Morsels

Howard Zinn’s A People’s History of the United States is a staple in most college’s introductory US history courses. In it, Zinn presents an alternative version of the United States focusing on our history from the view of the oppressed and overshadowed. For Zinn, history doesn’t belong to the victors.

Zinn is a Professor Emeritus in the Political Science Department at Boston University. He now has a graphic book coming out – A People’s History of American Empire. Apparently a documentary of A People’s History of the United States is also in the making.

A People's History of American Empire.
http://www.boston.com/news/nation/gallery/040108_zinncartoons/

Howard Zinn tells history, in comic form
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080404/ap_en_ot/book_review_people_s_history;_ylt=AnaaEl.i.DrzokDRz7ZnIrJREhkF

http://mrzine.monthlyreview.org/hh050408.html

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New York Times Book Review has a funny essay this week mocking the questions included in the backs of books these days – There Will Be a Quiz.

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/06/books/review/Queenan-t.html?_r=1&ref=review&oref=slogin

Often the questions drift away from the book itself, as in one I read vis-à-vis “Pride and Prejudice”: “Have you ever seen a movie version in which the woman playing Jane was, as Austen imagined her, truly more beautiful than the woman playing Elizabeth? Who doesn’t love Elizabeth Bennett?!!”

He even takes a crack at writing his own odd ball questions.

If it took Odysseus 10 years to make a short trip across a microscopic body of water, why does everyone in “The Odyssey” keep insisting he’s so smart?

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The Boston Globe released its picks for best books of 2007. I don’t want to sound critical, but it seems odd to release this in April.

http://www.boston.com/ae/books/gallery/2007_best_of/

Their picks include On Chesil Beach - Ian McEwan, Cheating at Canasta – William Trevor, and Brother, I'm Dying - Edwidge Danticat. I have to add Danticat’s memoir to my must read list.

I only read one book in the Globe’s list. For additional reading suggestions, I would recommend The Dew Breaker by Danticat or The Story of Lucy Gault by William Trevor.

On Chesil Beach

I just finished reading On Chesil Beach by Ian McEwan. This was a Christmas gift. :-D More a long short story than a novel, On Chesil Beach chronicles a newly wed couple's first married night with flashbacks on their meeting, relationship and families. It takes place in the early 1960s and illustrates the changing political, social and cultural norms of the day. As Edward and Florence start their married life, they have conflicting views of their first night together. While Edward views it with a mixture of trepidation and excitement, Florence views it with dread.

I loved Atonement, but found parts of this book a hard slog. In some parts I felt like he was just stretching a great short story into a short novel. While I thought the prose was beautiful and it was moving in parts, in other parts I felt like it was dragging.

"This is how the entire course of a life can be changed -- by doing nothing."

Oddly enough, I found this nugget after googling the Booker prize: "Ian McEwan’s short novel ‘On Chesil Beach’ causes controversy when the media claim that is a ‘novella’ and therefore not eligible for the prize."

My impatience might have had something to do with the fact I just got The Brief and Wonderous Life of Oscar Wao from the library. The clock is ticking, I jut have two weeks. The waiting list for it was incredible, so I know I probably won't be able to renew it. I'll be sure to post my thoughts on it!

http://www.ianmcewan.com/