At first glance, these things don’t seem to have any connection at all. Heroine Love deals with fictional women who have come to hold powerful meaning in our lives. The Decemberists are a fantastic contemporary American band. Atiq Rahimi’s novel deals with the impact of coups and the impending Soviet invasion on life in Afghanistan in 1979. In all actuality, there may be no connection between heroines, The Decemberists, and 1979’s Afghanistan other than the life experience and education I brought to the table. That is one of the beauties of being human. We are each able to take in what’s around us and gather from it what we will.

Here’s how it all converged for me:

After Erin honored me with her request to take part in her Heroine Week festivities, it took me a while to decide which heroine I was going to write about.  Looking back, the choice was never in doubt. My heroine was destined to be Lisbeth Salander. Over the course of Stieg Larsson’s Millennium trilogy, she became a treasured friend. After spending weeks thinking about her and finishing my Heroine Love letter to her, it still feels odd to say that. She’s a far cry from the first character anyone would associate with me.

I definitely struggled that post for Erin. I normally never get nervous about writing a post. I get into a zone and I’ve always written well under pressure. Not so for this. It feels as though I spent more time on that short letter to Lisbeth than I did on any of my college or grad school papers. It was while I was editing drafts, tossing drafts out completely, and beginning a new draft all over again that I discovered The Decemberists. I downloaded a copy of The Kind is Dead the morning it was released and have been obsessed with the song “This is Why We Fight” from my very first listen. Whatever the intended meaning behind the song, some of the lyrics brought Lisbeth’s character into sharp focus:

When we die
We will die with our arms unbound

What a passionate and beautiful way to view death and the life one leads before it. That sentiment summed up for me why Lisbeth didn’t simply give up when horrible things continued to happen. To her, life holds meaning only when she’s free to be herself. Death isn’t something to be feared when you make your life fulfilling and worthwhile.

I read A Thousand Rooms of Dream and Fear in order to participate in the book club established by Jenn from Devourer of Books and Nicole from Linus’ Blanket. In the beginning, Farhad, a young man from Afghanistan, is in hiding from the government. He believes that he is dying and he is paralyzed with fear over the afterlife. He recalls all of the religious laws and superstitions his grandfather taught him as a means of quelling his anxiety and, perhaps, changing his fate. I completely related to him in this state. I could easily see furiously trying to make up for not saying novenas, the rosary, going to confession, etc… by reciting prayers in a desperate attempt to avoid the flames.

I wondered if this reaction to the end of life is a human trait or something that might be particular to certain religious traditions. I tweeted this question, not anticipating any response at all. It’s not something easily discussed in 140 characters or less.  I was surprised when it did spark a conversation with someone I respect. We discussed the role of guilt, about the meaning of life, and about how important it is to love the here and now with all your heart.  It was that conversation that made the connection back to Lisbeth and “This is Why We Fight.”  It wasn’t until those three things came together the way that they did that I was able to finally write my post for Erin and feel satisfied with it.

Call it God, fate, or simply being open to new insights, it’s pretty interesting when things in your life converge into something new and powerful. I am looking forward to the day I turn 40 (I admit the cruise to the Bahamas with my best friend doesn’t hurt). It begins a new chapter in my life. A chapter where I will let go of my innate desire to please others. A chapter where I choose to love myself for who I am, warts and all. A chapter where I make taking care of myself a priority. A chapter where I choose to learn from guilt instead of being ruled by it. A chapter where I resolve to live so that I may die unbound.

When I first heard that Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Weiner had their panties in a wad over the coverage that the New York Times had been giving Franzen’s latest novel Freedom, I recognized but did not get riled up over the way that male authors are disproportionally covered by the New York Times. I truly don’t care. I don’t now and never have read the New York Times for any reason, let alone their book reviews. They may be seen as the premier place to get a book review placed, but that has never meant a thing to me as a reader. If I were to read that paper, I feel certain that book reviews are just one of the many ways I’d find it out of touch with me.

I’ve not yet read Franzen. I knew who he was, but haven’t ever really been keen to pick up his work. I have, however, read Jodi Picoult and Jennifer Weiner. The first few books by both authors were wonderful. In fact, in one of my first posts on my blog I mentioned how much I loved Picoult. In fact, reading her work was instrumental in overcoming my PPD and beginning my blog. Over time I lost interest in Weiner, though. Then, Picoult drove me so crazy that I swore never – ever – read another of her books. That being said, it was the buzz generated by their #franzenfreude that made me curious enough to pick up Freedom. Once I got it home, I forgot about it entirely.

Jennifer Weiner’s post from September 21st has given me a completely different perspective. No, it didn’t finally make me take up arms against the elitist, sexist NYT Book Review. I can still really not care much less. What did catch my attention were two things much more generic and widespread than that. For me, reading Weiner’s post produced two mini Come to Jesus moments. For this I thank her.

First, let me begin with Mr. Stephen King. I love him as a person. His monthly-ish columns in Entertainment Weekly are my favorite feature about that magazine. Yes, his columns alone would make purchasing that magazine worthwhile. I get a kick out of his take movies, books, pop culture and life in general. I’ve purchased several books on his recommendation. (No, I’ve not actually read them yet – but that is so true of just about anyone whom I’d trust to recommend a good read.) I read several of his novels in junior high and high school, but I’ve not read him since. I also haven’t really followed his career. I did not know that he was awarded the National Book Foundation’s medal for Distinguished Contribution to American Letters in 2003. So, when I read the following excerpt from his acceptance speech, I was reading it for the first time (highlighting mine):

Tokenism is not allowed. You can’t sit back, give a self satisfied sigh and say, “Ah, that takes care of the troublesome pop lit question. In another twenty years or perhaps thirty, we’ll give this award to another writer who sells enough books to make the best seller lists.” It’s not good enough. Nor do I have any patience with or use for those who make a point of pride in saying they’ve never read anything by John Grisham, Tom Clancy, Mary Higgins Clark or any other popular writer.

What do you think? You get social or academic brownie points for deliberately staying out of touch with your own culture? Never in life, as Capt. Lucky Jack Aubrey would say….There’s a great deal of good stuff out there and not all of it is being done by writers whose work is regularly reviewed in the Sunday New York Times Book Review. I believe the time comes when you must be inclusive rather than exclusive.

That said, I accept this award on behalf of such disparate writers as Elmore Leonard, Peter Straub, Nora Lofts, Jack Ketchum, whose real name is Dallas Mayr, Jodi Picoult, Greg Iles, John Grisham, Dennis Lehane, Michael Connolly, Pete Hamill and a dozen more. I hope that the National Book Award judges, past, present and future, will read these writers and that the books will open their eyes to a whole new realm of American literature. You don’t have to vote for them, just read them.

“What do you think? You get social or academic brownie points for deliberately staying out of touch with your own culture?” That was a BB hitting me right between the eyes. I don’t know about you, but definitely have my own literary high horse. When riding him (let’s just call him Ulysses), it feels so natural for me to turn up my nose up at books, authors, or genres because they were beneath me. Yes, that’s what I said. Beneath me. Who am I to think any type of book is beneath me? Seriously. Who the f*ck am I?

I’m not as much of a literature snob as I was in grad school. In fact, once I started my career and then family, riding Ulysses started to chafe me in unmentionable areas. I wasn’t reading for the same reasons and I definitely did not have the same amount of time or energy to devote to it. A few years ago I actually thought I’d put him out to pasture permanently, but reading those words by Mr. King made me realize that I still occasionally saddle up Ulysses and take him for a wild ride. I realized that when I’ve said, “Read and let read” in the past, there’s always been a silent “Thank God I would never consider reading that sh*t!” attached. It was me hording up my “social or academic brownie points” not realizing that I’m just making myself “out of touch with your own culture.” While I’m no NYT Book Review, I’ve got more in common with them then I would care to admit.

My second Come to Jesus moment sprang from something Weiner said about the impact author Terry McMillan has had on the publishing.

McMillan’s tale of four upper-middle-class black women and their search for love was a game-changer. It became a huge word-of-mouth bestseller and eventually, a smash movie. Its success it opened doors for other authors by showing publishers that there was an enormous audience eager for stories about minorities who weren’t living in poverty, working as domestics, or coping with rape, abuse or illiteracy.

As with Franzen, I’ve never read any of Ms. McMillan’s work. I’ve never even seen the movie that followed. Unfortunately, I also realize that much of the small percentage of novels I read focusing on minorities have them living in poverty, working as domestics, or coping with rape, abuse, or illiteracy. Doesn’t that make me quite out of touch with our culture as well? I’d say so. Damn! As I read Weiner’s post, I started feeling pretty complicit in all of this. Hypocritical as well because I’ve often privately bemoaned literature for putting obese characters into infuriating stereotypical buckets. I’ll tackle that more later this week.

There’s nothing like personal epiphanies to raise excitement. Since reading that post I’ve been able to write three reviews and I feel as though I’m back in business with book blogging. Here is what I’d like to do as a start to send Ulysses to the glue factory and expand my horizons: I’m starting my own #readingfreude. To begin, I’m going to read Freedom and a similar book from the perspective of a minority and see how Freedom stacks up. That should be simple enough, shouldn’t it? Yes, except I have no idea what the second book should be. I’m starting my research now, but would love your suggestions. I’ve provided a description of Freedom at the very end of this post if it helps you get your “what would make a perfect #readingfreude match for Jennifer” juices flowing.

I would encourage anyone who loves to read to feel free to join me and start your own personal reading crusade. #readingfreude is free to all with no sarcasm implied.  So, if there’s something standing in your way of complete #readingfreude or if there’s anything you’d like to try to enhance your joy of reading, why not come along? The water feels pretty warm.

_____

I’m not the only one who was inspired by Jennifer Weiner’s post.  Amy from My Friend Amy wrote a wonderful piece on the role gender plays in young readers.  Check it out!

_____

Summary of Freedom

Patty and Walter Berglund were the new pioneers of old St. Paul—the gentrifiers, the hands-on parents, the avant-garde of the Whole Foods generation. Patty was the ideal sort of neighbor, who could tell you where to recycle your batteries and how to get the local cops to actually do their job. She was an enviably perfect mother and the wife of Walter’s dreams. Together with Walter—environmental lawyer, commuter cyclist, total family man—she was doing her small part to build a better world.

But now, in the new millennium, the Berglunds have become a mystery. Why has their teenage son moved in with the aggressively Republican family next door? Why has Walter taken a job working with Big Coal? What exactly is Richard Katz—outré rocker and Walter’s college best friend and rival—still doing in the picture? Most of all, what has happened to Patty? Why has the bright star of Barrier Street become “a very different kind of neighbor,” an implacable Fury coming unhinged before the street’s attentive eyes?

In his first novel since The Corrections, Jonathan Franzen has given us an epic of contemporary love and marriage. Freedom comically and tragically captures the temptations and burdens of liberty: the thrills of teenage lust, the shaken compromises of middle age, the wages of suburban sprawl, the heavy weight of empire. In charting the mistakes and joys of Freedom’s characters as they struggle to learn how to live in an ever more confusing world, Franzen has produced an indelible and deeply moving portrait of our time.

My kids are driving me to drink this weekend!

Emma had a sleep over Friday night with one of her after school friends.  Danny and I were sure to do something special with Allison because she cried so hard when she realized that she was not invited.  Allison enjoyed her solo trip with Mom and Dad to the pet store and to Famous Anthony’s – a local family restaurant.  We topped off Friday night with a “camp out” in the basement.  She really loved that, but woke up at one point crying because she missed Emma.  When we picked Emma up, we spent some time at Heidi’s house.  From the moment we arrived, Emma made sure that Allison was not included in the play.  Apparently the older girls were going into Heidi’s room and locking Allison out.  Heidi’s older brother thought it was so wrong that he locked Heidi’s door so no one could go in.  Allison had a hero and didn’t even know it. LOL!  The rest of Saturday was spent listening to whining, bickering, fighting, and crying.  There was a short respite from that when we forced Emma to take her first nap in probably 2 years.  Today hasn’t started out much better.  [Note - in fact it got much worse since I started writing this post. Could it be the weather? The excitement about Grandma and Grandpa coming?  Their birthdays?]  I am indulging in some adult beverages tonight.

My parents are arriving early this week and I’m looking forward to their visit even though it meant I had to miss out on a Blacksburg get together with Kathy, Jaime, and Miriam from Hatchette Book Group yesterday.  In the midst of all the drama, it’s shopping and cleaning in preparation for their arrival.  This then begins the girl’s birthday week.  Allison turns 5 on Thursday and Emma turns 7 on Friday.  The party is at Chuck E. Cheese on Sunday.  Yeah, this is going to be quite some week.

On to bookish news…

I am very sorry that I haven’t been on the blogs much this month.  October is busy both at work and at home.  I’m hoping that will clear up after this week.  I would like to take a moment to congratulate Meghan from Medieval Bookworm on her wedding.  Stop over her way and congratulate her (although I really think her new husband is the real winner…).

I did read two books this week:

This novel was sent to me by the author in February.  I’ve been meaning to read it and have tried to several times before.  I put it on my must-read list for October because I’ve had it for so long.  Also, although their is no tie in to Halloween or this time of year, I thought the cover, which I love, was a good fit.

It took me a while to get into it and read slowly for me because the pacing and the dialect and pacing of the language was very British.  For example, there was no “the” in front of hospital (I’m going to hospital instead of I’m going to the hospital).  I kept tripping over that and other word choices.  I am happy to have finally read it.  I feel that I’ve stretched my horizons and, when I make it over to England myself, I’ll know to ask for veg at tea.  It’s a nice story about two single parents struggling to keep their children happy and safe.  I liked the premise and thought that Mina and Peter were sympathetic and honest characters.

As I posted Friday, a parent at a local high school became upset when his son came upon a copy of The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky at school.  Because he pitched a fit, the school took both of their copies off the shelf.

I cannot believe that one parent feels that his objections about a book should dictate school policy.  I further can’t believe that the school would cave to this single parent.  So, I decided right then and there that I would read this book and encourage as many other people to read it as I can.  I can’t say that I’ve ever even heard of this book before this incident.  It definitely was not on my radar and, prior to this bruhaha, I’m not sure I would have thought twice about it after seeing its association with MTV (I had no idea that they published or at least used to publish books).   I’m happy to say that I am one person turned on this book because of this parent.  Well, I started reading it Saturday morning.  I finished it before I went to sleep.  Yes, I enjoyed it that much.  No, I cannot say I could understand someone who has read this book wanting it removed from school property.  The rest I’ll leave for my discussion in the Facebook book club I have set up specifically for this book and my review.

This week I’m reading…

I am serving as Victoria Hislop‘s book tour host on Tuesday for her TLC book tour for her second novel, The Return. I haven’t read her first novel, The Island, but after reading the first section of The Return, I’ll planning on it.  What’s even better is that I know I haven’t even gotten to the good stuff yet.  I’ll be getting back into this novel as soon as I finish this post.

My best friend gave me The Shack for my birthday (shh, last year, please don’t say anything).  This past spring, my dad asked me if I’d read it.  I told him that I had a copy but just don’t often read Christian fiction, so I don’t think to pick it up.  When I went home this summer, he asked me if he gave me a copy of the book on audio if I would listen to it.  So, in honor of the fact that my best friend sent it to me (wh and that my father really wants me to read it, I’m going to read this while he’s in town.  That way, we can talk about it, too.

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The rules for the tag are simple.

Link to the person who has tagged you.
Write down six things that make you happy.
Post the rules, tag six others and let them know you did it.
Then tell the person when your entry is complete.

Six Things That Make Me Happy…

1. My family, including my husband, two daughters, in-laws, and my family of origin.
2. Getting emails from the family members of authors whose books I’ve reviewed.  It’s a shock and a privilege.
3. Cuddling up under a warm blanket with a good book.
4. Diet Coke.
5. My new blog design.
6. Making bookmarks with beautiful paper and fun stamps.

I tag Kathy, Ti, Sheri, Lisa, Amy, and Naida.

Trish

Although I prayed for the letter M (I’m from Michigan), I was assigned the letter U.  No problem.  I’m Up for the challenge.  U ought to know that I’m going to attempt to do this without the use of dictionary.com.  U might want to buckle your seat belts.  Here we go:

1. U2 ! ~ This is a no brainer if you know me even in the least little bit.  I have been in love with Bono since 1987.  It is no wonder that they are on Island Records because The Joshua Tree is the one CD I would want stranded on a desert island.
   
2. Uncle Dave ~ I have three and I love each and every one.  My mother’s only brother is Dave.  Two of her sisters also married Daves.  I also have a cousin Dave on my dad’s side, but neither cousin nor Dave starts with a U, so he doesn’t count.
3. Uvula ~ I think everyone at some point in their lives discovers their uvulas and is in confused awe of them.  They make for great effects in cartoons when the character is screaming.  It’s not fun when they swell, though.  You constantly feel like there’s something you need to swallow buy you can’t.  BTW, there are some really gross pictures of uvulas, but I decided not to include them.
4. Umbrella ~ Under my Umbrella ella, ella, eh, eh, eh…  It’s the catchy song that always seems to come to mind when I’m in the shower.  I also love watching Emma and Ally dance around to the living room when they hear it.
5. Understanding ~ Don’t we all just need a little more of this in our lives?
6. Utility Workers ~ They’re the best.  We wouldn’t have power without them.  I was writing this post while watching the utility pole burn just down the road.  I stopped writing this post after the power went out and we had to scramble to keep warm.  I was even more appreciative of our local utility workers when the power came back up.
   
7. United States ~ I love my country.  Always have.  Always will.  Still, it does start with the letter U.  This, especially paired with the V from Virginia makes for a lot of scrolling.  Perhaps we can rename it to something starting with A…
8. Umbilical Cord ~ We all had one and have the scars to prove it.  Many dads today cut them these days.  Danny didn’t because Ally was in a bit of a hurry without being inclined to move herself into a more suitable position.  So, C-section city for me and they quickly whisked her away until they were sure she was fine.  Oh well…  Again, so pretty interesting pictures, but I love my readers too much to go down that path.
9. UFO ~ Danny has always been fascinated with UFOs and aliens.  As I’m fascinated with him, UFOs must make my list.One of the things that first drew my husband and I together, other than Micheal Stipe, was The X-Files.  When I think of UFOs, I see them through Mulder and Scully’s eyes.
10. Ukulele ~ Okay, I really think they are annoying, but I love the sound of the word itself.
    

Did U enjoy this little walk down U road?  U can join along.  Just leave a comment and I’ll assign you a random letter (Don, I have a sense that you’d get a Q). Then U can have some fun writing about 10 things U love that begin with your assigned letter.  You then have the power to assign letters to your readers.

Suggested by Simon Thomas:

Have you ever been put off an author’s books after reading a biography of them? Or the reverse – a biography has made you love an author more?

Great question, Simon!  I can’t say that I’ve ever been turned off by an author based upon something I’ve read about him or her.  As much as possible, I try to disassociate the author from the work.  When I chose to avoid an author’s work, it’s either because something I’ve read has bored me to tears (take that, Joseph Conrad and Herman Melville) or I found the subject matter off putting (and this typically is due to beating me over the head with things political).

Biographies have made me love authors all the more.  I’ve read a biography of Margaret Mitchell by Darden Pyron entitled Southern Daughter that really left a tender spot in my heart for her.  She blessed me with my favorite book, but she suffered from some mental issues that really made me sad for her.  I love people just as much for their weaknesses as for their strengths.  It’s the combination of the two that make them human and someone to whom I can relate.  I’ve also read some wonderful biographies on James Joyce, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner that really made me love that bunch of disfunctional men.

How about you?  Have you ever been put off by an author’s private life?  Have you ever fallen in love (literarily speaking) with an author for the same reasons?

What I find interesting about this article other than the funky first sentence is all that is not included: 1) So, did Madonna start or join this Hollywood book club?; 2) If so, what book did they select? (note that the “favorite book” link is not a link to Gwyneth or Madonna’s favorite books); finally, 3) Since literary preferences say so much about a person, what does Ms. Paltrow consider to be “an amazing, transportive novel”? 4) It seems that if these questions were to be answered that they would have already been included in the article.  So, why publish this at all?

Well, I may not be a Gwyneth or a Madonna, but I will agree with Gweneth’s quotes here – even if I wouldn’t state them in the same way.  I think that getting lost in a novel is one of my favorite pleasures as a human being.  There was a time where I thought I could qualify the type of novel that I would find “amazing” or “transportive,” but I’ve discovered over the past two years that so much of that criteria is subjective and fluctuates with my life and mood at the time I pick the book up and curl up with it.  I have to be careful, though.  I can use reading as a way to check out of my life, too. It’s a sure sign that I’m dealing with depression and anxiety and it’s not healthy.  Like everything else, moderation is key.  Reading my help relax, calm, and sooth, but it is not a replacement for living your life nor can it concretely address your problems.

I currently have three favorite places to read ~ the chase lounge portion of my sectional couch, my bed, and the rocking chair in my huge master bathroom.  None of those places compare to my all-time favorite place to read as a child.  There was a built in, carpeted love seat (might not be the right term) underneath my window.  I used to sit there between the window and the curtains and read for hours there.  It really was a wonderful place to get lost in Little House on the Prarie, Little Women, Nancy Drew, and Trixie Belden.

I am always curious to find out what other people enjoy reading.  I do think the choices people make say something about who they are, or at least why they choose to read.  I would never hold a person’s literary choices against them.  As for me, I will read just about anything that doesn’t fall into the science fiction/fantasy/horror genres.  My favorite genres, however, are historical fiction, gothic fiction, and assorted classics.  If I were to be exiled on an island for the rest of my life and could only bring one book with me, it would be Gone With the Wind.  Hands down and with no regrets.

I don’t have a great deal of personal experience with book clubs, but I will say that I’ve enjoyed my attempts at on-line book clubs.  I’m not recovering from a divorce (do you think that Madonna is really suffering about this other than the hit to her bottom line?), but working with Rusty Weston and starting the Historical Fiction Lovers book club on Facebook has really been enjoyable to me.  I’m in the middle of Soul Catcher by Michael White, the February book of the month and I’m looking forward to sharing it with all those who want to participate.

What do you think about what Gwyneth has to say?  Where are your favorite places to read now and in the past?  What types of books do you love?  Although I wouldn’t object to Madonna or Gwyneth stopping by to answer my questions, I’m much more interested in your answers.

I am in Las Vegas this week for a health care related conference at Caesers Palace.  This is my third trip to Sin City in the last 2 and a half years.  My last visit, you may recall, was in June.  Every time I’ve come here, I’ve wanted to go to downtown Las Vegas to the Golden Nugget.  My paternal grandmother would bring us back decks of cards from there as gifts from her trips.  I’ve wanted to go where she went.  She loved to gamble, so playing the slots is something that always reminds me of her (I wish I had a picture of her that I could post…).  This time, I made good on that wish.

My coworker, her husband, and I took a cab there and it was really nice.  It was a much more comfortable atmosphere.  So much so that I decided to do something else I’ve never done – gamble at a table.  I’ve always been nervous about it.  First of all, I typically only bet $20 total.  Since the minimum bid is usually most if not more than my entire budget, they’ve been off limits.  After purchasing a 24 ounce Swirly Girly, I saw a $5 black jack table and pounced on it.  I handed over a $20 bill got four chips in return.  Then the games begin.  I am happy to say that in my increasingly tipsy way I ended up leaving the table with $52.50!!!!!  I even got a black jack!  Later on, after my second 24 ounce Swirly Girly, I turned $5 into $15 playing video pocker.  Sizzle!  I was hot.  I’m just thankful that I had the presence of mind to keep stop.  I appear to have the happy talent of being the perfect mixture of gambling caution when I drink.

We finished the evening with a lavous meal at Vic and Anthony’s.  I had a steak with mashed potatoes.  It was by far the most delicious steak I’ve ever had in my life.  Thank God I will have eaten every meal tonight for free.  Last night cost $73.  I’m not used to spending that much on one meal – whether it’s to be expensed or not.

Tonight I’m going to take it easy, reveling in my winnings.  $42.50 isn’t much to roll around in, but I am feeling satisfied none the less.  What a great mood to be in when writing my reviews of some really good books I’ve read recently – Etta, Tomato Girl, The Guernsey Literary and the Potato Peal Pie Society.  I hope to get those all written and posted by the end of the month.

Do you ever gamble?  I’d be interested in hearing about your experiences – especially if you are a real high roller, not just one who plays like on on her blog.

Photograph from Jimmy Carter Library, Atlanta, Georgia

On January 20, 1977, I was just over 5 years old.  I was in kindergarten that year and what I remember was the parade.  What I remember is sitting on the carpet in front of the TV in our first family home in Sparta, MI.  I am not sure if I was watching the original telecast, but I could have been because I was the morning kindergarten class.  It could have been a recast, though.  At first I enjoyed watching President and Mrs. Carter walking down Pennsylvania Ave.  Then, I got very bored of listening to all the talking and wished that I could watch something else.  Today, I think Jimmy Carter’s Inaugural Parade was perfect for him.  He was and is a down to earth, good man.  Although there had already been two presidents during my then short life, Jimmy Carter is the first I remember.  Although my memories of him as president are dark due to the Iran Hostage Crisis that was to come, I am glad to have the memory of what it was like for a very young child to watch such a parade.  Because I remember Jimmy Carter’s day, I know that Emma, my 6 year old kindergartner, will remember Barack Obama’s.

Emma is in school today and I am at work.  She may get to watch the festivities at school, but just in case I’m DVRing it for later.  I would love to sit and watch Obama’s parade with her.  She will be a member of the first generation not to know an America without an African American president.  For her and her classmates, race will not be something that will keep a man from becoming the President of the United States.  When a man can become president, a man can do anything.  I hope that we don’t have to wait for Emma to watch an inaugural parade with her oldest child before the same can be said of women.

Happy Inauguration Day!  Please leave a comment to this post about your impressions of today’s inauguration.  What did you think of the speech?  The parade?  What do you think was the most memorable moment?  What did you children think?  All comments about the inauguration left today will qualify to win a copy of Clarence B. Jones’ book, What Would Martin Say?

“I Have a Dream” is one of my favorite American speeches.  It never fails to give me chill bumps.

We know what MLK said, but wouldn’t it be interesting to know what he might say himself today?  Clarence Jones, a close friend, asked himself that same question and has written a book entitled, What Would Martin Say? To give you a little more information about his book, here is some information I found on the HarperCollins website:

On April 4, 1968, the Reverend Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated on the balcony of the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee, depriving the world of one of the greatest moral authorities of the twentieth century. He was thirty-nine. King had achieved so much at such a young age that it is hard to believe that he has been gone longer than the brief time he spent on this earth. He spoke out not only on segregation and racism against African Americans, but about many other issues of the day, from police brutality and labor strikes to the Vietnam War. Given the current state of the world, we would all benefit from hearing Martin’s voice, if only he were alive today. . . .

If anyone would have insight into what Martin would say, it would be Clarence B. Jones, King’s personal lawyer and one of his closest principal advisers and confidants. Jones—now seventy-seven, has chosen the occasion of this somber anniversary to break his silence—removing the mythic distance of forty years’ time to reveal the flesh-and-blood man he knew as his friend, Martin. Jones ponders what the outspoken rights leader would say about the serious issues that bedevil contemporary America: Islamic terrorism and the war in Iraq, reparations for slavery, anti-Semitism, affirmative action, illegal immigration, and the vacuum of African American leadership. Delving deep into his memories of the man he worked closely beside, and with help from the King Institute at Stanford University and reams of formerly top-secret and now declassified FBI files, Jones offers the guidance and insight his friend and mentor would have provided for us in these troubled times.

Many Americans today know of Martin Luther King only from video clips and history books. As Jones so aptly reminds us, this legendary figure was also a warm human being full of life—and more relevant now than ever.

You can take a look inside this book by clicking here.  You can buy this book here.

What Would Martin Say? Giveaway

In celebration of current events, The Literate Housewife Review is offering a copy of this book to one reader.  Since tomorrow will probably be the first inauguration that my daughter Emma remembers, I’m going to write a post about my memories about my first inauguration – Jimmy Carter’s, which was also historic in its own way.

To enter this contest, leave a comment to that post by 11:59pm tomorrow.  In your comments, please give your thoughts about Barak Obama’s inauguration.  I will draw the winner from those comments at noon on January 21st. “Please enter me” comments will not be considered.

Good luck and Happy MLK and Inaugeration day, everyone!