Book Awards Reading Challenge COMPLETED!

I've watched everyone else post their wrap up but then I realized that I too have completed this challenge. I didn't stick with my original list but I did read 12 award winners since July 2007. I enjoyed all of the books for various reasons; some for the writing, some because they made me think, some were just plain inspiring. Here is my list, in order of favorite on down:

Atonement

To Kill a Mockingbird

Beowulf

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch

The Bronze Bow

In the Heart of the Sea

The Age of Innocence

The Old Man and the Sea

Shen of the Sea

Adam of the Road

The Complete Stories of Flannery O'Connor

Love in the Time of Cholera

Review: In the Heart of the Sea

In the Heart of the Sea
by Nathaniel Philbrick
278 pages

Like the Donner Party, the men of the Essex could have avoided disaster, but this does not diminish the extent of the men's sufferings, or their bravery and
extraordinary discipline.

I'm not a fan of non-fiction generally. It takes me twice as long to read it than fiction and it is usually boring to boot. At least that is what I used to say. I am slowly being drawn to it as I come across well written, interesting books, like this one. It still took me twice as long to read it but it was certainly not boring.

In the Heart of the Sea is the story of the whaleship Essex, the tale that was the inspiration for Moby Dick. The Essex was a Nantucket whaleship that was attacked by a whale. After it sank, the crew of 20 men lived in three small whaleboats, slowly starving to death, then sustaining themselves on the bodies of their dying shipmates. They were 93 days at sea before the 8 surviving crew members were rescued.

Philbrick's writing is very well done. And his knowledge of Nantucket history and its booming whaling industry in the early 1800s are immense. This is clearly his field of expertise. His passion for it shines through the text. But I do have one complaint about the writing. At some point someone must have advised Philbrick to interrupt his quotes, like in this example: "The ship rode over them as buoyantly as a seagull," Nickerson claimed, "without taking onboard one bucket of water." In a book full of original source quotes, every single quote is written in this manner. It's not bad English but it does become a distraction about halfway through. I found myself looking for an uninterrupted quote. It is like the familiar quark of a friend or family member. Like the way I play with my hair when I get nervous. He may not be aware that he does it to such a degree. Or he may do it on purpose to add action to the writing. All I know is that it is so abundant that I couldn't help but to notice it and it took something away from the story to be so aware of this tendency.

The story is very well researched. There are 40 pages of Notes and 12 pages of Select Bibliography. Philbrick compares the Essex crew's experience to many many similar experiences at each point. He doesn't just tell what happened but why it may have happened that way and what was likely the motivation of all involved. He interprets the situations from different angles allowing the reader to sympathise with each person. He really did a fabulous job of laying it all bare without becoming a harsh judge.

The topics of starvation and cannibalism is dealt with in the second half of the book. Again, Philbrick was well researched and matter-of-fact about them but ultimately didn't lay out any moral judgments. Whatever the reader's position on the topic of cannibalism, you are free to have your view and yet to understand what and why the crew did what they did. If you are sensitive to this type of thing then you might think twice about reading this book. Especially the description of the states of starvation can be a bit grueling. I found the whole book to be very interesting but this was the one area I struggled the most with anxiety. It wasn't completely gross but it was handled with the same honesty as the section in the first half of the book describing the dissection of a whale.

A couple of connections were made for me from my recent reading. Ernest Shackleton is held up as a comparison of leadership styles in disastrous adventures. And Nathaniel Bowditch's American Practical Navigation is referred to throughout. Also, the references to Melville's Moby Dick actually made me think, ever so briefly, that I may want to look through it again. Of course I quickly corrected my thinking on that point and simply enjoyed that I did in fact know of what the book was talking about. But it sparked in me an interest to learn more about some of the other references. I will likely read The Mutiny on the Bounty soon because it is so heavily referenced.

So there it is. If you have a somewhat stronger constitution and an interest in the paths men will take to overcome danger and disaster then you will very likely find this book extremely interesting.

BTW, In the Heart of the Sea won the National Book Award for non-fiction in 2000, making this the 11th award winner read for the Book Awards Reading Challenge. And this concludes my commitment to the Seafaring Challenge. Of the 4 titles I read (Carry On, Mr. Bowditch; Endurance; The Old Man and the Sea; and In the Heart of the Sea) it's hard to say which has been my favorite. They have all been good and so very different but with the common theme of the sea bringing them all together. I can think of about 10 more books on my shelves that would fit into this theme as well that I may have to seek out when I'm in need of an adventure. One thing I've learned is that the ocean is an unpredictable entity making for very interesting adventures.

Review: The Old Man and the Sea

The Old Man and the Sea

by Ernest Hemingway

127 pages

First Sentence:

He was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf Stream and he had gone
eighty-four days now without taking a fish.

This is the fairly mellow tale of an old fisherman who is trying to do what he was born to do: fish. Without a catch in 84 days, he is now being called "salao, which is the worst form of unlucky." But as he sets off on his 85th day, he is determined that it will be a lucky day. He is sure he will be catching a large fish this time.

This book moves at a leisurely pace in a stream-of-conscienceness way. The old man, being alone, thinks to himself and occasionally talks to himself too. The reader witnesses the old man's mental struggles with loving his fish while he also knows he must kill it. The agonies he goes through to catch the fish and then to protect it for the long trip home feel real.

It is about dreams fulfilled but at a cost. It is about a man's struggle with adversity. I am afraid that the simplicity of the story is hiding a much larger picture than I was able to grasp. It didn't win the Pulitzer Prise in 1953 because of its plot alone. It has a genuine quality about it. You believe this is the story of a real fisherman in the Gulf Stream. Largely uneducated, simple, loves fishing and the sea, content with his lot in life. I think the best description for it is pleasantly simple.

Reading The Old Man and the Sea counts toward the Book Awards Challenge and the Seafaring Challenge.

Review: Atonement

Atonement
by Ian McEwan
351 pages
First Sentence:

The play-- for which Briony had designed the posters, programs and tickets,constructed the sales booth out of a folding screen tipped on its side, and lined the collection box in red crepe paper--was written by her in a two-day
tempest of composition, causing her to miss a breakfast and a lunch.

The line on the bottom of the front cover says "A beautiful and majestic fictional panorama." And it's true. This may be one of the most beautifully written books I've ever read. Which is not to say pleasant. The subject matter, adult themes and the violence of war, are certainly difficult to get through at times. But they are all a necessary part of the journey.

As I neared the last 100 pages of the book, I was suddenly seized with a terrible fear: that no matter what happened at the end, there would be nothing more to read. I have never experienced this sensation before. I had to put the book down that night because I was paralysed with the thought of it being over. Even now I am considering picking it back up to reread it right away. Unfortunately I have promised the book to a friend and I have a few books to read to complete one more reading challenge. It will just have to wait.

*WARNING* possible spoilers
Briony is the fanciful 13 year old who witnesses a scene that she doesn't understand. She misinterprets what is happening and falsely accuses an innocent young man of a heinous crime. The man is given the option to be freed from prison in order to serve as a soldier in WWII, where his only goal and comfort is to survive to get back to the woman who loves him. In the meantime, Briony has grown up and realises the full extent of her deed.

I found the settings to be very telling as to the states of mind of each the characters. The near ruin of the family estate in the first half of the book mirrors the breakdown of the inner state of each character in their turn. Briony is outgrowing the childish world she has always existed in. Cecilia and Robbie both are outgrowing the carefree friendship of a lifetime as playmates for the more complicated position of lovers. The family is breaking down as the father is away from home nearly continually and the mother is menaced by migraines and disappointment in her children.

The second half of the book is set in the throws of war. Robbie, Cecilia and Briony all lose the last threads of innocence as they witness the terrors of gruesome death all around, Robbie as a soldier and Cee and Briony as nurses. And believe me, the words paint a grueling picture. I won't say anything more about the story as I don't want to ruin it for anyone else.



That would be the poster for the movie that was finally widely released over the weekend. And I watched it last night. Now the book is predominately introspective so I wasn't sure how that would translate onto film but, being nominated for 7 Golden Globes, I figured that they must have done a pretty good job of it. They did. The movie was just as much a "beautiful and majestic fictional panorama" as the book was. My husband pointed out how heavily imaged it was. More story is told through pictures than through dialogue. It was beautiful and uncomfortable in exactly the same way as reading it had been. If you have the chance to see this in the theater, smuggle in some tissues and forgo the buttered popcorn. It's hard to wipe away tears with salt and oil on your fingers.

Review: Carry On, Mr. Bowditch

Carry On, Mr. Bowditch
by Jean Lee Latham
251 pages
First Sentence:

Nat lay very still in the dark, trying to stay awake until his big brother, Hab, went to sleep.

Thus begins the story of Mr. Bowditch, the young American who wrote the definitive book of navigation during the time of President Washington. Nathaniel Bowditch was recognized as a math whiz at a very young age but was pulled out of school when he was 12 to serve an indentureship because the family was too poor to feed so many mouths. Along the way he was given some great advice that helped him to continue in his personal studies. He taught himself Latin, then French, then Spanish. He learned the particulars of navigation and then taught it to his crew aboard ship, making note of how he had to explain it so as to be understood by men with little or no education. He knew from experience that education gave men the ability to transcend their family backgrounds and current poverty. It was free but it gave endless benefits. Mr. Bowditch led a hard life but he never let it discourage him from continuing his own self education or helping those around him to improve their lives.

On the back cover of the book is this excerpt:

When Jean Lee Latham was told she couldn't possibly write an interesting
biography about a "human calculating machine,' she set out to do just that. She studied mathematics, astronomy, oceanography and seamanship beginning at the Junior High School level and "working up to Bowditch." ... Carry On, Mr. Bowditch further proves a contention of hers that a mathematician can be human and interesting.

I too believe that every life has an interesting story to tell. And I too believe that education is a key to a better life. This story was interesting and fun. It was positive and encouraging. I very much enjoyed it and recommend it for anyone 10 and older. It's just the kind of kiddie lit I like to read.

This was my first completed novel for the Seafaring Challenge, the 5th selection for the Newbery Award Challenge (winner for 1956), and could count for the Book Awards Challenge as well.

Review:The Complete Stories of Flannery O'Connor

If you are interested in a much better review(that is, a review of a much better book) head over to the Book Awards Reading Challenge site for my review of The Complete Stories of Flannery O'Connor. There was much to think about with this work.

Review:The Bronze Bow

The Bronze Bow
by Elizabeth George Speare
254 pages
First Sentence:
A boy stood on the path of the mountain overlooking the sea.

Daniel is a boy of 18 who pledges to destroy the Roman rule over his naive land of Galilee after witnessing the death of his father at the hands of Roman soldiers. He is a Zealot who has joined the band of robbers who live in the mountains, pillaging the village to amass goods "for the cause." Along his journey he meets and listens to Jesus but doesn't understand his message. When his closes friend is taken captive and the head of the band of robbers refuses to do anything about it Daniel attempts to fight the Romans himself with a few youths from the town. In the face of what feels like defeat Daniel learns the valuable lesson that Jesus has for him.

This book reads very fast for it's size. I was endeared to Daniel for all he has had to suffer. I rooted for him as he tried to determine what was the right path. I watched him mature in the way most young people mature, through the hard knocks of life. Jesus' message, while personal for Daniel, is a good message for many of us struggling in the world. Each of us has our own sacrifices to make. Until we make them for ourselves we cannot hope to serve God effectively. This story seemed very plausible and was heartwarming and encouraging.

While the book involves Jesus and some Scripture it is not about them. It is about Daniel and how he grows into manhood. I didn't think it preachy but being a christian I cannot have a completely unbiased viewpoint. If you are an Atheist you probably won't bother to read it. But if you are just someone who hasn't given God a lot of thought but you care about self-improvement then you can be encouraged by this book too.

I read this as my 4th book for the Newbery Challenge and the Book Awards Reading Challenge. I'm sure glad I did. Other works by Speare that are good reading are Calico Captive, The Witch of Blackbird Pond(another Newbery winner) and The Sign of the Beaver.

Review:The Age of Innocence

The Age of Innocence
by Edith Wharton
321 pages
First Sentence:

On a January evening of the early seventies, Christine Nilsson was singing Faust at the Academy of Music in New York.

It's a bit of a boring introduction sentence, especially since the book is neither about Christine Nilsson or the Academy of Music, but Edith Wharton likes to display "pop NY culture" in her novels, perhaps as a way of saying, "Hey, I'm one of one Old NY. I know your trends and tastes." Edith Wharton was born into New York's elite. And she despised it and what it represented.

Our story opens with the formal announcement of the engagement of Newland Archer and his beloved, May Welland, and the introduction of a would be scandal, May's cousin Countess Ellen Olenska's recent fleeing from her dastardly husband. We never find out what exactly her husband has done but it is common knowledge that he is a scoundrel and she had every right to leave to protect herself. While everyone concedes that Ellen is not to blame, society has a hard time accepting her boldness in desiring a divorce(to leave is all right but to divorce is not allowed). As Ellen is completely different than Newland's native Old New York he soon falls madly in love with her. He then must chose between love and duty.

I can't say much about Wharton's ideology without giving away the plot. The ending was a little puzzling at first(as seems to be her trademark) but with a little analysis it becomes a story that is rich with moral guidance. After reading some of Hermione Lee's thick biography about Wharton I can see that she may have been writing these novels to speak to herself as much as society. She struggled in a loveless marriage for many many years before divorcing. There was at least one man to whom she was extremely close to both before the divorce and after. There was also an affair at one point. Edith's life was very unsatisfying and depressing except for her writing.

This was the first book I've completed for the Reading the Author Challenge. It's also on my list for the Book Awards Reading Challenge. I recently purchased Summer and Short Stories by Wharton. I will try to read at least one Wharton book a month.

BTW, the picture at the top is on the cover of my B&N version of The Age of Innocence. I couldn't find a picture of the cover so I looked up the artwork(I love those colors!). I think I have found a new artist to admire. James Tissot's work is full of the beauty of the Victorian age. I will be asking for a book of his artwork for Christmas. It will snuggle nicely next to Leighton, Renoir and Waterhouse.