“Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the center cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world.”
Okonkwo commands respect from his community, his three wives, and his children through both hard work and intimidation. He rises to prominence despite and perhaps due to his father’s laziness in community and family matters. He stands firm to his culture and traditions. So he is outraged when some of his people start converting to Christianity. A power struggle ensues and ‘things fall apart.’
I’m intrigued by Achebe’s history and background. I’d like to read the sequel to this book, No Longer at Ease, at some point.
It is almost always easier to learn about history through historical fiction or current world events through memoirs, and this book is no exception. Daoud Hari gives us a harrowing account of his experiences translating for various media outlets in the Darfur region. The violence in Darfur, especially toward women and children, is unspeakable. Though not overly graphic, it is still difficult to read in spots.
Similar to the plight of the Kurds, the people of Darfur have had their lives shattered due to boundaries set by people not of their region. This brief, engaging book will not only enlighten you to the situation in Darfur, but will also make you question the wisdom of meddling in other countries’ affairs at all.
“The Christmas Baramundi” Definitely the most depressing story in the book, and one of the few I really didn’t care for. A woman thinks she meets the perfect man, but then finds out differently.
“This Year It Will Be Different” This one is also depressing. A woman thinks her family wants to help her with all the Christmas preparations, but do they?
“Season of Fuss” This time, a woman’s family helps with the preparations, but is that what she really wants?
“A Typical Irish Christmas. . . ” This one’s nice. A family is reunited.
“Traveling Hopefully” A man and a woman are stuck on a long plane ride together. Will the relationship continue after the flight?
“What Is Happiness?” A boy is caught up in his father’s infidelity when the mistress stalks the family.
“The Best Inn in Town” Two grandmothers fight over their turf in a family that is usually united over the subject.
I would have to say I much preferred the first half of the book to the second half. The second half of the book is much more depressing. While the families depicted in the first half were far from perfect, there was at least a little hope involved. Not so in some of these later stories. However, overall I did enjoy the book and would recommend it for the Christmas season.
Why did it take me so long to read this? Since it’s such a well-known classic, I won’t summarize the plot except to say it’s about a girl from Irish-Catholic descent facing poverty and family struggles in Brooklyn.
(Spoilers ahead!)
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I loved Francie. I loved how she fought to go to a good school and how she loved her father. And of course, how she loved books-in spite of the not-really-there librarian. How awful was she?! The grandmother’s advice about reading the Bible and Shakespeare was excellent. Carrying it out for all those years was even more admirable. I loved seeing her grow and develop into a young woman. The responsibility of a 14 year-old to support the whole family! Amazing.
Some favorite quotes:
That is what is called learning the truth. It is a good thing to learn the truth one’s self. To first believe with all your heart, and then not to believe, is good too. It fattens the emotions and makes them to stretch. When as a woman life and people disappoint her, she will have had practice in disappointment and it will not come so hard. In teaching your child, do not forget that suffering is good too. It makes a person rich in character. (Mary Rommely’s advice)
From that time on, the world was hers for the reading. She would never be lonely again, never miss the lack of intimate friends. Books became her friends and there was one for every mood. There was poetry for quiet companionship. There was adventure when she tired of quiet hours. There would be love stories when she came into adolescence and when she wanted to feel a closeness to someone she could read a biography. On that day when she first knew she could read, she made a vow to read one book a day as long as she lived.
(Katie, Francie’s mom:) You wait until us women vote. . . You don’t believe we will? That day will come. Mark my words. We’ll put all those crooked politicians where they belong-behind iron bars.
(Francie’s dad:) If that day ever comes when women vote, you’ll go along to the polls with me-arm in arm-and vote the way I do. He put his arm around her and gave her a quick hug.
Katie smiled up at him. Francie couldn’t help noticing that mama was smiling sidewise, the way the lady did in the picture in the school auditorium, the one they called Mona Lisa.
This is the second book in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith. I read the first book earlier this year and enjoyed it very much. A light-hearted mystery like this was perfect for the late night hours of the read-a-thon.
In this book, Mma Ramotswe gets more cases and a very big surprise from her fiancé. She continues to solve them in her own unique way, and the “surprise” might just be enough to change her mind about him. I definitely plan on continuing this series when I need a break from more serious reading. A very fun, light mystery series.
"Do not labor for the food that perishes, but for the food that endures to eternal life, which the Son of Man will give to you. For on him God the Father has set his seal." (John 6:27, ESV)
“Turning and turning in the widening gyre
Last Monday, 
Why did it take me so long to read this? Since it’s such a well-known classic, I won’t summarize the plot except to say it’s about a girl from Irish-Catholic descent facing poverty and family struggles in Brooklyn.
This is the second book in The No. 1 Ladies’ Detective Agency series by Alexander McCall Smith. I read 
