eleneariel | February books (Reply)

1. Service Included, Pheobe Damrosch

Yet another inside look at food service, this time from a server's POV. It does provide an interesting look into the workings of a 4 star resturant, but compared to some of the other similar books I've read, it seemed to fall flat. There was a bit too much about the author's personal life, for one thing. That's not to say it's a bad book. It's just not as good as some.

2. Emma, Jane Austen

I shouldn't have taken the time to reread this, but I was watching the Masterpiece Theater version and wanted a refresher. (Also I just wanted to read it again, because I like it.)

3. The Soul of the Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe, Gene Veith

If you recognize Gene Veith's name, it's likely for his work for World Magazine or his association with Patrick Henry College. I picked this up because I'm always interested to see what Christians have to say about fantasy books (I often don't agree), and the second half of this one compares and contrasts Harry Potter and the Chronicles of Narnia. This was fairly light-weight and didn't tell me anything I hadn't heard before.

4. Need, Carrie Jones

Twilight-wannabe FAIL. And not only because the writing includes such gems as "His voice frustrates out..."

5. What Einstein Told His Barber, Robert Wolke

Quick, fun answers to science questions. But the drawings are GOOFY.

6. Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand

7. Ayn Rand, James T. Baker

I finally worked up the nerve to read Atlas Shrugged. I went into it knowing only that it was very, very long, and controversal, and being talked about. I wanted to be able to talk about it too, so I read it. What surprised me most is that ... I was engrossed by it. I got so interested in the characters. I was expecting to have to struggle through the 1000+ pages, and instead I dreaded getting to the end.

(I listened to the audio book, which was somewhat abridged. I've ordered an actual book copy which I'm eager to read as soon as it arrives.)

After finishing it I read a quick biography of Ayn Rand (her life, works, and philosophy). What I quote from below is taken from that book by James Baker, my comments in parentheses.

After the Bolshevik victory her father's business [in Russia] was nationalized, and the family's comfortable life abruptly ended. She would never forget or forgive this reversal of fortune, and she would argue that the most repugnant of Marxist doctrines was the secular altruism that called for the sacrifice of the individual to the common good.

(What I do like about her philosophy is her stirring defense of capitalism, and reading about her background makes it that much more clear why she felt so strongly about it.)

In describing the different types of people who were attracted to Rand's fiction: They [...] were attracted by the strength and resolution of her heroes and heroines, those men and women motivated and directed by rational self-interest. They like the clear eyes and smoke-filled hair and absolute certainty of egoists like Howard Roark and Dagny Taggart. It may have been a task at first to adjust to seeing such figures in modern rather than the usual midieval settings, as titans of industry rather than knights on horseback [...] but once they came to recognize her characters as modern guardians of romance, they delighted in her certainty and adventure. These fans never go deeper than the story line. They read Rand's novels but not her philosophy.

(This pretty much sums up where I am. I like the fiction. Not the philosophy.)

...Rand once again tends to limit rather than expand the human spirit. What was reasonable to her should not be taken as the standard for all men. As a workaholic, she assumed that being a workaholic was rational; and perhaps it is, despite medical evidence to the contrary; but it should not be the only path men of reason are told to take.

(As a philosopher Rand seems to have - not surprisingly - blind spots. Everything is based on her experience, without accounting for different temperments. She also seems to have a conveniently selective memory - she repeatedly stated that when she came to America, a stranger in a strange land, she asked for and expected no help - never mentioning the many people who did help her, and especially those who were instrumental in getting her jobs. )

In short: I love the story of Atlas Shrugged. I love the defense of capitalism (even though I don't agree with all her methods.) I do not love her rejection of religion, I strongly question her portrayal of romantic relationships, am confused by her portrayal of Dagney as both strong independant woman and submissive female, and I roundly ignore the rest of her philosphy as being unimportant to my chief aim in reading Atlas Shrugged: to enjoy the story.

8. No Wind of Blame, Georgette Heyer

A lovely little mystery in the spirit of Agatha Christie (now with more quirky humor!)

9. At the Corner of East and Now, Frederica Mathewes-Green

I love love love Mathewes-Green's writing. She is wise and humble and funny and most of all real. I would read anything she wrote, even if it was about paperclips or the color orange.

10. The Illumined Heart, Frederica Mathewes-Green

A very tiny book (perfect for carrying in one's pocket) full of very big wisdom.

11. The Maltese Falcon, Dashiell Hammett

12. The Thin Man, Dashiell Hammett

Classic twenties noir! And one of the original hard-boiled detectives (Sam Spade in The Maltese Falcon) and the most famous of inebriated literary couples (Nick and Nora in The Thin Man.) I had so much fun with these two books. They are witty and clever and keep the reader on his toes.

13. The Nasty Bits, Anthony Bourdain

This is a collection of various pieces Bourdain wrote for other publications (mostly some years ago, it appears). He appears arrogant and brash and way too often foul-mouthed, but I can't help liking Tony; it didn't hurt that he mentioned in the afterward that he knew, reading the pieces again, that he was arrogant and brash and a punk.) All the same, it's not nearly as strong as his other books and lacks cohesion, what with being a collection of "Collected Varietal Cuts, Usable Trim, Scraps, and Bones".

In January I said:

One of my goals this year is to make my To Read Stack* smaller. To that end I have purposed to eschew library books and focus on my own books. Um ... I didn't do so well so far. Only three this month were from the Stack. Better luck in February.

I did NOT do better in February. Only Service Included and The Nasty Bits came from the stack. Sigh.