Backseat Saints
Joshilyn Jackson
June 2010
324 pages
Published by Grand Central Publishing (Hachette Book Group)

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Purchased by moi.

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I read The Girl Who Stopped Swimming at the end of last year and was less than impressed. I had loved Gods in Alabama, but The Girl Who Stopped Swimming just didn’t have the same feel to it (not that I like books to always have the same feel, but Jackson’s books tend to be a little quirky and Swimming had a weird vibe to it). So I was anxious to read Backseat Saints in the hopes that I could recapture the good quirky vibes that Gods in Alabama had.

And yes, I realize just how weird I sound in that paragraph. Although I’m guessing that if you’ve read Jackson that made some sort of sense, because it’s hard to describe her writing. In Gods in Alabama, bad things happen, but for a good reason. Jackson’s books deal with serious shit, but they’re funny at the same time. And the characters are oddballs. Swimming just didn’t quite work that way for me.

However, Backseat Saints does. Yay! It also takes a minor character from Gods in Alabama, Rose Mae Lolley, and turns her into a main character, now known as Ro Grandee. Ro is in an abusive relationship, and a gypsy fortuneteller she ran into at the airport (seriously) has told her it’s gonna be him or her. In other words, Ro needs to off her husband before he offs her.

This book chronicles Ro’s attempt to reclaim herself, to find the Rose Mae Lolley she used to be, and to somehow reconcile Rose and Ro and even Ivy (that comes later in the story, and I promise we’re not dealing with multiple personalities) to become her own person.

Are you wondering what the hell I’m talking about? Well then, you’ll just have to read the book.

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Please feel free to ignore this post. However, if you’ve been thinking lately that you might want to donate some money to a worthy cause, then read on, ’cause here’s your chance!

On August 7th and 8th I’ll be participating in the American Cancer Society Relay for Life. My yoga studio has a team that will be walking for 24 hours (in shifts, people…I’m not crazy!) in order to raise money for cancer research and in support of cancer patients.

My father died of cancer (and it’s been 15 years ago, so please don’t offer condolences, it’s not necessary) and I will be walking in his memory, and in support of something I feel is a very worthy cause. If you would like to donate anything on behalf of my team and in support of the American Cancer Society, I would be forever grateful. Donations can be made online at my page at the Relay for Life site.

Thanks for indulging me…tomorrow we’ll return to the regularly scheduled bookish programming.

©2010 Fizzy Thoughts. All rights reserved, which means do NOT steal my feed, bucko.

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The Language Of Trees
Ilie Ruby
August 2010
339 pages
Published by Avon

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FTC disclosure: I received this book from the publisher, as I’m participating in a TLC book tour.

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Blurb from the back of the ARC:

Ilie Ruby’s debut novel opens as Grant Shongo has returned home to Canandaigua Lake, a little community where everyone knows everyone’s business – though they may pretend not to. Devastated and living in isolation after the breakup of his marriage, Grant is drawn back into the world when a young man, Lion, pleas for his help in finding his missing wife, Melanie. Tongues are wagging about Melanie’s disappearance, being a recovering addict, could she have had a relapse? Was she abducted? What, if anything, does it have to do with the death of her little brother all those years ago?

Sparks fly when Grant’s first love returns to town, but can it be trusted this time? And with the chance at enjoying life again, will Grant’s promise to Lion fall by the wayside – possibly endangering countless lives?

I confess…I was intrigued by the title of this book. And it ended up being as magical as the title suggests. Laura asked me if I found “that the use of language in The Language Of Trees enhanced the story or got in its way?” I don’t think it got in the way at all. I think the language is an integral part of what makes the story unique. There were times that I thought it felt a bit too self-aware (does that even make sense?), but those were few and far between, and this is a debut novel.

However, there were two things that bothered me. Early in the book, Grant sets off for what I believe is a seven mile run into town. Then later in the book, Echo mentions she is walking from town to Grant’s cabin for dinner. She’s walking seven miles to a dinner date? Really? And then she makes a few stops and shows up with her hair still wet. Also, Charlie Cooke. Call me cold-hearted, but I’d rather he didn’t have the ending he had.

Despite those two minor quibbles, I enjoyed the story. In particular, I loved the small town setting. I think I mention this a lot, but I love small town settings. I like reading about the sense of community and the home town businesses and the characters that always pop up in small towns, and all of those things really came through for me in this book.

And finally, a few more questions that people asked:

Dreamybee: “Does The Language Of Trees compare tree song to whale song?  ’Cuz I have a theory about that…” Nope, sorry, no whale song. But there is a ghost, and a little bit of mysticism.

gautami tripathy: “I received The Language of Trees yesterday. Do you think I should jump the gun for it?” There are very few books that I would recommend dropping everything for, but I will say you should read this one sooner rather than later.

Other TLC tour stops for The Language of Trees:

• Tuesday, July 20th: I’m Booking It
• Wednesday, July 21st: Café of Dreams
• Monday, July 26th: Library Queue
• Wednesday, July 28th: Fizzy Thoughts
• Thursday, July 29th: Alison’s Book Marks
• Monday, August 2nd: Chaotic Compendiums
• Wednesday, August 4th: Take Me Away
• Thursday, August 5th: Booksie’s Blog
• Monday, August 9th: Jenny Loves to Read
• Tuesday, August 10th: Chefdruck Musings
• Thursday, August 12th: Books Like Breathing

For more info, check out the TLC tour page for The Language of Trees. And many thanks to TLC and Avon!

©2010 Fizzy Thoughts. All rights reserved, which means do NOT steal my feed, bucko.

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I Am Hutterite
Mary-Ann Kirkby
2010
232 pages
Published by Thomas Nelson

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Bought by me. (And to answer Melanie‘s question, I found this at Barnes and Noble…they were displaying it at the front of the store in their new authors area.)

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This book is marketed as “the fascinating true story of a young woman’s journey to reclaim her heritage.” Actually, it’s not so much Mary-Ann’s story as it is the story of her family…her grandparents and parents and her extended family at New Rosedale and Fairholme colonies, two of the nearly 40,000 Hutterite colonies in the US and Canada.

According to hutterite.org:

The Hutterian Brethren or Hutterites are a religious group originating from the Reformation of the 16th century. They are a communal people, living on scattered bruderhöfe or colonies throughout the prairies in North America.

The Hutterites and Mennonites (and thus the Amish) share common roots. Both of these sects are Anabaptists and both of these movements trace their beginnings to the same period of time, to the same occurrences, during the Reformation.

Their roots are found in Switzerland where a group of Bible students came to the conclusions that:

• baptizing babies is not biblical
• the Bible requires the separation of church and state
• a Christian should not wield the sword (pacifist)
• the Lord’s Supper is symbolic of the suffering of Jesus, and should be done in remembrance of him

These 4 points became the basis for this movement. The followers of this movement are known as the Anabaptists or re-baptizers. They are called rebaptizers because they were baptized a second time, in adulthood.

The religion of the Hutterites is unique in their belief in the community of goods in which all material things are held in common. This idea is gleaned from the teachings of Jesus, where he explained to the rich young ruler what he needed to do to receive eternal life (Matthew 19); from the fact that Jesus and his disciples shared everything (John 12); from the early church where the apostles and their followers held all things in common (Acts 2: 44-47). Hutterites believe community of goods is the highest command of love.

All members of the colony are provided for equally and nothing is kept for personal gain. Hutterites do not have personal bank account; rather all earnings are held communally and funding and necessities are distributed according to one’s needs.

I found the family history and the glimpse into life in a Hutterite colony fascinating. Once the family left the colony to live on their own in Canadian society, I was less interested. While Kirkby talked about the difficulties the family faced in assimilating into mainstream culture, the story felt rushed and she moved swiftly through her teenage years, only offering quick anecdotes.

In contrast, the earlier part of the book was deeper and richer. I felt like Kirkby truly cared about her family and all of the members of the colony. She brought the colony and its members to life, describing personalities and meals and chores and the daily rhythm of the colony.

I disagree with the statement that this is “the fascinating true story of a young woman’s journey to reclaim her heritage.” We do not actively see Kirkby renouncing her heritage; she is part of a family that leaves the Hutterite community. If she hid her heritage, it is not discussed in any depth in the book. I think the book is more a documentation of her family history, in which she gained a better understanding of her roots. It’s still interesting, but it’s less about her than a way of life.

©2010 Fizzy Thoughts. All rights reserved, which means do NOT steal my feed, bucko.

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Maus: A Survivor’s Tale
Art Spiegelman
1993
Published by Pantheon

If I was still a teacher (and thank god I’m not), we’d so be reading this book in my class. Maus is the perfect teaching tool. It’s in a format that kids can relate to (graphic novel), it’s full of history (it tells of one family’s experiences during the Holocaust, and the psychological effects on both the survivors and their son), it’s full of symbolism (Jews are represented by mice, Germans as cats), and I think it’s the perfect example of how un-boring history can be when it’s presented in an interesting and creative manner.

P.S. for Trish: No, it didn’t make me cry. Surprisingly, it’s been awhile since I’ve cried over a book.

©2010 Fizzy Thoughts. All rights reserved, which means do NOT steal my feed, bucko.

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Happy Sunday everyone!

On Friday I invited questions on all of the books I have yet to write posts about. I got some great questions and I’m slowly working on writing the posts (I wrote one very short one (I decided the one paragraph I wrote for Maus pretty much said everything I needed to say, so I called it good) and almost finished another last night, that’s how slow it’s going).

One of the questions asked by Care was “I see it (Blink) is the only male author on your list here. Are you intentionally reading mostly female authors or is it just working out that way. (I noticed that I am split even on my M/F ratio so far this year and I hadn’t been paying any attention until I looked.)”

I do gravitate toward female authors. I always have, and I really can’t say why…I somehow think their writing is more approachable and warmer and entertaining, although I’ve certainly read male authors that I’ve felt that way about. I do know that when I find myself reading more male authors I get a little twitchy and feel like my reading ratios are out of balance. And while I know how ridiculous that sounds, I can’t help it. I’m biased towards female authors, and I embrace my bias. I think this is why I don’t read too many classics…it always seems like they’re predominantly by male authors.

Speaking of classics, yesterday I realized that I was falling behind on my reading for The Brothers Karamazov read-along, so I spent some not so quality time with Dostoevsky, who is one wordy dude. There are times when I’m entertained by the book, and there are times when I am totally clueless (and all of the religious references certainly aren’t helping). I’ve almost finished with the first book, which means I’m barely 100 pages into it, and while we’ve met all of the main characters (I think), I’m wondering where Dostoevsky is going with this.

One of the things I have noticed about Dostoevsky is that his characters speak in parentheses. I’m sure you’ve noticed (and if you haven’t just look at this post!) how much I love the keystrokes ( and ), and to see Dostoevsky using them in conversation just warms the cockles of my heart. Okay, maybe not, but it does amuse me.

And now, it’s time to finish putting together the granola I just baked and go find a book to read on the treadmill (The Brothers Karamazov being much to serious for such a boring activity…I need something with a little more oomph to get me through the miles). And then, I’m determined to crank out some of those long overdue posts!

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This week she had a new recipe for Pesto Meatballs that she wanted to try, which meant that Hamburger had meatballs for dinner last night. Now I’m pretty ambivalent about meatballs (they remind me of mini-meatloaves, and meatloaf is another food I could do without), so I haven’t tried them, but Hamburger stated “we have to get the recipe from your mom,” so evidently they were pretty tasty. My mom being the ultra-organized mom that she is, when she left the meatballs, she also left the recipe. So I present to you…

Pesto Meatballs

Place all ingredients in bowl and mix with hands:

• 1 1/4 lb ground turkey
• 1/4 c. pesto
• 1/4 c. breadcrumbs
• 1/4 c. grated Parmesan cheese
• 1 tsp. salt

Roll meatballs into about 1 1/2 inch size. Place in 9×9 inch pan and pour in 2 cups marinara sauce. Cover with foil and bake for 1 hour. Makes 15 meatballs.

Today’s post has been brought to you by my mom:

and Beth Fish‘s Weekend Cooking:

Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book (novel, nonfiction) reviews, cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, fabulous quotations, photographs. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog’s home page. For more information, see the welcome post.

©2010 Fizzy Thoughts. All rights reserved, which means do NOT steal my feed, bucko.

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The Map of True Places, by Brunonia Barry
I Am Hutterite, by Mary-Ann Kirby
The Scent of Rain and Lightning, by Nancy Pickard
Blink, by Malcolm Gladwell
The Language of Trees, by Ilie Ruby
April and Oliver, by Tess Callahan
Up from the Blue, by Susan Henderson
To Kill a Mockingbird, by Harper Lee
The Particular Sadness of Lemon Cake, by Aimee Bender
Mornings in Jenin, by Susan Abulhawa
Backseat Saints, by Joshilyn Jackson

So help a blogger out here people! Do you have any questions about any of these books? I need writing prompts, and I’m not ashamed to beg you all for them.

©2010 Fizzy Thoughts. All rights reserved, which means do NOT steal my feed, bucko.

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Mattaponi Queen
Belle Boggs
May 2010
225 pages
Published by Graywolf Press (I received a copy for review at BEA…thank you Graywolf!)

This is a collection of loosely related short stories. There is an occasional character that will reappear, but the stories are mostly connected through location. They all take place on or near the Mattaponi River in King and Queen County, Virginia, or feature characters from the area.

I’m not usually a fan of short stories (I’m often confused by them, and also, I confess that I find it hard to write a post about a book of short stories), but this is a wonderful collection. It offers snapshots of ordinary people’s lives, as they face hardship, death, and choices.

Some stories, such as “Homecoming,” are haunting. A young boy moves to the South to live with his granny after his mother ends up in jail for selling drugs. Marcus has a bright future, yet he is soon faced with the very choices that his parents had to make. This was one of the longer stories, at a little over 40 pages, and I spent almost every page dreading the decisions that Marcus seemed poised to make.

Other stories, such as “Opportunity” and “It Won’t Be Long,” are reflective, with characters that look back at their lives and the choices they’ve made. Yet, we also get to listen in as they ponder the choices they’re considering.

Skinny is a character that pops in multiple stories. Skinny has been dying of hepatitis C for years, he’s addicted to painkillers and beer, and he has a crappy relationship with his children. We see his flaws and bad decisions in “It Won’t Be Long.” Yet, he’s a heck of a nice guy. He’s there as a father figure in Marcus’s story, and he wanders in and out of a few others.

One of the final stories, “Shelter,” shows how the South can look more appealing once you are no longer there. After George and Nikki move to Washington D.C. for opportunity and a better life, George is surprised by how often Nikki throws up “Down South” as a better place.

Many of the stories are told from the first-person point of view, or we are privy to so many of the character’s thoughts that it feels like it. The stories are personal and intriguing and the entire collection packs a punch. Even if you’re not really into short stories (like me), I’d recommend this one.

The Spotlight Series Tour for Graywolf Press is running July 18-31, 2010. Graywolf Press was founded by Scott Walker in 1974. It took six months to print the first book from Graywolf Press, a book of poetry. Since then they’ve gone on to publish memoirs, short stories and novels.

©2010 Fizzy Thoughts. All rights reserved, which means do NOT steal my feed, bucko.

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My vacation is officially over. We drove home from Lake Tahoe today…8 hours in the car, topped off with a trip to the grocery store, unpacking and laundry (made all the more fun by the fact that I left kleenex in a pocket…I hate it when that happens!). While it was easy to leave a house full of 26 people (Hamburger’s family), it was hard to leave vacation behind. We had a fabulous time. Highlights of the trip include:

• Paintball with altitude (8200 feet). We rode a gondola up to High Camp at Squaw Valley, where they have a new paintball course (is that even the correct term?). It is, quite literally, a breathtaking experience. Despite the fact that Hamburger’s mom broke her finger (she was hit by a paintball (shot by her own husband), and it smooshed her finger into her gun), and Hamburger’s niece was hit in the neck (leaving a mark that looks suspiciously like a hickey), we all had a blast. But let me tell you, it is very hard to scramble over rocks and around trees while toting a paintball gun at 8200 feet. I wheezed.
• Go-kart racing in Reno. They had a slick track and we were the only ones on it. There was some flagrant breaking of the no bumping rule, and I’ve got a beautiful purple bruise on my knee to prove it. Every time I got bumped I knocked my knee into the steering wheel, because there was no way that foot was leaving the gas pedal. But Hamburger’s mom has video proof that I passed all of the guys. Of course, she also has video proof of us all laughing maniacally as we skidded around corners. It ended up being a very good day, as the track operator declared me the champion. We followed up with lunch at a bar called Crazy Wieners. Because we’re a classy family.
• Teaching the kids to catch crawdads off of a pier using a weighted string and bacon. Don’t worry, we were purely a catch and release operation.
• Sitting on the deck enjoying an amazing view of the lake (sorry, I didn’t take any pictures) and reading.  I finished To Kill a Mockingbird and read Up from the Blue, Blink and April and Oliver. I also started Maps and Legends. And the family thinks I’m weird for reading this book…they couldn’t get it. They also think I’m weird because I read so much, but that’s their problem. Good thing they don’t know about the other 10 or so books that I toted along but never got to!
• Golf. I got a hole-in-one! And okay, it was mini-golf. But a hole-in-one is a hole-in-one, right?
• Visiting the small Tahoe dam and reading the white board with statistics and getting to the end where it was signed “John, the dam operator.” There were many snickers. We’re so juvenile.

Despite all of the good times, it’s nice to be back in our quiet house where there’s no pressure to be sociable or show up for dinner. Heck, we didn’t even make dinner tonight. And I’m looking forward to sleeping in my own bed with my own pillows. It’s good to be home. Now, if only I didn’t have to go back to work…

©2010 Fizzy Thoughts. All rights reserved, which means do NOT steal my feed, bucko.

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