And Then There Were None

do judge this book by it's cover, completely eerie.  

My daughter was reading this for school so I decided to pick it up again.  I remember loving the mystery in high school.  And, frankly, I had forgotten most of the story so I wasn't too worried about being bored.  

Of course, because my 11 year old read it first and she knew I had read it before (and of course assumed my mind is a steel trap that never lets anything go) she spilled the beans on the mystery.  

At first I was bummed but then it turned out to be a gift.  Knowing who did it highlighted the ways Ms. Christie used misdirection and foreshadowing.  I could see little details as pointing arrows instead of just rushing past them.  

This is surely a quick read because you just can't put it down.  Even knowing what happened, I ignored my family for an entire Sunday afternoon to finish it.  

The idea of being stranded on an island where everyone is being systematically killed off led some of the characters to fight it and some of them to lean into the idea of dying.  This certainly makes for some interesting dinner conversations over what you would chose to do in that situation.  Is there hope, or no?  

Another idea that has stuck with me since my reading of And Then There Were None was the concept of luck.  A few times characters are talking about the murder they are accused of having committed and they say it was such bad luck.  Another character will chime in with, "For who?  You or the dead person?"  Luck is such a complicated idea and often what is good luck for one person is bad luck for another.  

Though the characterization is sparse because of the shortness of the book and the amount of characters, when Christie does deign to characterize someone you get a good idea of who they are.  I'm currently reading Hemingway and though these two authors are worlds apart, there is a sparseness of language, at times, with both of them.  Despite economical use of language, both give a compelling picture of the story and characters they are sharing with their readers.  

And also, am I the only one who likes to read something a little spooky at this time of year???  I tend to want to read seasonal books during the appropriate season.  Is that weird?  

We watched the movie adaptation that's available on Amazon.  It was pretty good, even if there are some dramatic changes.  I also found out that the movie rights to the book were purchased this fall and so now I'm excited to see how it gets remade again!  

The Struggle is Real

I am a mom who loves reading.  This sentence could describe millions of moms, I know.

As a mom I have very limited free time.  The laundry is always singing a siren song.  There is a steady stream of dishes on the counter that I can't seem to conquer.  And homework, so much homework.

With four kids in my house I feel compelled to put myself at the bottom of every list.  #1 needs to go here.  #4 needs a snack.  #2 wants to have a heart to heart.  #3 is too quiet--I better go find her.  I could spend 24 hours being responsive to their needs and requests.

reading in the car while waiting to pick up #4.  nbd.

I have to make a choice.  Every day.  It is not easy.  I often feel guilt about choosing to read.  Did I just permanently damage him because I told him to go do something else while I'm reading?  I'm being so selfish!  Mom guilt is the worst.

However, when I don't take the time for something I love, I find myself resenting my family for being too demanding.  It's a catch-22.

I am learning to feel less guilt about reading.  It refreshes me and I am a much better mom when I'm reading regularly.  I learn from moms in books.  I learn about life and new ways to handle situations, and I gain a better perspective.  I appreciate the beauty of a well written sentence or laugh at a great joke or revel at a new thought.  These things nourish my soul.  

My kids need to see that reading is important to me or it will never be important to them.  They need to see me taking care of myself and feeding my mind so someday, they will do the same thing.

And, my kids could use the gift of being patient.  They don't need a mom who responds immediately to their every whim and desire.  In order for them to be good adults, they need to know that the world does not revolve around them.  Surely they will survive if I don't stop my life every time they ask me to watch them bounce a ball across the house or reward their begging and pleading for a tea party involving chocolate milk and marshmallows.

I say yes when I can.  I say way more yeses than nos.  But, I need to protect an hour each day to let my mind play.  To grow my imagination.  I need to make that tough choice to read so they can have a better mom.  

What gets in the way of your reading time?

The Other Wes Moore

This book was picked for the book club I'm in by a lovely friend.  She heard about it from one of her friends, and the premise sounds so interesting she thought it would make for a lively discussion. 

To her credit, I think the subject merits much conversation, but I'm not sure about the book format.  

Fall reading requires cozy blankets

This a memoir written by Wes Moore.  He was surprised to find another Wes Moore living nearby, in jail for murder.  With his interest piqued he set out to interview the other Wes and his family about the trajectory of his life.  Author Wes Moore had a shaky beginning but through a series of choices, opportunities, serendipitous moments, and help from others he was able to right his course.  The other Wes Moore was not so lucky, nor did he have as many people invested in him, and the choices he made were often questionable.  

The story is interesting but some of the descriptions are grating.  At times I found myself hoping Moore would provide more insight or deeper thoughts about choices or situations but it was primarily a plot driven memoir with much time spent on describing people and places.  This would have been an excellent article but I don't think it needed to be a book.  

As I was reading this I also heard an NPR story on the uprising of the memoir genre.  I found the discussion very thought provoking, especially since I was reading a memoir at that time.  The radio hosts were saying that with much of the fiction published today is distoypian or uber-literary there is a need for more "normal" or "real" stories.  

Part of the discussion that stuck with me was about how accurate a memoir could really be.  I thought about that often while reading The Other Wes Moore.  The author shares crisp memories of himself as a four year old.  How much does a four year old really remember, and crisply?  Through the years we turn our own lives into tales based on the way events are recounted to us, photographs we've seen hundreds of times, and our own personal opinions and beliefs.  I guess when we read memoirs we need to prepare for the author's interpretation of themselves and not always a factual rendition of their history.  

Something that bothered me about the book is also the author's age and experience level.  While Wes Moore the author has certainly accomplished much, he seemed to be reflecting back like an old man.  He was 33 when the book was published.  I don't know, it's kind of a petty criticism, but I just think memoirs are for older people to write.  However, this didn't particularly bother me with Tina Fey's memoir or Amy Poehler's.  Maybe I was just bored by the end...

The deeper issues the book presents are so important.  However, they are only examined on a surface level.  We could do so much more for the youth of America at ages when they are seeking guidance and strong role models.  There is an extensive resource guide at the end that offers some places to start.  This list would be beneficial to those looking to volunteer and also those who need help.  

I'm looking forward to an interesting book club.  Not so much because the book was a literary masterpiece, but because the subject matter forces us to reflect on society and the way we do things.