by Sue Monk Kidd
Sue Monk Kidd is actually amazing. "The Secret Life of Bees" is heavy in subject matter, but Kidd makes the book so readable that the experience is entirely enjoyable.
Kidd is one of those amazingly multitalented authors who does not rely on her plot to sustain her weak characters, or vice versa. The plot concerns itself with a 14-year-old girl, Lily, who breaks her black nanny, Rosaleen, out of prison after Rosaleen insults three dangerously racist men. Lily and Rosaleen follow a name on the back of a photograph -- Tiburon, SC -- that Lily's dead mother left her, eventually ending up in the home of three eclectic black female beekeepers. Lily learns about bees, race, religion, and love during her time in Tiburon.
What really brings the book to life, however, is the characters. Lily is such a full character that she could sustain a book on her own -- but she doesn't need to. She is accompanied by August, May, June, and Rosaleen, all of whom are nearly as dimensional as Lily herself. Although there are a few disappointing moments (the men of the novel, most notably Lily's father T. Ray, seem to have basically one defining characteristic and no shading), the novel is stunning overall. I highly recommend this book to anyone interested in learning about the '60s, the South, race relations, or love. I recommend this book even more highly to anyone in search of a good story told well.
Rating: 7/8
Tea: Something robust and feminine. I recommend vanilla black tea, with honey of course. If you're feeling adventurous, you can try oolong tea. However, the oolong-honey combination is a decidedly unusual taste, and is only for those who venture beyond Tetley on a regular basis.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Monday, February 9, 2009
Nickel and Dimed: On (Not) Getting By in America
Barbara Ehrenreich
In "Nickel and Dimed" Barbara Ehrenreich embarks on an extraordinary exercise in underground journalism. She decides that, for several months, she will enter the "unskilled" work force in three different states and try to earn enough money to support herself. Although I myself would sooner massage a menopausal alligator than do such a thing, I found the concept of the book sufficiently intriguing to check it out of my local (by which I mean school) library and read it.
The book was surprisingly funny, harrowing, and rewarding. I have existed in an isolated upper-middle-class bubble for my entire life, with a few exceptions here and there. I knew the working poor existed, but like pop rocks and ebola, I didn't give them much thought in my day to day life.
I was amazed to read that Barbara Ehrenreich could barely find housing with the wages of her full-time minimum-wage job. She had every advantage in the world -- she started off with $1,200 in each city, she had a car and gasoline, she was white and spoke fluent, unaccented English. She was healthy and had no dependents to look after. Best of all, if everything started going wrong and she couldn't pay her rent payments (as actually did happen in Minnesota), she had a cushy "real life" in the upper middle class to return to.
Even with all these advantages, Ms. Ehrenreich found each bill, rent payment, and grocery visit excruciatingly hard to meet. She found herself struggling to break even each month, and saving any money was practically out of the question. She discovered that the vast majority of people she met had either multiple jobs or a partner working full-time -- single women with only one full-time job often lived in motels or in their cars.
The best part about this book is that the author is funny. Although the entire book makes the typical member of the middle- or upper-class cringe with guilt, Ehrenreich manages to make her genuine and witty personality shine through. By the end of the book, I felt inspired to make a change, not indicted. This book is highly recommended for anyone interested in the struggle of the American lower class.
Rating: 6/8
Tea: You need something upper-class and bitter while reading this book. Ginger tea is ideal.
In "Nickel and Dimed" Barbara Ehrenreich embarks on an extraordinary exercise in underground journalism. She decides that, for several months, she will enter the "unskilled" work force in three different states and try to earn enough money to support herself. Although I myself would sooner massage a menopausal alligator than do such a thing, I found the concept of the book sufficiently intriguing to check it out of my local (by which I mean school) library and read it.
The book was surprisingly funny, harrowing, and rewarding. I have existed in an isolated upper-middle-class bubble for my entire life, with a few exceptions here and there. I knew the working poor existed, but like pop rocks and ebola, I didn't give them much thought in my day to day life.
I was amazed to read that Barbara Ehrenreich could barely find housing with the wages of her full-time minimum-wage job. She had every advantage in the world -- she started off with $1,200 in each city, she had a car and gasoline, she was white and spoke fluent, unaccented English. She was healthy and had no dependents to look after. Best of all, if everything started going wrong and she couldn't pay her rent payments (as actually did happen in Minnesota), she had a cushy "real life" in the upper middle class to return to.
Even with all these advantages, Ms. Ehrenreich found each bill, rent payment, and grocery visit excruciatingly hard to meet. She found herself struggling to break even each month, and saving any money was practically out of the question. She discovered that the vast majority of people she met had either multiple jobs or a partner working full-time -- single women with only one full-time job often lived in motels or in their cars.
The best part about this book is that the author is funny. Although the entire book makes the typical member of the middle- or upper-class cringe with guilt, Ehrenreich manages to make her genuine and witty personality shine through. By the end of the book, I felt inspired to make a change, not indicted. This book is highly recommended for anyone interested in the struggle of the American lower class.
Rating: 6/8
Tea: You need something upper-class and bitter while reading this book. Ginger tea is ideal.
Sunday, February 8, 2009
By Way of Introduction
My name is Katie. If I were a book, I would be something in the sub-madeup-genre "Quirky Fiction" (which includes books like "The Eyre Affair", "St. Lucy's Home for Girls Raised by Wolves", and "The Elegance of the Hedgehog"). If I were a tea, I would be something minty and refreshing. If I were a person, I would be a high school senior with a fondness for everything listed above.
With a roof over my head, a college acceptance letter in hand, and no bills to pay for at least another four years, I have few things to worry about. One of the things I do worry about is the matching of books with tea. Have you ever tried to read an Agatha Christie novel while drinking chamomile tea? It ruins the whole experience. Ditto for "My Antonia" with ginger, or "Catch-22" with chai.
After having ruined my enjoyment of "Ender's Game" by trying to mix it with green tea, I realized I had to do something. I had found my calling. I would find the perfect tea to accompany each book I gave a darn about, and I would share this information with the world.
World, you're welcome.
With a roof over my head, a college acceptance letter in hand, and no bills to pay for at least another four years, I have few things to worry about. One of the things I do worry about is the matching of books with tea. Have you ever tried to read an Agatha Christie novel while drinking chamomile tea? It ruins the whole experience. Ditto for "My Antonia" with ginger, or "Catch-22" with chai.
After having ruined my enjoyment of "Ender's Game" by trying to mix it with green tea, I realized I had to do something. I had found my calling. I would find the perfect tea to accompany each book I gave a darn about, and I would share this information with the world.
World, you're welcome.
Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde
OK, so "Jekyll and Hyde" isn't the same suspenseful page-turner it was a hundred years ago. In fact, the novella has integrated itself into mainstream society to the point that reading it may seem unnecessary. After all, beyond the obvious "plot twist" that has become synonymous with the novel, what makes the novella worthwhile?
I would agree that, for most situations, an extensive knowledge of "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is not required. Actually reading "Jekyll and Hyde" will not expand your reference frame in the same way as, say, a bag of chocolate chips will expand your cookie dough. However, Stevenson is something of a clever clogs, and reading the novella in its entirety will lead, with a little thought, to some interesting insights concerning Victorian society. There are other reasons to read "Jekyll and Hyde" as well: you can brag about it at cocktail parties, you can chortle at the confoundment of the minor characters, and the whole affair will only take a few hours out of your afternoon.
Rating: 4/8
--edit -- As per Edwina's suggestion I have expanded this section. Thank you, Miss Ogg.
Tea: You're going to need something tight-laced and English here. Sugar is, of course, out of the question. To get in touch with your repressed Victorian side, I would recommend a strong black breakfast blend sans milk.
I would agree that, for most situations, an extensive knowledge of "Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde" is not required. Actually reading "Jekyll and Hyde" will not expand your reference frame in the same way as, say, a bag of chocolate chips will expand your cookie dough. However, Stevenson is something of a clever clogs, and reading the novella in its entirety will lead, with a little thought, to some interesting insights concerning Victorian society. There are other reasons to read "Jekyll and Hyde" as well: you can brag about it at cocktail parties, you can chortle at the confoundment of the minor characters, and the whole affair will only take a few hours out of your afternoon.
Rating: 4/8
--edit -- As per Edwina's suggestion I have expanded this section. Thank you, Miss Ogg.
Tea: You're going to need something tight-laced and English here. Sugar is, of course, out of the question. To get in touch with your repressed Victorian side, I would recommend a strong black breakfast blend sans milk.
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