol' Bunions, © 2008 and Polly Dent Loses Grip, © 2009.
• I learned about banned books and took an active interest in Banned Books Week.
• I listened to my first podcast by Nicole at That's How I Blog. I enjoyed listening to the podcast as I ran errands. I'm now a convert.

Book Reviews

This month I read eight (8) books and reviewed six (6). I listened to two (2) audiobooks. In order of rating, they are:

1.		The Souls of Black Folk (audio) by W.E.B. Du Bois.
2.		The Heart of a Woman by Maya Angelou
3.		All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes by Maya Angelou
4.		And So It Goes by Linda Ellerbee
5.		...unfinished business by Lee Kravitz
6.		Broom of the System (audio) by David Foster Wallace
7.		Beyond Opinion by Ravi Zacharias
8.		Nemesis by Agatha Christie

Challenges Completed

• September 20, 2010: Autobiography/Memoir Challenge
• September 20, 2010: Cozy Mystery Challenge
• September 30, 2010: Non-Fiction Five Challenge

During September, I completed two challenges and missed completing a third by one book. I'll do better next time. The Classics Challenge is coming up for October. My plan is to read classics during the Read-a-thon this weekend. I'll have to make sure to download one on audio for when I have to go out. After that, I have some reviews to catch up on. See you in the stacks!

Wondrous Words Wednesday 1 (Perfidious)

Wondrous Words Wednesday is a weekly meme where bloggers share new (to us) words that we’ve encountered in our reading. This fun meme is hosted by Bermuda Onion who comes up with some interesting words herself. And don't be surprised if these words start popping up in my posts. That's what words are for, right?

I can usually determine the meaning of a word by the context in which it is used. But every once in a while, I'll grab my dictionary just to make sure. And speaking of dictionaries, here's a freebie. A Google hack I've been using for many years is prefacing the word I'm searching with, define:. It leads to a page which offers a choice of definition sources. For instance, I searched this week's word by entering define:perfidious in the search box. You try it! Just remember there's no space between the colon and the word you're searching.

• perfidious: from In the Fullness of Time by Vincent Nicolosi

  Obviously, the conspiracy itself was heinous enough, but it seemed all the more treacherous and perfidious coming as it did after Mr. Harding had sent hundreds of millions of tons of food to the Soviet Union to alleviate the famine then laying waste to their vast nation.

  According to wiktionary: Of, pertaining to, or representing perfidy; disloyal to what should command one's fidelity or allegiance.

  The narrator made this statement about a group that was plotting to kill President Warren G. Harding despite his goodwill gesture mentioned in the above quote.

Edit: (1:45 p.m.)

I was completely blown away when I heard the word perfidy while listening to The Emperor of Ocean Park by Stephen L. Carter in my vehicle after writing my post this morning! After hearing the word only about an hour or so after posting about it, I had to write this edit. This passage tells about the narrator's rationalizing about why his former mentor kept silent regarding a collegue's plagiarism in a book that ultimately won him "every prize the legal academy can offer."

"Why would you just tell Marc and not tell anybody ..." I begin. Then I stop. I see it. Oh, this is so Theo! Of course he told Marc! He told Marc so that he would have the plagiarism to hold over the head of his young, arrogant colleague for the next couple of decades. He told nobody else because he wanted Marc beholden to him. And because, as I now realize, Theo, my onetime mentor, is the kind of secret, envious hater who would prefer to own the knowledge of Marc's perfidy, rather than sharing it with the world.

This is a great use of the word; but I think Nicolosi has made a better use of it. Well, the meaning is more apparent in his book. I like this word; and probably will start using it.

That's all I have for this week. Have you encountered any new (to you) words in your reading? Any search techniques for definitions? We'd like to hear about them.

It's Monday! What are you reading? (5)

I'm back again for It's Monday! What Are You Reading? hosted by Sheila at One Person's Journey Through a World of Books. Bloggers gather there each week to link up to their respective posts about recently-completed and/or current reads. Last week, I was still focusing on my reads for two challenges that ended on September 30. I completed one of them; and missed completing the other by one book—making my record 2 for 3. So that's not too bad. Here's what I read last week:

• Nemesis by Agatha Christie
• Beyond Opinion by Ravi Zacharias

After sidelining The Emperor of Ocean Park to focus on the challenges, I'm happy to report I've picked up where I left off. This time, however, I'm listening to the audiobook. But what I'm really excited about is finally picking up In the Fullness of Time by Vincent Nicolosi. It's a genre that's near and dear to my heart—historical fiction—so I wanted to be sure I could devote the proper time and attention to it.

From the press release:

Tristan "Trey" Hamilton is 70 years old. His neighbor, President Warren G. Harding, died in mysterious circumstances in San Francisco forty years before. The occasion of Kennedy's assassination unleashes a panoply of memories: colorful characters and eleborate events stir almost magically back to life, and secrets resurrect themselves concealed in deeper mysteries. Many novels and movies open with a disclaimer distancing themselves from people living or dead, but no such remove is sought here, for whatever reason, and it is obvious that the story conjures very real people in a very real historical time, in a town you can find on a map.

From the back flap:

What a rarity in an age of sound bites and short attention spans, digital gadgets and text messages, to have a timeless novel in the grand tradition, tracing the lives of unforgettable men and women caught in the vortex of history with its scandals and world wars, illicit loves and cunning, strange deaths and disappearances—and with its absolution bestowed by time. With this sweeping and monumental story, Vincent Nicolosi adds to the canon of literature and the American experience.

So . . . It's Monday! What are you reading?

Article: Banned Books Week

This is the final day of Banned Books Week. I began reading Fahrenheit 451 and it grabbed me right away. I'm halfway through it; and I haven't come across any "eyebrow-raising" things—nothing that would justify its inclusion on "the list." Another HPB I frequent had a neat display. The two major local establishments don't stage any thoughtful displays. At most they may group all of the banned books together on a table or isolate and dedicate a shelving unit to them. I understand employees exerted extra effort in reshelving these books; but creativity is what I was looking for. And I only found it at HPB and local libraries. The photos in this post were taken at the Half-Price Books on Nasa Road.

Never giving "banned books" much thought, I thought the only one I had read was Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye. And that was—ahem—so long ago. But as I perused "the list," I was surprised to find many of my past or planned reads on it. I'm sure there are many more; but some include:

1. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
2. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
3. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
4. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
5. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
6. Beloved by Toni Morrison
7. Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston
8. Native Son by Richard Wright

This practice appears to be imploding on itself. I've added books from this list to my TBR because I was drawn in by the description or simply to "see what all the fuss is about." And I think "the list" produces the same response in the majority of readers. Hey! Maybe there's a coterie of authors who devised the list in an effort to preserve their works for all posterity! Sorry, the reading of mysteries has resulted in an overactive imagination. I'm going to write a book and find out how to get it on this list!

A lot of history and background on Banned Books Week, including its sponsors, are available at bannedbooksweek.org. As I researched I discovered a segment of the booklovers populace that I did not know existed! The topic for this post has become the topic for entire blogs. Other sources of information regarding banned books include:

• Banned Books Challenge
• Pelham Library (of Ontario)
• OIF Blog is the Office of Intellectual Freedom of the ALA.
• Steph Su Reads This is a well-thought-out blog that encourages readers to read banned books. There is talk of a "community." I encourage this but, while I might participate in a challenge, am not committed enough to dedicate myself to the establishment of a community.
• The Biblio Blogazine
• Maw Books Blog. This is a post from September, 2009.
• Reading Upside Down
• At Home with Books. I understand this blogger has assumed the responsibilities for the Banned Book Challenge; but I don't think it's the same one that I recently joined. I'm still sorting out the facts on this one but I still wanted to include it.

As I wrote this post, I recalled seeing a "banned books challenge." And at this point in the year I had no intentions whatsoever of signing up for a new one. But this is a perpetual challenge. So, I will be joining the Banned Books Challenge.

Challenge Wrap-up: Non-Fiction Five Challenge

Completed!

6 out of 5 books: 120%

Trish has hosted the Non-Fiction Five Challenge for the past four (4) years. As a participant in this challenge, I committed to read five (5) non-fiction books between May 1 and September 30. At least one of the five was to be of a different genre than the other four. I joined the challenge on May 28. Here are my qualified reads:

1. ...unfinished business...: One Man's Extraordinary Year of Trying to Do the Right Things by Lee Kravitz (Memoir)
2. The Heart of a Woman by Maya Angelou (Memoir)
3. All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes by Maya Angelou (Memoir)
4. And So It Goes by Linda Ellerbee (Memoir)
5. The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois (Essays)
6. Beyond Opinion by Ravi Zacharias (Christian Apologetics)

Since the instructions don't mention books from other challenges, I'm working under the assumption that they are acceptable. If it turns out otherwise, I will edit this post accordingly. Thank you, Trish, for hosting the challenge. I look forward to participating again next year. Here's my sign-up post.

Challenge Wrap-up: Cozy Mystery Challenge 2010

Not Completed

5 out of 6 books: 83%

Although I didn't successfully complete this challenge, I enjoyed the books that I did get a chance to read. The Cozy Mystery Challenge was hosted by Kris of Not Enough Books. Kris offered prizes for this challenge! "Everyone who completes this challenge will get a bookmark made by yours truly." Unfortunately I won't be receiving a bookmark because I missed it by one book—so close. And, as in horseshoes, "close doesn't count ...". I committed to read six (6) cozy mysteries between April 1 and September 30; and I signed up on May 21. Here are the five (5) books I completed for this challenge:

1. Letter from Home by Carolyn G. Hart (Review)
2. No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith ( Review )
3. And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie ( Review )
4. The Sunday Philosophy Club by Alexander McCall Smith ( Review )
5. Nemesis by Agatha Christie ( Review )

Although I didn't successfully complete this challenge, I enjoyed the books that I read and will continue reading cozy mysteries throughout the remainder of the year. Thanks, Kris, for hosting it. I look forward to participating again next year. And being my own worst critic, I've made a self-commitment to add one (1) to next year's requirement. Here's my sign-up post.

Book Review: The Souls of Black Folk by W.E.B. Du Bois

• Synopsis
• Thoughts on the Book
• Thoughts on the Audio Production
• Overall

Title:	The Souls of Black Folk
Author:	W.E.B. Du Bois
Publisher:	Dover Publications Inc.
Narrator:	Toriasuncle
Production Company:	LibriVox Cataloged on 4-7-07
Date:	1994 (1903)
ISBN:	0486280411
Genre:	Non-Fiction
Format:	MP3 (unabridged)
Playing Time:	7:59:07
Rating:

W.E.B. Du Bois' The Souls of Black Folk was difficult to digest during my first few attempts. When I found a free download at LibriVox, I decided to give it a try. Even though I will re-read the print edition, the audio format worked very well for me. This title is in the public domain in the US.

Synopsis

The Souls of Black Folk is a collection of the author's essays that were previously published in journals and magazines. The central theme is, "The problem of the Twentieth Century is the problem of the color line." The author takes a historical and present-day (1903) look at racial disparities in America and proposes solutions devised to (1) elevate the status of "the Negro"; and (2) call attention to the similarities of, rather than the differences between, the races. With a sternness of tongue, he passionately and eloquently admonishes and encourages his people.

Thoughts on the Book

I experienced numerous false-starts in reading this book. It was not until after I began listening to the audio-recording that I could then come back and complete the reading. Obviously geared toward those "within the Veil," Du Bois addresses his concerns to Gentle Reader. His in-depth description of the Freedman's Bureau provides a more personal background to what has become a reliable family history research tool among African Americans. Rather than name a favorite chapter, I've highlighted a few essays that stand out in my mind.

Chapter 3: Of Mr. Booker T. Washington and Others:
While I understand Du Bois' preference to the pursuit of a profession over labor, as a way of life, I'm not particularly fond of the level of his criticism of Booker T. Washington (which amounts to a verbal attack) and his contributions toward our educational development. I think it was rather harsh; and it left a nagging detection of "bad blood" or something going on between them that should have been settled privately. In addition, his "talented tenth" theory only fueled the caste system already in effect from as far back as the plantation. Though not of the same ideologies, I think Dr. King and Malcolm X handled their differences more appropriately.

Chapter 9: Of the Sons of Master and Man which ends:

It is not enough for the Negroes to declare that color-prejudice is the sole cause of their social condition, nor for the white South to reply that their social condition is the main cause of prejudice. They both act as reciprocal cause and effect, and a change in neither alone will bring the desired effect. Both must change, or neither can improve to any great extent.

Chapter 11: Of the Passing of the First-Born:
This essay lessened Du Bois' rigidness and took some of the edge off of his well-intentioned yet bitter-tinged delivery. As I listened, I thought it was symbolic and clung to each word trying to grasp the point he was making. It wasn't until the end of the narration that I realized it was biographical. It's a heart-wrenching chapter in which the birth, nurturing, and burial of the author's first-born—a son named Burkhardt—is lamented. To place his death in perspective, I consulted Du Bois' biography, W.E.B. Du Bois: Biography of a Race 1868-1919 by David Levering Lewis. At the tender age of two years, young Burkhardt succumbed to a 10-day illness on May 24, 1899. Racial slurs, though understandably ineffective at that time, were hurled at their funeral procession. Realizing this was only four years prior to the publication of The Souls of Black Folk, I then understood that some of the sting of Du Bois' tone was fueled by a grief no parent wants to know.

Thoughts on the Audio Production

The production is divided into tracks according to chapter—with some chapters consuming two tracks. Each track begins with, (in a voice much like our President's) "This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information or to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org." It gets kind of monotonous after the first few times; but I guess it's necessary.

I'm a novice at reading and reviewing audiobooks. But, next to the crispness and clarity of the narrator's speech, one aspect of the production that impressed me greatly was the inclusion of the musical scores. Following the print edition's format of beginning each chapter with an excerpt of poetry followed by a musical score, Toriasuncle painstakingly recorded the musical arrangements. Not being musically literate, I would dutifully read the lyrics and proceed to the body of the text. But actually hearing the arrangements—some of which were Negro spirituals—provided a nice touch. Instruments used include piano, guitar, dulcimer, flute, and one dramatic tribal drum solo. The arrangements are played rather rustically which further sets the tone. I'm not sure Toriasuncle actually performs the arrangement. Regardless, it's a heroic effort. Dr. Du Bois would be quite pleased.

My only critique has to do with the timing of the narrator. I have listened to these recordings several times. And during a read-along with the recording, I noticed that the narrated poetry is followed by an extended pause before stating the author's name. The author's name is then more closely followed by the musical score which makes it seem like he's prefacing the arrangement with the name of the composer.

Overall

Listening to this narration is very similar to listening to a sermon or maybe even a lecture. And just as I replay favorite sermon recordings, I will replay certain essays from The Souls of Black Folk. Tavis Smiley's annual "The State of the Black Union" and its associated publications are modern-day equivalents of Dr. Du Bois' views in this landmark publication. Timeless in content, The Souls of Black Folk should be in every African American home. I also believe it should be required reading for African American inmates.

Challenge Wrap-up: Autobiography Memoir Challenge - 2010

4 out of 4 books: 100%

When I saw this challenge back in June, I knew I simply couldn't pass it up. The Autobiography/Memoir Challenge has been hosted by Bobbie of 'Til We Read Again. And there's an additional incentive — prizes! Of course, I hope to win a prize. But even if I don't, the great sense of accomplishment of completing my very first challenge is exciting in and of itself. As a participant in this challenge, I committed to read four (4) autobiographies and/or memoirs between June 20 and September 20. Here are my qualified reads for this challenge:

1. ...unfinished business... by Lee Kravitz
2. The Heart of a Woman The Heart of a Woman by Maya Angelou
3. All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes by Maya Angelou
4. And So It Goes by Linda Ellerbee

I didn't do much reading or blogging last month; and this deadline snuck (snook? sneeked?) up on me. I think I actually increased my reading speed working to complete this challenge! Thanks, Bobbie, for hosting it. I will look forward to participating again next year. Here's my sign-up post.

Book Review: And So It Goes by Linda Ellerbee

Title:	"And So It Goes" Adventures in Television
Author:	Linda Ellerbee
Publisher:	G. Putnam's Sons; New York
Date:	1986
ISBN:	Book Club Edition
Genre:	Non-Fiction, Memoir
Format:	Hardcover, 255 pages
Rating:

"News that happens in August doesn't happen in Washington."

Linda Ellerbee's And So It Goes: Adventures in Television is a light but very informative read that gives an earnest look into television news reporting. The experiences she includes cover the years of approximately 1973 thru 1985. There's a focus on her broadcasting career as an NBC White House correspondent, assigned to cover the House, during the Regan administration. Ellerbee gives credit to female reporters who blazed the trail. Cassie Mackin was the one she most admired.

There are anecdotes about her experiences as a news reporter. Things the layman doesn't think twice about such as learning how to stay in front of her subject to give the cameraman a better shot than the backs of two people descending the courthouse steps. Contrast that against the grim assignment of following two young boys around a field for over 30 minutes to the shallow graves they dug for some of their 27 victims in a North Houston subdivision—stopping only when one would sullenly mutter, "Dig here."

Opening Lines: "I wouldn't mind writing one of those books about the good old days—how I went out into the land and committed journalism, covering the important stories, every one of them, everywhere, better than anyone—but the thing about lying is that unless you're a political candidate or a network vice president, you've got to set yourself some limits and hold fast. Any, the only people in my business worth a damn are those who haven't written a book about television news. I would prefer to be counted with that group, so let me say right now that this isn't a book about television news."

Peppered with saucy summaries of various predicaments in which she often found herself, like while covering a strike or demonstration, defying all odds to bring a "live" story when ordered to do so. One of my favorite stories was the one about her interview with "Tip" O'Neill. It seems she was to have interviewed him in a place that was a favorite spot of his. The problem was that a woman had never been allowed to attend this meeting of his old friends. After a last-minute discussion about whether she really needed to tape the meeting, he hesitantly agreed. Linda, however gave him one more out:

"Are you sure I can go in?"
"Yes, I promised."
"And you're not going back on that promise, right?"

A clearly reluctant Tip O'Neill assured me that he might not like it; in truth, it made him damned uncomfortable, taking a woman into that room—but a promise was a promise. I could go. I told him that was all I wanted to know. I wouldn't go. I would send my crew and I would go back to the hotel.

This turned out to be a smart move on two counts. (1) Ellerbee didn't interfere with her story and got pictures of a more relaxed O'Neill among his old pals; and (2) more importantly, the soon-to-be Speaker of the House would remember that this NBC House correspondent had let him out of an uncomfortable box. "It would come in handy, back in Washington, where information was currency. (It did.)"

There is much to be learned about sexual discrimination in the chapter entitled, "Leave it to Beaver." Her reason for naming this chapter only adds to the mounting evidence. And since there was no dress code for female reporters covering U.S. Congress news, and much to the consternation of her male counterparts, she created her own: a sweater, blue jeans and sneakers."

With her quick wit, and in keeping with her "call 'em like I see 'em" style of reporting, Ellerbee doesn't mince words in this book. In true Ellerbee style, and with a great President Gerald Ford story, she admits that while she doesn't lie about her age, she does lie about her height. What I like about Ellerbee is she doesn't "conveniently omit" the stories of when she tanked. And there are many.

"... That's how I got in trouble my first day on the job in Washington—and I wasn't in Washington that day."

I've always considered Linda Ellerbee as a journalist who can be trusted. Almost to a fault, she is ever so careful to state the sources of her ideas. One thing's for sure—she will never be accused of plagiarism.

"And so it goes" is the trademark sign-off phrase Ellerbee used at the end of news reports and other broadcasts during her 10-year assignment at NBC News. This book was published the year after I arrived in Houston; so I had to google many people she mentioned. A great read. I have normally reserved writing in the margins to textbooks and my study Bibles. But in this book I have made light marks in the margins of names I intend to research.

Watching the daily news will be a new experience after reading And So It Goes. Ellerbee shares behind-the-scenes happenings in an entertaining way. Even though it's a memoir, I'll use it as a proving ground when I undertake, Behind the Front Page: A Candid Look at How the News is Made by David S. Broder. One of the obvious differences between the two is that one covers television and the other covers print. And while I don't expect Broder to champion the cause for women as Ellerbee has so painstakingly undertaken in her memoir, I am curious about what he will cover in a chapter entitled, "Bias—And Other Sins." I recommend this book to anyone who is interested in any aspect of television reporting. She covers them all. I have added Ellerbee's more recent publication, Take Big Bites: Adventures Around the World and Across the Table, to my TBR. ". . . And so it goes."

Book Review: All God's Children Need Traveling Shoes by Maya Angelou

Title:	All God's Children Need Travelling Shoes
Author:	Maya Angelou
Publisher:	Random House, Inc.; New York
Date:	1986
ISBN:	0394521439
Genre:	Non-Fiction, Memoir
Format:	Hardcover, 208 pages
Rating:

Maya Angelou begins the fifth installment of her autobiography, All God's Children Need Travelling Shoes, where she left off with The Heart of a Woman,—Guy's accident. This title includes more details about his struggle for independence during recovery and his remarkable mother's reluctance to ease her grasp—which ultimately allowed the benefits of her careful and dedicated nurturing to become evident in his life.

This leg of Maya's life journey places her in Ghana. Aside from her desire to support the people of our heritage, she also had planned for Guy to further his education at the University of Ghana in Accra. Serving as chauffeur and confidant, she was a key figure in Malcolm X's first pilgrimage. I became engrossed throughout the 18 pages that Angelou devoted to it. Maya Angelou is a walking history book.

Opening Lines: "The breezes of the West African night were intimate and shy, licking the hair, sweeping through cotton dresses with unseemly intimacy, then disappearing into the utter blackness. Daylight was equally insistent, but much more bold and thoughtless. It dazzled, muddling the sight. It forced through my closed eyelids, bringing me up and out of a borrowed bed and into brand new streets."

I could only smile as, once again, Serendipity encroached on my reading list. This time it was Dr. Angelou's relationship with W.E.B. Du Bois, by then on self-imposed exile to Ghana, along with his wife, Shirley Graham Du Bois. The audiobook I'm currently listening to is Du Bois' The Souls of Black Folk. One of the benefits of reading Angelou is that it adds a relative dimension to the history I already know. I was a child when the March on Washington took place; and I had a good understanding of the reason for the march. What I didn't know then, and hadn't realized up until now, was that Du Bois—too ill to participate physically—never witnessed it. He passed away at the age of 95 on August 27, 1963, the eve of the march; and it deeply affected the assembly to which Dr. Angelou belonged. Filled with hope and excitement, they mingled and waited for Julian Mayfield to arrive. Usually punctual, they wondered what was keeping him.

Since Dr. Du Bois was too old and ill to accompany us, Julian would ask Dr. Alphaeus Hunton. Dr. Hunton was co-director with Dr. Du Bois of the Encyclopedia Africana, and would represent the older, more sober, more thoughtful segment of the Black American residents. ...

The Washington March was to begin at 7:00 a.m. on August 27. Because of the seven-hour time difference, we planned to begin our supportive march at midnight on the twenty-sixth in the park across from the embassy.

The crowd, much larger than any of us expected, stumbled around in the dark greeting and embracing. I heard American voices which were new to me, and saw Guy arrive laughing with a group of young Ghanaian friends. At eighteen, he had a long history of marches, having participated in political protests since he was fourteen.     . . .

The general atmosphere was festive, with little bursts of laughter exploding in the humid darkness. We had lighted some fire sticks when Julian arrived. He called a few of us away from the crowd.

"Dr. Du Bois is dead." His face in the flickering light was grey-black and his voice was flat. "I don't think we should inform everyone, but you all should know."

Alice, pragmatic and direct, said, "Well, what timing. He had a full and useful life and I think we should tell everybody. They'll feel more like marching."

We agreed and fanned out carrying the important news to the congregation. Sound became muffled as if Dr. Du Bois himself had appeared and ordered immediate quiet from the group. ...

Another thing I learned while reading this installment was that the cultural practice of yelling, "Ko ko koko ko" when entering someone's quarters was also practiced in West African houses. The explanation goes: West African houses in the interior are often made of thatch or non-resonant land-crete, so a visitor seeking entrance, unable to rap on a responding door, would politely stand outside and make the sound of knocking, "ko ko ko, ko ko ko." I, personally, don't indulge in this practice; but I've seen and heard others do it. I wonder if they know this tidbit of information. They probably do.

In one very sad story that was told to Maya, I was reminded of the horrific scene of Sethe's mutilation of the title character of Toni Morrison's Beloved. Maya's storyteller stated, "They saw mothers and fathers take infants by their feet and bash their heads against tree trunks rather than see them sold into slavery." And in Beloved, Sethe's plan to kill all her children for the same reason did not come to completion. But the one child she did kill was flung by the feet into the arms of a bystander trying to discourage her intentions. If you saw the movie, you may recall this scene. I remember exclaiming, "Why did she fling the baby like that?" Now I know the directors felt this practice was significant enough to work into the script. Wow.

When Maya was invited to sing Negro spirituals for the 19th President of Liberia, William Tubman, Julian taunted her, "So, Maya Angelou, you've made it all the way from Arkansas to Africa so that you can perform for a president? You couldn't get to the White House so you aimed for the Black House. Okay, I'm proud of you." Julian, however, passed away in 1984 and did not live to witness Dr. Maya Angelou read "On the Pulse of the Morning" at the inauguration of William Jefferson Clinton, 42nd President of the United States, on January 20, 1993.

This was no pleasure trip. Maya Angelou was in the trenches. Probably not different from the present, the practice of witchcraft was still common. Her hairdresser, Comfort, succumbed to illness brought on by evil spirits. Malcolm continued to write his US constituency in Ghana—seeking Maya out to perform administrative duties for the Organization of AFro American Unity (OAAU). This was a very spiritual chapter in Angelou's life. References to the Negro spirituals I learned as a child permeated my reading experience. Another gem in the crown of this Queen of "The Continent." I must listen to the audiobook. Even if she doesn't sing the spirituals, I want to hear her narrate.