I am so far on page 3, but I feel confident this is going to be good. You know that one episode of the Twilight Zone with Burgess Meredith? Of course I am so far on page 3, but I feel confident this is going to be good. You know that one episode of the Twilight Zone with Burgess Meredith? Of course you do. I have long considered myself to be very fortunate, because I don't wear glasses to read. Not smug, just lucky and I know it. But, so, the library was closing for everyone's safety, but they gave the community two days warning, and I was not the only one walking out with as much as I could carry. Because who knows when they can safely reopen, and I do not want to run short, ignoring the literally thousands of books already in the house. It's not hoarding toilet paper, but it certainly is a hedge against an uncertain future. I still don't require reading glasses. But not only am I fortunately able to keep my job (and I know how lucky I am in this regard, too) but I have even more work. I can't look at Twitter any more: it is nothing but people feeling isolated and bored and I sympathize, really. But also I am jealous as all hell because there are so many great books all around me and I now have less time to read.
***
Reading was hard, not because of the book, the book is good, but because finding the interest in reading, rather than devouring news, or at least, trying to make old friends laugh on Twitter. And then I sit down to read the last thirty pages, and there's only nine, with a bunch of other stuff, stuff which is no doubt fascinating, but doesn't figure in my calculations of story-to-wrap-up, and maybe the mystery wasn't all that, but apparently I misread something or there was a typo, so this big twist was never a thing, and , uh. Struggle bus, toot, toot.
But you know what I got out of this? How much Chabon loves his wife and kids. Which was almost certainly not the point.
If i have coherent thoughts later I will add them, but it could be 16 months, so don't wait.
Cold weather makes me want to read about colder weather; dog sledding has all those appealing doggies. I am just stunned by Braverman's fearlessness.
Cold weather makes me want to read about colder weather; dog sledding has all those appealing doggies. Happily this was lying about the house waiting for me.
Be warned: there isn't nearly as much dog sledding as I would have liked. Unlike say Winterdance (a beloved memoir with lots about training and such) the sport isn't the point. The point is loving the cold and the Northwoods. The point is that nature isn't even a tiny bit as scary as the men a teen girl/young woman has to put up with.
The fearlessness is in the revelation which astounds me, even as so many women are speaking up about sexual assaults and harassment they have withstood. Each such revelation astounds me.
Yes, I know that the victim isn't to blame, but I also know the abuse and indignity that is heaped upon anyone telling her experience. To dredge it up, to spend years remembering, and then to share that with others: it is a strength and a heroism I can't begin to imagine. Someday may we all be so brave.
Nearly two decades later, I'm reading it again, along side Natasha who is reading it for class. They were all assigned 1995 February 1
***
2013 March 27
Nearly two decades later, I'm reading it again, along side Natasha who is reading it for class. They were all assigned mushers to follow during the Iditarod, as part of the project.
So now my beloved MIL, the Spouse, me, and my fifth grader have all read it. None of us have any desire to do such a thing, but Paulsen has written a gripping narrative of his time training and competing. There's a great deal of humor in the beginning, with a steep learning curve since he decides to train for the race having absolutely no idea what he's doing. And no one, really, to learn from. The race itself is a number of thrilling tales by Jack London told from a modern mindset. He describes beautiful scenery, insane cold, the hazards of mountains and sea ice, the people he meets as volunteers and mushers, and the amazing dogs themselves.
Highly recommended to pretty much everyone. ...more
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