Summer Reading!

With the beginning of August and the passing of my birthday, it's a heads up that summer is winding down. For the past two months I have been reading like never before. I've read anything from non-fiction to classic Russian literature. Here are just a few of my favorites that I've read this summer. Number one of course is my favorite!

1) Gut Symmetries by Jeanette Winterson: Why read 50 Shades of Grey when Jeanette Winterson exists in this world? Her writing explains the depth of passion, sensuality, sexual desire and the many complicated depictions of love that I don't believe any other author has been able to do before. Simply put, her writing is beautiful and in this novel it is top notch. This fiction book revolves around a "love triangle," a love between a husband and his adulteress and his wife and his adulteress. It is most definitely different, but nothing short of amazing. Anything written by Jeanette Winterson is worthy to be read, but this novel in particular is a gem. Her writing is pure inspiration for me. 

 

 

2) Crime and Punishment by Fyodor Dostoyevsky: I should have read this novel ages ago and it was a shame I didn't. When I asked my boss, also a Russian history professor, about Russian literature he handed me a fat hard cover; Crime and Punishment was the first novel in this 1,000 page book and so I began with that. Written in the late 1800's, this novel is surprisingly simple to read (possibly because of the translator). It was a bit longer than perhaps it needed to be, but still, it was thought provoking and really did give insight as to the Russian lifestyle of the low and middle class in Russian society at that time. The author also gave plenty for the reader to think about in terms of the philosophy behind guilt, who deserves to be considered criminals and catching a perpetrator.



3) The Himmler Brothers by Katrin Himmler: Do you know anything about WWII, the Nazi party and the Holocaust? Belonging to a Jewish family, that did lose decedents in this genocide, I was practically raised with the knowledge of the Holocaust. When I saw that Katrin Himmler had written a book about her great uncle, Heinrich Himmler and her family, I immediately bought the novel. The translation (since she wrote originally in German) is a bit botched at times, but nonetheless this is a fascinating read. It forces the reader to realize how "normal" of a family such as the Himmlers decades before the war, could have grown into such Nazi promoters. Also, Katrin Himmler wrote about the aftermath of WWII and how many Nazi's, such as her grandmother, had only concerned themselves about their rough road and the detriments of being defeated. They seemed to ignore the fact that they certainly assisted in and loved a man who deliberately found ways to torture and kill six million defenseless human beings.

Below is the author, Katrin Himmler and her great uncle, Heinrich Himmler.

 

 

                                                             

4) What is this thing Called Love by Kim Addonizio: This book of poetry that I found not only beautiful in language but also beautiful in detail. My favorite aspect of poetry is the use of imagery and this author definitely took advantage of the tool. Her poems at the very beginning were strong, powerful and yet intricately simple (if there is such a thing). It is a must read, not only for writers, but for anyone. Her writing is easy to understand and her message is direct and heartfelt.

 

5) Last but not least....Harry Potter by J.K. Rowling: I debated even putting the series on the list, but really, I could not resist. After letting dust collect on the series as they sat atop my book shelf, I finally decided to reread them all. It has been one of the most enjoyable experiences, truthfully. It may sound corny, but it's almost as if I'm reading them for the first time. Although the writing isn't as "grand" as the other books on this list or that I've read this summer, I commend anyone able to create an entire world that gives millions of readers pure excitement. Laugh if you want, but J.K. Rowling has taught me a lot about various useful writing techniques and her writing is much more than a children's fantasy. 



Maybe your Professors ARE Smarter than you Think!

Have you ever had a professor, sat through their class for an entire semester, critiqued their teaching style and judged them when it came to...well, almost anything? Because I am that type of person. I judge. And I especially judge my professors, holding them to a higher degree than most, since it is them I am supposed to learn from. Since high school I have done this. I love learning and believe it is one of the most important aspects of a person's life. To me, in order to learn, everyone must have a teacher who knows. I've had my fair share of cruddy teachers who didn't know squat and didn't care about teaching anything but their personal lives. But, because of my previous bad experiences I've judged too harshly, especially with regards to my graduate professors.

Since I am a creative writing major my professors are also concentrated in that area. I have the opportunity to read their published work. For about a year into my graduate program reading my professors' publications never occurred to me before. Then I read one of my poetry professor's book of poetry this past winter break and now I am reading a professor's non-fiction novel.

As I swipe (on my kindle) through the pages of this book, I am disappointed in myself for being so judgemental when it comes to my professors. Emily Raboteau was a fiction workshop professor of mine last fall. Prior to taking her class I was enrolled in fiction workshops with other professors and expected their teaching style. It took me quite a long time to adjust to her way of teaching; not because it was unique or odd, just because I was used to something a bit different. Instead of adapting I grew quiet in her class and chose not to participate as much in order to avoid my discomfort. I judged. And I stewed in my judgement.

Her non-fiction book, Searching for Zion: The Quest for Home in the African Diaspora, is an amazing accomplishment. I am only half way through, so I cannot give a complete review, but Emily is quite brilliant. She shares personal, vulnerable feelings with the world in order to connect with readers and pull them into her story with unique details. I won't spoil it, so in general I'll just state that although she and I aren't and haven't been in too many similar circumstances, I still sense the importance of her cause and share the general sentiments that she writes of. Also, she travels quite a bit and to locations that I don't have the guts to visit. I admire her passion for the truth, for her devotion to herself and her courage throughout. She is inspirational, while maintaining a realistic view of the world. The use of language, simple and yet precise and strong structure has greatly impacted my own writing. By reading this book, I have gained more knowledge about religions and regions in the world that I had known little about prior. I am shamed that I didn't take advantage of her expertise while in her class. I wish I spent more time speaking with her about my own novel, her opinions and her own writings.

So the moral of the story? Don't judge a book by it's cover. So lame, I know. But in this case most definitely true. Teachers have lives outside the classrooms, their creativity extending further than my own talent, and in my naivety I presumed incorrectly. I ordered three other books written by professors in my program and hope to write reviews for each. I can never stop learning and I am grateful that my program and speciality allows me to simply order from a bookstore my professors' novel or book of poetry and have them guide me even when not in class.

Below is a link to Emily's website and to Amazon where you can order her book.

Emily's Website

Buy Her Book on Amazon