Andy keeps asking me when I'm going to update my blog and write about the last couple books I've read, and I keep telling him I have no motivation. Mostly because I've been busy at work and I've been busy outside of work studying for the GRE (or justifying my reasons for why I don't need to study for the GRE to Andy) and school starts in a week and a half!!! Which means that I've been busy buying my books, searching for the perfect planner for the year (luckily I found the same one I had last year... only after spending a couple hours agonizing over the choices in the bookstore), and looking at my syllabi. In case you don't know me very well, I'm a compulsive organizer... and the beginning of the semester is a dream come true for me. I get to plan where I'm going to buy my books so I can get them for the absolute cheapest (if you want the best used books you have to go the day after book buy back ends!) and then as syllabi come on-line I get to make all sorts of lists (what readings I have for each day/week, what things are do on what days, etc.). It's basically a dream come true... and it's the last semester I get to really enjoy this! The sad thing about graduate school is that I only can take 2 classes a semester, so there's really not that much to organize. But I digress....
I've actually read one good book and one really good book. I'll start with the good book. The Namesake by Jhumpa Lahiri. This was a wonderful book, it really was. It's the story of a second generation Indian-American boy as he grows up and comes to terms with his heritage. The story is beautifully written, I just don't care for some of the plot elements. There's not anything crude or awful, I just wish some things hadn't happened that's all. But I guess in a way, that's why I did like it. The reason why I liked this book is that I think it's something that's applicable to everyone. Everyone has to struggle with finding their own way in life. Growing up as a member of the Church outside of Utah I was in many ways an immigrant in my own country. I came from a different culture than most of my friends (despite the fact that they are all awesome Christians!): I couldn't go do things on Sundays, I didn't party, my parents weren't divorced, I didn't swear or dress immodestly. Some of these seem like pretty small things, but when you're confronted with people constantly questioning every move you make... it sets you apart. Unlike the main character who distances himself from everything his parents hold dear only to come back to his Indian heritage years later, I've never left the Church. I've always believed it and known of it's truth, but the point I'm trying to make is that I could identify with the struggles of an adult who is trying to fit in with what the world expects and who he is deep down.
The other book that I've read recently was absolutely amazing. I couldn't put it down! It's Snow Flower and the Secret Fan by Lisa See. This was such an amazing book. It's the story of two women (although it's told from the point of view from one of them) who were bound together as children (not literally, but figuratively) as laotongs or what we would call an arranged best friend. Here's a link to a synopsis of the book. I can't even begin to do it justice. It's such an incredible book that makes you really take a look at the relationships in your lives. This was an excellent book for me to read right now especially. Since getting married I've fallen into the newlywed trap of spending 99% of my time when I'm not working with my husband... not that it's a bad thing. But especially with school starting and everyone getting back from all their adventures, I really needed to stop and think about whether or not I'm putting enough emphasis on my relationships outside of my marriage.
In the book the laotong relationship is supposed to be put even above the marriage. When one of the women goes to visit the other the husband must leave his marriage bed and let the two women sleep together. While I'm not saying that putting that much emphasis on a friendship is good in our social structure now where we get to marry who we want instead of having an arranged marriage, I think it's something to think about. Who in your life would you be that excited to see? Is there any person of the same sex, besides a sibling, who you miss so much when they're not around that if given the chance you would tell your significant other that they're on their own for the night because you want to spend time with that friend?
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