84, Charing Cross Road & The Duchess of Bloomsbury - A Letter

Dear Helene,

It’s not proper for me to call you by your first name, without even a ‘miss’ or ‘ms’, but as I know you’re not fond of that degree of properness, I hope you’ll excuse me.

I found a copy of your delightfully charming book, 84, Charing Cross Road, as I was browsing at an op shop, and I immediately purchased it. I’d acquired a copy of it from the library some time before, and it was hard to give back, a feeling I think you know. So it was exciting to find a copy I could keep in good conscience, and how fitting that I got it second-hand for a cheap price, being the poor student that I am! It was only when I got the book home, that I realized that it also included the sequel to 84, Charing Cross Road, namely The Duchess of Bloomsbury. I’d definitely scored!

Helene, you finally made it to London!  I’m glad you got there, although it was disappointing to read your description of the empty desolate bookstore. It would’ve been such a fitting ending to have you arrive at the store you’d so long imagined, and see the shelves that housed the books, the hands that packaged your parcels; to see in it action, a word which must be one of your favourites, it fits you so well. Nevertheless, it was good to read that you finally made it to London, saw the places you wanted to see, experienced the city, met friends, and were treated as royalty. Tell me, what does it feel like to be famous? 

Your descriptions of London, the surrounding places and countryside, deepened my desire to experience it for myself one day. Perhaps I’ll have to wait until I write a book and get famous. And your reaction to making it to London: it was like you had come home, and every page, I expected to read that you’d decided to make your stay there permanent. But then you were always comparing it to your New York home. Which one felt more like home? Did you ever miss London, or go back?

I’ve now read 84, Charing Cross Road twice, and The Duchess of Bloomsbury Street  once, and I can envisage myself reading them again – perhaps curled up with a blanket with a holey woollen jumper and unfashionable slacks (yes, I wear them too), dreaming of books and knowledge, and faraway places. It’s such an uncharacteristic non-fiction story, and tells so much about you all simply through your correspondence. 

You’re unconventional, and perhaps a little explosive and self-willed at times, which a little less gin may have helped. But I have to say, Helene, the world, especially our modern age, needs more people like you. We need people who put their all into everything, who take opportunities to put a smile on someone else’s face, and who thoughtfully provide for other’s needs –from pork to pantyhose. And we could use a little more written correspondence and appreciation for quality literature too. 

Thank you for entertaining and inspiring me. All the best always,

jg

So, have you read 84, Charing Cross Road or The Duchess Bloomsbury? Do you enjoy epistolary books? What have you been reading lately?

Have A Little Faith - Book Review

Have you heard of Mitch Albom, or his popular book Tuesdays With Morrie? I read Tuesdays With Morrie earlier in the year, and really enjoyed it (I mentioned it here). So when I found out that Albom had written another true story, and that the library had it, well, I borrowed it of course. :) I had a slight hesitation about Have A Little Faith because it’s obviously a spiritual book, but I wasn’t sure if the author was a Christian, so who knew what kind of religious stuff he would be putting forward. But, I started reading, and basically devoured the whole book in a day or two.

Have a Little Faith begins when his childhood rabbi asks Mitch to take his eulogy. Mitch finds the request strange and decides he has to get to know the man before he can hope to do his eulogy when he dies. So their friendship begins. Doing business for his charities, Mitch also comes across the leader of a church in need. This pastor has a colourful past, and a passion to help others physically and spiritually. Mitch finds himself in the middle of these two stories, learning, considering, finding out more about himself, life, God, purpose, and passion. 

Have A Little Faith was a page-turning story, and had a message that made me think. It was easy to read and follow, and written in an engaging style, but it was also so much more. It’s deep, it shares knowledge, and truth, and insight. It’s satisfying, and challenging. I wish there were more books like it. It’s deeply spiritual, but it’s not preachy, it’s not in-your-face, it’s not trying to prove anything. I don’t agree with everything in there, but nothing is present as the one-and-only truth. It’s just tells the story, and you feel like a kid at grandfather’s knee, taking it all in. For example, this discussion between the author and the rabbi: 

“'You know, we have a tradition. When you go to a funeral, you’re supposed to stand by the coffin and ask the deceased to forgive anything you’ve ever done.'

He made a face.

'Personally, I don’t want to wait that long.'” (page 210)

Or this one:

“How do you not get cynical?

He [the rabbi] stopped.

'There is no room for cynicism in this line of work.'

But people are so flawed. They ignore ritual, they ignore faith – they even ignore you. Don’t you get tired of trying?

He studied me sympathetically. Maybe he realized what I was really asking: Why me?

'Let me answer with a story,’ he said. ‘There’s this salesman, see? And he knocks on a door. The man who answers says, "I don’t need anything today."

'The next day, the salesman returns.'

'“Stay away,” he is told.

'The next day, the salesman is back.

'The man yells, “You again! I warned you!” He gets so angry, he spits in the salesman’s face.

'The salesman smiles, wipes the spit with a handkerchief, then looks to the sky and says, “Must be raining.”

'Mitch, that’s what faith is. If they spit in your face, you say it must be raining. But you still come back tomorrow.'” (page 47)

Or this excerpt from a sermon by Pastor Convington:

“'The same thing with Paul… They saw him… they couldn’t believe that this man’s from Jesus, because they looked at his past-'

‘That’s right!’

‘They just looked at his past. And when we’re still looking at ourselves through our past, we’re not seeing what God has done. What He can do! We’re not seeing the little things that happen in our lives-‘

‘Tell it now.’” (page 192)

I can't portray it accurately, or tell you exactly why it’s so amazing, but basically: Have A Little Faith is excellent; read it first chance you get! And then tell me what you think. :) In the meantime, have you read any of Mitch Albom’s books? What books have you been enjoying lately? (And can you believe 2015 is almost over?!)

#DesertedIslandReads

So, Joy at Fullness of Joy, tagged me for the #DesertedIslandReads tag. The idea is this: you’re on a deserted island. What ten books would you want to have with you? I’m terrible at picking favourites, but the challenge will be good for. So, here are ten books I might like with me on a deserted island:

1. The Bible. This is kind of obvious, but the more I read the Bible, the more I realize that it is amazing book. The best thing about it is that it’s exhaustless. You can read it all your life, and still find new things; perfect deserted island reading material.

2. A blank journal. This doesn’t really count but I wouldn’t want to be without it. I’m sure if I suddenly landed on a deserted island I would have a lot of thoughts to process, and adventures to record. I would also want to preserve all the memories of my left-behind family and friends. 

3. Steps to Christ. This is just a short devotional-type book, which I’ve recently found helpful and encouraging. It’s good both when I’m feeling low, unspiritual, and when I’m feeling on top of the world.

4. The Heavenly Man. I’ve only read this book once, and that a few years ago, but it was really amazing and inspiring; a reminder that even if we come to trials that are so, so hard, God will be with us through them. In that way, it’s encouraging. 

5. A holocaust story. I’m tossing up between Tales from the Secret Annexe, Ellie, and Between Shades of Gray. It’s weird to think I need a holocaust story. Of course I don’t, but they remind me that my life is not that hard, and it is possible to make it through even terrible circumstances.

6. Unbroken. The same reason goes for this one – it's a reminder of the resilience of the human spirit. Plus, it’s a riveting story.

7. Just Thirteen. Now you must really be questioning me: a children’s book? A far-too-ideal story? I know, but I have lots of memories attached to this book. It’s like my happy carefree childhood book. I got it before I was thirteen, and I’ve read it at least five times since then. I know the wording of what comes next in the story, and some sentences come to mind in everyday life. In a way, I guess it’s also the book that made me dream of wanting to write. 

8. Unspoken Love. Again, this one has memories connected to it. It was the first book that made me cry, it was the first book I shared with my Grandad, and it was the first book to prove to me that a true story could be just as well written, and even more compelling, than fiction.  

9. A book to really get me thinking, and challenge me, something deep and powerful. My favourite topics for these kind of books are: what makes people the way they are, and why things are the way they are, and psychological stuff, especially connected to the influences of the Bible and God, and just those books that explain everyday things in connection with everything else in a way that makes sense. (Quite unlike that sentence.) At the moment, The Book That Made Your World is doing that for me. It’s introduced new thoughts, and explained things I see all around.

10. Some new big fat volume. There’s nothing like old favourites, but there’s also something special about a book you haven’t read before. It’s an adventure into the unknown. Not knowing how long I’d be on this deserted island, it would be good to have a chunky new book.  

Anyway, that’s the ten that I came up with! It’s by no means conclusive, as I’m sure if you asked me in a few months’ time, I would give totally different answers. It’s a good exercise, but hopefully I'm never faced with having to live life on a deserted island with ten books to be my only companions. :)

So what do you think? Have you read any of the books I listed? What books should I pick for the last two? And, if you’re reading this, consider yourself tagged! I’d enjoy reading which books you can't live without! :)

I am David - Book Review

I am David. “That looks interesting,” I thought after reading the back cover. That’s one thing about shopping at an op shop where books cost 20c each – you grab everything that looks interesting, because there isn’t much to lose. I didn’t recognize the cover, but I realized later I’d read up about I am David before, and marked it as ‘to-read’. 

I am David is the story of a boy called David. (I know, surprise!) He grew up in a prison camp, under the guard of them, and he doesn’t know how, or why, he got there. He gleans pieces of information from other prisoners who come and go, but he’s trained himself not to think. His exposure though, means he can speak and understand several languages. One day, David escapes, and begins a trek across countries, following directions given to him. Along the way, he has some narrow escapes, and several adventures. All the time though, he’s worried that they are just behind him, and he works carefully to be as inconspicuous as possible. He also tries to remember everything he can about life in the outside world, wishing he had paid more attention to what the other prisoners talked about. But he manages, and he learns fast. Along the way he also learns who he is, and where he is going. 

David is a deep thinker, and some of his insights are quite profound. He often remembers statements someone called Johannes told him, and he seeks to live by them. For example:

 “But Johannes had said, ‘Politeness is something you owe other people, because when you show a little courtesy, everything becomes easier and better. But first and foremost it’s something you owe yourself. You are David. And if you never allow other people to influence what you’re really like, then you’ve something no one can take from you – not even they. Never mind what others are like – you must still be David. Do you understand what I mean?’” p92

To me, that is a powerful sentence: “If you never allow other people to influence what you’re really like, then you’ve something no one can take from you.” David lives by that rule, and that’s why he can say, I am David.

Because David has grown up in a dull prison camp, he knows nothing else. Things we take for granted, he sees as wonderful, and worth examining and exclaiming over. He’d never heard music before, he’d never seen a bed before. And he couldn’t understand how children didn’t like being clean or going to school, or appreciate the fine meals. 

David’s relationship with his God of the green pastures and still waters is so sweet. Part way along his journey, David decides he needs a God. So he thinks about all the gods he’s heard about, and finally settles on one another David had once mentioned – a God of the green pastures and still waters. David talks to God, and asks for help when he runs into trouble. Then David feels he ought to repay God for all the help He’s given, so he does something for God.  Along the way, David learns more about His God. 

I like the way it’s written too: every paragraph contains so much; there are no fillers. I am David was actually originally translated from Danish. This book was also good, because although it is set during the Second World War, and although David has been in a prison camp, it doesn’t describe much of the cruelty and violence. So it’s suitable for younger readers, or as an introduction to holocaust stories. It’s a quick, easy read, and yet profound; I know I will be reading it again. So, I recommend you try it out!

Between Shades of Gray - Book Review

 It's been a while since I've read a really good book. I borrowed Between Shades of Gray from the library almost two months ago, and it happily resided on my bedside table. That is, until last week, when I realized that I couldn't renew it again, and I was going to have to return it to the library this week. So I read it. And then, of course, I wondered why on earth I had taken so long to get around to reading such a good book.

Between Shades of Gray is the story of a Lithuanian girl and her family during early World War II, when Stalin and the Soviet Union were 'purging' their territory, particularly the three Baltic nations: Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. Lina and her family are evicted from their home by the Soviet police, and sent in cattle cars to Siberia, where they faced more hardships.

It is historical fiction, but the author's family are Lithuanian. Her father escaped, but not all his family did. Ruta Septys did a lot of research, visited Lithuania and interviewed survivors, historians and others. This personal link adds depth to the story.

It was a side of history and World War II I hadn't read about before, and didn't even realize it happened. As it says in the author's note: “Caught between the Soviet and Nazi empires and forgotten by the world, the Baltic states simply disappeared from the maps.” (page 339) She also adds that the Baltic states – Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia – “lost more than a third of their population during the Soviet annihilation.” (page 341) The saddest thing about it for me, was when I read that their war didn't end with freedom and victory in 1945, like other war stories I've read. When these exiles returned to their countries again, they were still under Soviet control, and they were forced to live in restricted areas, under supervision from the Soviet police. They were not allowed to speak of their experiences. This didn't end until 1991. 

The author's note was really touching:

“Some wars are about bombing. For the people of the Baltics, this war was about believing. In 1991, after fifty years of brutal occupation, the three Baltic countries regained their independence, peacefully, and with dignity. They chose hope over hate and showed the world that even through the darkest night, there is light. Please research it. Tell someone. These three tiny nations have taught us that love is the most powerful army. Whether love of friend, love of country, love of God, or even love of enemy – love reveals to us the truly miraculous nature of the human spirit.” (page 341)

It's very well written, and easy to read.It's not a pleasant, light book about sweet times, but it's still good, and enjoyable because even despite the terrible situations Lina and her family go through, this book is full of hope. It shows us an accurate, yet horrific, picture of what thousands of people had to endure – and some didn't make it. Yet, even through such terrible times, there was still hope, and there was still love, and there was still selfless men and women, boys and girls, who can teach us, that in our peaceful, easy age, we have a lot to learn.

In short, it's really good, and I think you should read it. :)