Because We're Kids- Lucy Reed and Bill Evans

Just because we're kids
Because we're sort of small
Because we're closer to the ground
And you are much bigger by the pound
You have no right
You have no right
To push and shove us little kids around

Just because your throat
Has got a deeper voice
And lots of wind to blow it out
At little kids who don't dare shout
You have no right
You have no right
To force and beat us little kids about

Just because you've got whiskers on your face to shave
You treat us like a slave
So what? It's only hair
Just because you wear your wallet near your heart
You think you're twice as smart
You know, that isn't fair

But we'll grow up some day
When we do, I pray
We won't just grow in size and sound
And just be bigger by the pound
I'd hate to grow
Like some I know
Who push and shove the little kids around

Just because you've got whiskers on your face to shave
You treat us like a slave
So what? It's only hair
Just because you wear a wallet near your heart
You think you're twice as smart
You know, that isn't fair

But we'll grow up some day
When we do, I pray
We won't just grow in size and sound
And just be bigger by the pound
I'd hate to grow
Like some I know
Who push and shove the little kids around
Just because we're kids

Music by Frederick Hollander
Lyrics by Theodor Seuss Geisel (aka Dr. Seuss)

Reading as escapism [ The Geneva Option by Adam Lebor]

I am at this point struggling to finish Adam Lebor's The Geneva Option. Not because it is not a good book. It is compellingly written and easy to read. Easy to read is one thing, easy to finish is something else. For me at least.

This is because I dislike the horrible aspects of life in my fiction. I can read a lot when it comes to history books, but I think I tend to a bit engrossed in my fiction writing and so too much explicit violence, even hinting at something terrible can pose a challenge. I have never managed to read The Kite Runner because of that. I did not manage to get past the rape scene.

But I am trying not to give up too quickly. Last year, I heard Hyperion by Dan Simmons. Brilliant book, but it was hard work for me, as it is not without its darkness. But it was worth it, and I plan to read the follow-up. That experience made me realise that sometimes it is worth skipping a few pages (though I am of the anal variety, who tries not to do that as it seems like cheating).

So I am just taking a break from The Geneva Option. It is, if nothing else, fulfilling the requirement in the reading challenge I have set myself for 2017 to read a book set in Geneva (one of five cities in the world I have lived in). And I am less than 100 pages from the end. Furthermore I hope that it ends well. I know the hero survives (to be the hero of two follow-up books), but I am worried about two other characters. At the very least one of them will die, if not both. I will try to come back to the book when I am done, as it is actually quite interesting, seen in light of current developments within the United Nations. But in the mean time, I will either read one of the other books I am reading simultaneously or bite the bullet. Which is really an ironic idiom.

Postscript: After a few hours, I resumed reading and was relieved. At least in the scene in question, justice prevailed. And that reminded me of a line from the science fiction novel "Calculating God" by Robert J. Sawyer. The line sums up perfectly why I read fiction, well, certain genres of fiction. The alien Hollus, asks the human Thomas Jericho why humans like to read crime, and this is his answer:

"No, no," I said. "You've got it wrong. We don't enjoy reading about killing; we enjoy reading about justice - about a criminal, no matter how clever, being proved guilty of the crime."

THAT is why I read. In the real world, very often justice does not prevail, but it can in fiction. Hey, whatever works for me, right?

Post-postscript: So I managed to finish the book today anyway. It ended a bit abruptly, but nevertheless, justice prevailed. Some surprises (not as much death and mayhem as I expected actually). A readable thriller by any account. Interesting to me because I happen to have had a bit to do with the UN for my career (although somewhat peripherally compared to the subject matter of this book). Also interesting because in these days there is a move to increase engagement between the UN and the private sector. I am a bit disappointed that the book was good enough to warrant me reading the rest of the trilogy. Although it stands alone, there are hints as to what might come up in the next books. Then again, I was wrong about quite a bit in the book. So Adam Lebor's The Geneva Option gets at least 👍👍 out of a possible 👍👍👍👍👍, maybe two and a half.

The best books I have read since 2012

A catch up of sorts, you could say.

Since I am a list keeper, I decided to list (by year) the books I have enjoyed most, or which were noteworthy in some say, since my last post 2012. I have read a few books since then.

2013
This earth of mankind by Pramoedya Ananta Toer

First of a quartet written by the Indonesian writer Pramoedya Ananta Toer. He has spent time in prison as a political dissident. I try to read books related to the countries I travel to and came over this Buru quartet in that connection. Good book, and I have the other three books.

This is how by Augusten Burroughs
One of those books that I picked up somewhere, an airport I think. But made a profound impact. If only in the article about losing a child. I have no children, but I have a friend who has lost two to a genetic disorder. The book made me realise how judgemental I was about her "not getting over it" as it were.

Rainy brain, sunny brain by Elaine Fox
Good news, turns out I am an optimist not a pessimist. If a somewhat cynical optimist, nevertheless, an optimist. I was reading it around the time I had fallen for a guy who got my attention by being very honest, but who turned out to be less honest than advertised, even if he was trying to be kind. (As I write this I realise that men and honesty is a thing for me).

The introvert's way by Sophia Dembling
Seems I learnt a lot that year.

2014

I re-read Harper Lee's To kill a mockingbird. And it was fantastic. Without a doubt, it will always be a favourite. Was starting to realise that injustice/justice is an obsession of mine.

Ann Cleeve's Raven Black was one of the best crime novels I have read in eons. I was really surprised by the ending, and that is rare. (The last time I can remember being that surprised was Agatha Christie's The murder of Roger Ackroyd.

Finally read Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice. Indeed, classics have never been my strong suit. (At writing I am reading Jane Eyre for the first time). Pride and Prejudice is deserving of its iconic status.

Imago by Octavia Butler marked the start of what has slowly, but surely become an interest in science fiction since then. It was disturbing to an extent, but also fascinating.

2015
So this year I got my first literary heroine as far as I can recall. Alex by Pierre Lemaitre. One strong woman. Highly recommended.

THE book of the year (read in connection with my Master's studies) - Wendy Brown's Undoing the demos. May be the first time I have read a book in the year it was published.

Also the year I read for the first time the Narnia chronicles by C.S. Lewis. Managed the first three in 2015 at least.

and finally, 2016:
Merchants of doubt by Naomi Oreskes and Eric M. Conway. Between this book and Undoing the demos, it will tell you a lot about how I see the world.

A line in the sand by James Barr made me realise how little I knew about the history of the Middle East.

Hyperion by Dan Simmons was a bit on the disturbing side. But I persisted and I am glad I did. And so the science fiction interest was cemented.

Coming soon: 2017 books (including the reading challenge I set myself)

Nina Balatka

by Anthony Trollope

"...old Prague, which may not be so comfortable, but which, of all cities on earth, is surely the most picturesque..."

I took my niece to Prague this summer holiday and I have to say that all the reports I heard of the city were true - it is a beautiful! I have been trying the last while to read books connected with places I travel lately. In that connection I downloaded Nina Balatka by Anthony Trollope. It is the first book of his that I have read.

I think that I have been sceptical about what I would call reading the "classics" as I seem to have assumed that they would be difficult to read. I am discovering that this has been a misapprehension. At least this book was incredibly easy to read, just simply and sweetly written. Not exactly great literature, but still lovely. In addition, quite surprising. I simply downloaded it as it was set in Prague (so simply were my ambitions). When I started reading the preface I was somewhat perturbed. A book written about a romance between a Jew and a christian. A book published in 1866. It didn't help that the preface took up the question whether the author was anti-semitic.

I forged ahead nevertheless.

My assessment - no, Anthony Trollope was no anti-semitic. To the contrary, the heroine, Nina Balatka, as pure and faultless a heroine as there ever was. Pure, but determined, even stubborn, with a wee bit of pride. Not to mention, a healthy dash of naivité as any heroine of a book from that time period should be. The hero, Anton Trendellsohn, "the Jew". How could one not understand his scepticism? Treated as they have been by the Christians? In this book it is definitely the Christians who, despite their faith, are the villians. Rebecca Loth perhaps the true heroine of the book, as the Jewish woman who also loved Anton.

Considering the obstacles this couple face I found myself almost wishing them to go their separate ways. Naïve of me, not doubt, as the book would most definitely have been a tragedy under such a fate.

My conclusion? It is a sweet and lovely read and one of many Anthony Trollopes to come. Just perfect for the end of a tiring year.

Note: the picture is from my own trip to Prague, of St. John Nepomucene or Nepomuk on the amazing Charles bridge. I knew exactly which of the 30 statues it was from the book! As we wandered across the bridge, we noted a statues where the reliefs underneath were polished from a great deal of "handling" and wondered why. Nina Balatka answered that question for me. Precisely why it is so kul to read books about the places one travels too, even novels!

What's wrong with this picture? (Morgenbladet 9-15 Nov.)

I am actually not that much of a newspaper reader. I do more headlines that actual articles. I do however subscribe to a weekly here in Norway, Morgenbladet. It is this newspaper that has been among the biggest inspirations for this blog, as hopefully I will comment on some of the stuff that I read there which I find thought provoking.

So here is one of the first of many.

On page two of the newspaper there is always an interview with someone who has been in the headlines. This week's interview is with Géza Jeszensky, the Hungarian ambassador to Norway. He is a historian and seems to have been involved in the organisation of conference, hosted by the Norwegian Centre for Studies of Holocaust and Regligious Minorities. He was then asked by the Centre to not attend the conference in question because of a sentence in a book he wrote a few years ago.

He is quite annoyed that he was not even asked to explain himself for the sentence and admits that he would probably have phrased it otherwise today.

The whopper - apparently he thinks that the source for the controversial sentence, was wikipedia.

Is it just me, or is that just a tad ironic?

"The song before it sung" by Justin Cartwright

I find blogs like She Reads Novels quite intimidating - "She" (the blogger) is clearly quite a voracious reader and also writes clear and interesting reviews. I came across her in connection with the very book that I have just finished reading - Justin Cartwright's The song before it is sung. "She" didn't enjoy it.

I, however, did. Not because the story is sensible or the characters solidly presented - by which I mean that you feel you know them. The book achieved the "lyrical" quality which I really enjoy more often that not, and which for me at any rate makes up for a lack of a clear storyline or characters.

In the end however, I found myself wondering whether the South African origins of the author in anyway influenced his choice of subject. I certainly will always carry with me that I grew up white in Apartheid South Africa. My family was not politically active, but nevertheless against. My family is not even patriotic in any sense, neither on the South African or Norwegian side. The very loyalty which is so distinct a quality in Africa fascinates me. The loyalty and sense of belong which the character Axel von Gottburg had reminds me a lot of that.

In fact there were many parallels for me between Nazi Germany and Apartheid South Africa, and the inability of some to be able to let go of their loyalty and sense of belongingness (is that a word?). The reaction to the recent article in the Economist on South Africa brought that to the fore. That is something which I do not share, but which I can, well, recognise and have some respect for really.

That is what this book tapped into for me, and a book which reverberates with something inside you is never a wasted read.

A book fulfilling its purpose

I have just finished reading Rachel Bertsche's book "MWF seeking BFF".

Just what I needed to inspire me to do something. At least when it comes to blogging (I am thus far a failed blogger, no doubt about that). However, despite my failings I refuse to believe that one is ever "too old" to develop some self-discipline and change. So about time to prove it.

I am at least a decade older than the author, but so what? I have the basics in place, when I am not slightly incapacitated by my friendlessness I am really quite outgoing! So while I may not be sure about what to do in my "real life" I am going to at least get something out of the virtual. Not quite what Bertsche has in mind, but why not?

Anyway, the point is, the book has given me some courage (at least) to maybe do something about what I have known for a very long time. Loneliness is actually quite common, and extremely difficult to admit to others. There is a bit of stigmatization attached to being lonely, as if there is something wrong with you. Maybe not.

I just realise that at this point in my life, I do not need a man in my life as much as that elusive network of friends that I have always longed for. And it is just not going to land in my lap, I am going to have to work for it. Not sure I am up for 52 friend dates :) but I just need to get out my flat and into the real world. If anyone can make it work here in the cold North, I can. (If I tell myself that enough...

Anyway, a fabulous book, which I strongly recommend to those who feel that their friend-network is wanting and for those who just need to revitalise and/or spice up their social lives (I guess...).

So between now two blogs (haha) I am going to try to if nothing else live a it more what I dream to be, as I think it will make me a more interesting friend, and that is as good a start as any.

Not exactly a GREAT new posting, but it will do as a start. One has to start somewhere.