The Vagrants by Yiyun Li

I saw this book on a display table at Barnes & Noble.  The cover caught my eye--the front of a Chinese jacket/overcoat.  I am very attracted to Asian art--very refined, delicate and it always tells a story.  When I read the inside cover, I wasn't all that impressed, but I thought "I'm still going to buy it.  It might surprise me."  Always work on your instincts when it comes to a book.  This one surprised me.

Although very sad and poignant, it is also quite ordinary in terms of the movements and actions of the people.  This story takes place in 1979, Communist China.  The town was specifically built by the regime and specifically "planted" with people to promote the socialistic cause.  There are also some people who wandered into this village.  It is, on one hand, small and on the other, quite large.  There are distinct disparities amongst the social and economic classes.  There are boundaries that are prescribed and unspoken.  We meet people of the lowest beggar and of the highest government within the town.

The story is about the actions and reactions of a community when faced with, are part of and after the excution of a counterrevolutionary woman.  Some of the stories are excruciatingly ugly.  Some of them, such as her parents, are excruciatingly sad.  Some never had to occur.  Some should have happened and you wonder what if?  In the end, you know that this could have really happened.  All these storylines happened because of the excution of that woman.  She had no knowledge they would happen and couldn't have controlled many of them if she had known.

In 1979 I was 10 years old and I was entering the 4th grade.  I knew about free elections.  I knew I liked to read a lot.  I knew I could go home and have a good dinner and be loved.  I had siblings who laughed and loved.  I had parents who cared and protected.  I live  in the United States, where freedoms are protected--freedom of speech and of press.  Freedom of religion and thought.  Education is valued for the ideas it creates.  I cannot imagine living in China in 1979.

The author is originally from China and lived in this regime.  She now lives in the United States.  The Vagrants by Yiyun Li.

Symbolism

So I didn't actually read them, but I did the next best thing--listened to them!  I can't read books while I work, so I use audio books.  I don't get the whole story most of the time and do have to keep going back on the CD's because I miss a lot, often.  [I do have to think sometimes while I work and thinking with listening doesn't always work]. 

What am I talking about?  The Da Vinci Code and Angels and Demons (still listening to this one).  I find it a little odd that the first book (DVC) is actually the second and is full of symbolism, while the second book (A&D) is really the first, but not so full of symbolism.  Of course we get to hear about the Papal household and the Conclave, which is awesome! 

I find the symbolism tangents to very interesting and enlightening.  However, I also enjoy a good mystery and it's really hard to stick with the mystery when we keep going off on tangents.  Also, if someone doesn't know a whole lot about symbolism or the church for that matter, it's a little hard to keep up.   For those who really enjoy all the secrecy and the scandals revolving around the church, these are the books for you!  If you really enjoy hearing about the landmarks and cultures in ancient cities, again books are for you.

Vamp Novels

So, I said I'd never read "Twilight" and never intended after the required reading in class to finish the saga.  Unfortunately, my inner book worm wouldn't let me walk away from it.  It surprised me that the story line was quite clean in terms of language and sex for a series that was written for teens.  I'm on the Jacob team, only because Edward is too full of himself and Jacob treats Bella with more equality.  Also, I'm a little partial to wolves.

In the interest of YAL research, I found that there are several Vamp authors out there.  I know about Anne Rice (never read her and I don't believe I will ever read her books).  I thought with all the authors, perhaps I should do a little research and read one or two of the books to keep in tune with YA.  Turns out I picked up one of the juiciest series out there (at least, I think so) in terms of teenage love.  I would not recommend it for anyone younger than 16.  I believe the amount of teen romances is overly dramatic and the fact that the main character has not only a human boyfriend, but also teen Vamp and adult Vamp boyfriends.  The story line is not quite up to par for a mystery/horror read, but the romance portion is all there.  Definitely a chic book!

I'm going to finish this series and maybe look at others, but I'm afraid I have a great dislike for the syrup of romance novels.  That's why I've never read Jackie Collins.

Reading Lolita In Tehran by Azir Nafisi

This is an autobiographical account of a native Iranian woman who returns to Iran at the start of the 1980's. She remains in Tehran, teaching at local universities until the mid 90's when she is allowed to leave for further scholarship. Her account of the political and religious fighting is eye opening to Westerners. Through a select group of women, hand chosen for the book discussion group by Nafisi, she explores how Iranian women and the whole of Iran see Western culture. It's especially interesting because she focuses on Western literature in the book group.

Having read many of the books she writes about, I find it interesting the similarities and differences in interpretation. For instance they read The Great Gatsby. I read that in high school. Even as "Westerners" we were able to pick out the decadence of the lifestyles and how Fitzgerald focused the story around the effect of that decadence. However, Nafisi's students went a step further and used the story to illustrate how "Western culture", overly decadent would sweep our culture away and morals would be lost. Obviously some of the insights were based on religious beliefs along with cultural beliefs.

It was a very interesting read. I learned a great deal about the politics and religious clashes that I did not hear about in school or on the news. It's easy to follow, all the while illustrating the take over by the Ayathollah Khomeini. (I know I just massacred the spelling)