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what I'm reading
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From: 4joyces_at_mchsi.com <4joyces>
Date: Sat, 07 May 2005 15:12:38 +0000
I've just finished Linda Sue Park's new novel PROJECT MULBERRY, and loved it--partly because I once lived in an old farmhouse in Connecticut that had a big white mulberry tree. It was a beautiful tree that provided shade for us and a bounty for all sorts of songbirds in the late summer. I did some research while living there and found out it was probably planted to supply leaves for a brief silkworm farming experiment in CT in the 1800's. So the premise of this story especially appealed to me.
I loved the story itself, but also the between-chapter discussions between author and protagonist. It was an unusual and rather brave addition to a novel!
It provided a lot of depth to Julia's character but also insight into how a novel is conceived and made. I especially liked the point at which Julia's character got "stuck" and wouldn't tell the author how to go on with the story.
Their discussions often made me laugh out loud as well.
A wonderful read!
Joyce Sidman www.joycesidman.com
From: "Jane Hertenstein" To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu (Subscribers of ccbc-net) Subject: [ccbc-net] what I'm reading, 2nd post Date: Sat, 7 May 2005 00:59:22 +0000
I also just got done reading Collapse by Jared Diamond (which by the way is a cool name). A non-fiction 500 + pg book that reads quickly. He's the guy who wrote Guns, Germs, and Steel. Anyway his premise in this new book is a study of pre-historical cultures that once flourished and trying to figure out what made them disappear. In one chapter he uses the example of Easter Island and graphs out how the island was suitable for sustaining life for way longer than it actually did--but it seems the population was somewhat shortsighted and used up precious nature resources--in this instance trees--to make monolithic wooden totems for their gods. Eventually they ran out of big trees and, because they also need wood for cooking and transportation, started cutting down smaller trees, and smaller ones, until they could no longer make canoes to go to other islands, hence no importing or exporting, and had trouble cooking a hot meal, so people began to starve. The breakdown of the culture came when there was inter-tribal warfare for necessary commodities. The culture eked out another century or two, but it sounded glum and hardscrabble.
He also takes a look at contemporary cultures providing an anthropological perspective of the genocide in Rwanda and the chaos taking place today in Haiti.
There are several overlays and interpretations one can take away from studying these past and present struggling cultures--the obvious one is what's happening today in the world and our overdependence on oil. History teaches us that if we deplete a vital natural resource the consequences can be dire.
Sorry--the book can lead to some depressing conclusions, but it was FASCINATING.
Jane Hertenstein 920 W. Wilson Chicago, Il 60640 773V1$50 ext 2089
Received on Sat 07 May 2005 10:12:38 AM CDT
Date: Sat, 07 May 2005 15:12:38 +0000
I've just finished Linda Sue Park's new novel PROJECT MULBERRY, and loved it--partly because I once lived in an old farmhouse in Connecticut that had a big white mulberry tree. It was a beautiful tree that provided shade for us and a bounty for all sorts of songbirds in the late summer. I did some research while living there and found out it was probably planted to supply leaves for a brief silkworm farming experiment in CT in the 1800's. So the premise of this story especially appealed to me.
I loved the story itself, but also the between-chapter discussions between author and protagonist. It was an unusual and rather brave addition to a novel!
It provided a lot of depth to Julia's character but also insight into how a novel is conceived and made. I especially liked the point at which Julia's character got "stuck" and wouldn't tell the author how to go on with the story.
Their discussions often made me laugh out loud as well.
A wonderful read!
Joyce Sidman www.joycesidman.com
From: "Jane Hertenstein" To: ccbc-net at ccbc.education.wisc.edu (Subscribers of ccbc-net) Subject: [ccbc-net] what I'm reading, 2nd post Date: Sat, 7 May 2005 00:59:22 +0000
I also just got done reading Collapse by Jared Diamond (which by the way is a cool name). A non-fiction 500 + pg book that reads quickly. He's the guy who wrote Guns, Germs, and Steel. Anyway his premise in this new book is a study of pre-historical cultures that once flourished and trying to figure out what made them disappear. In one chapter he uses the example of Easter Island and graphs out how the island was suitable for sustaining life for way longer than it actually did--but it seems the population was somewhat shortsighted and used up precious nature resources--in this instance trees--to make monolithic wooden totems for their gods. Eventually they ran out of big trees and, because they also need wood for cooking and transportation, started cutting down smaller trees, and smaller ones, until they could no longer make canoes to go to other islands, hence no importing or exporting, and had trouble cooking a hot meal, so people began to starve. The breakdown of the culture came when there was inter-tribal warfare for necessary commodities. The culture eked out another century or two, but it sounded glum and hardscrabble.
He also takes a look at contemporary cultures providing an anthropological perspective of the genocide in Rwanda and the chaos taking place today in Haiti.
There are several overlays and interpretations one can take away from studying these past and present struggling cultures--the obvious one is what's happening today in the world and our overdependence on oil. History teaches us that if we deplete a vital natural resource the consequences can be dire.
Sorry--the book can lead to some depressing conclusions, but it was FASCINATING.
Jane Hertenstein 920 W. Wilson Chicago, Il 60640 773V1$50 ext 2089
Received on Sat 07 May 2005 10:12:38 AM CDT
