http://www.memorykeepersdaughter.com/

First of all, I bought this book because I thought it was written by Sue Monk Kidd, who wrote The Secret Life of Bees. Either the coverhas amazing graphic design or it’s manipulative marketing…this could go either way. Since it wasn’t my favorite book, I’ll go with manipulative.

Premise, as taken from the official website:

This novel begins on a winter night in 1964, when a blizzard forces Dr. David Henry to deliver his own twins.
His son, born first, is perfectly healthy, but the doctor immediately recognizes that his daughter has Down syndrome. For motives he tells himself are good, he makes a split-second decision that will haunt all their lives forever. He asks his nurse, Caroline, to take the baby away to an institution. Instead, she disappears into another city to raise the child as her own. Compulsively readable and deeply moving, The Memory Keeper’s Daughter is a brilliantly crafted story of parallel lives, familial secrets, and the redemptive power of love.

Analysis:

You know when you’ve read a book and then see the movie after? The book is almost always better, always full of much more detail.

Well, this book is the movie version of itself. If that makes sense.

I wish I could have read the book version of this book, instead of the movie version. Then it would have been good. I actually skipped back a ffew pages once because I thought I missed something. There were moments that I was wrapped up in the characters, but this didn’t last long. It was too difficult to connect to each character as the 3rd person didn’t explain the individual motives well enough.

For example, one character named Rosemary, a 16-year-old pregnant runaway, is found by one of the main characters, David, and brought back to his home. While I understand that the purpose was for David to fulfill his need for a daughter, there is really not a place for her character. She is unecessary to to the plot and doesn’t return later after the death (I wont say who) to reconcile anything; she just disappears, a very superficial character addition. For the most part, she only interacted with David, and she arrived and left within 50 pages or so.

And, in regard to the death, it was never discussed! The actual death was never discribed, it was almost an afterthought. This was very frustrating because it felt like the author decided that she was bored with the character and wanted to move on. There was no true resolution, only a superficial implication with Rosemary’s prescence.

I hate to say these things, especially because I’m sure that some people enjoyed this book and I know the author spent countless hours, months, who knows how long writing it. Edwards is a great writer, but there were holes in her story that went unfilled and made the book suffer as a result.

It does one thing that I like, which is discuss the issue of mental retardation in the 50′s and 60′s when they had no rights, were shunned to the curb and left to rot in institutions.

Anyway, if you’d like to give it a shot and discuss, prove me wrong please, then it’s in the Duff Library.

Outcasts United

Outcasts United by Warren St. John

Thumbs Up.

Through civil wars, genocides and conflicts across the world, the UN relocates refugee families in order for them to escape the chaos. One such place is called Clarkson, a small southern Baptist town in Georgia.

This book is a true story of a a group of kids that have been relocated with their families to Clarkson, traveling from countries around the globe. The story provides the backgrounds of each child’s family, the reasons that they left their home country and the hardships that they experienced in moving to the area. Soccer is used as a symbol of how such a diverse group is able to form strong bonds and relationships amidst such obstacles.

The kids in the story come from cultures that are fighting, they speak different languages, some are Muslim, some are Christan, some have mothers, brothers, and sisters and others have lost their families in fleeing their home countries. They are forced to assimilate to American schools, learn English, fight the temptation of gangs, while taking care of the few ties they have in the states.

The kids connections and learned discipline are though soccer, on a team called the “Fugees.” The coach, Luma, is able to start this local team for the refugee kids and employs their families to help with their assimilation. She is the backbone for the program and for the success of the kids and team. Through the many battles that the kids face as immigrants, they are able to bond through this game that they share a passion for.

Warren St. John is a writer for the New York Times. He picked up his stuff, moved to Georgia, and followed the Fugees soccer team to gather the information to write this book. He lives my dream.

Now you want to know what the hell that all means, I assume.

This book is a worthy read. If you like soccer, it is even better as you can better connect to the players and detailed descriptions of the games. If you haven’t played soccer, it is still heart-warming.  The best part is that it is a true story. Some parts are a little dry and I found my self skimming in the beginning of the book, but do not fret; as it develops, you will more easily identify with the characters because their background stories unfold one by one.

On multiple occasions, my jaw literally dropped at my kitchen table because of some of the things that the refugees and coach endured. It makes you think twice about our roles as neighbors, Americans and as human beings.

Make sure to read the afterword as well. It shows how valuable these types of books can be. After St. John published a piece on the Fugees in the New York Times, readers donated money to the families and Nike decided to provide jerseys and gear for the players. That, my friend, is making change.

It’ll be in my library so let me know if you’d like to check it out. Any other book review requests? PS. Is this even helpful/worth reading for you?

give me some time, i’ll be back : )

http://www.outsideeyes.com/

I am still waiting to hear from Admissions though…

My parents are now driving down to Orange with my Georgia peach Jennifer and I cannot wait for this week. This finals week was so anti-climatic for me, but I guess I can’t complain. I’ve spent more time worrying about my plans for the summer than my finals. Tomorrow morning I have an interview for an intership. Luckily, Simon reminded me to take the book! Somehow I completely forgot about it. I also applied for a job on campus in the admissions office. If I get the job, I will either be an office girl or a tour guide! I’d be happy with either. Oh man there is so much to come. I cannot be excited yet though, I sill have 2 things to do and then excitement will overcome me. I have to print and turn in a paper, due Thursday but I finished it, and get a signature from Sandra so I can get internship credit for this semester. 

I am listening to a song by Will Straton called Katydid. It kind of sums up my emotions right now. Calm on the surface but there is build up in the piano, and I am ready for this week, I am ready for this summer, and I am ready for the trip to DC! 

So, now I am just waiting until Jennifer arrives. As I typed that, I thought to write Jennifah because this is what Simon says (haha) and he and kelley and Tiff know the story of my speech impediment. good times in pralle 118. The house is the cleanest it’s ever been I think, and it feels great. We even hung a new light in the living area. Tiff and I are so cool ; )

There  is so much to come I cannot even handle it – short and long term!

For starters, tomorrow is the undie run. This weekend is exciting DDD and I am so stoked to start blogging to practice copywriting and to work on PRSSA stuff!! Seriously I am a nerd. I am so ready to redo the website and create guidelines!!

I can imagine my parents and Jen walking up the stairs to the apt. as I sit here on the couch and it is going to be such a joyful moment. 

Well shit. I heard someone outside as I was daydreaming about this and it was my neighbor. Anyway we will both be elated. I can imagine. I’ll let you know later if I’m right.

tomorrow, perhaps.

Weight Training: M/W 10:00 – 10:50

Writing for PR: M/W 11:30 – 12: 45

Public Affairs Reporting Lab: M 1:00 – 3:00

Walk-Jog:  T/Th 9:00 – 9:50

Public Affairs Reporting: T/Th 10:00 – 11:15

Internet Comm: T/Th 11:30 – 12:45

Concepts of Eastern Health and Healing: T/Th 1:00 – 2:15

Online Magazine Production: W 4:00 – 6:50

New schedules are so exciting. I also would like to write for The Panther, maybe try sports writing, but I don’t think this is an option with all of the other writing classes I have. 

Last night, our speaker was a success and I am so excited that Amanda came to join us. She is closer in age to us which was very appealing to the students because they could relate to her much moreso than someone who has already had 2o years of experience. She was very funny and I won’t write down specifics because it’d be unfair to quote her off record.  But take my word. 

Many students were excited and said that they learned a great deal. I thought the PR aspect was interesting in social media because we haven’t had direct “PR” people come to speak, it has been all related fields.I hope to keep in touch with her. 

I can’t wait for our meeting next week too to discuss the chapter. I want to create a brand for ourselves, one we can identify with and own. Hopefully a good number will show up so that we can get somewhere. I want to make changes! There is a leadership Presidents weekend in June that I really want to go to…

On another note, I plan to apply for the Chapman Radio advertising position – which will be really cool if I get it. My main thing is that Chapman Radio is cool but people don’t know it. I am so excited to help spread the name because they are worthy of capturing student attention. 

I was talking to Simon about what I can handle next semester, and next two years for that matter. I’m kind of worried to see what I can take on. It should help by not running cross country, and The Panther, though I’m not sure about that one…but we’ll see. One thing Simon said [ucla NSAC simon said] was that “you know you be able to do it no matter how busy you are.” Ok, so this isn’t verbatum but it’s the gist of it. And he’s right, it’s just a matter of how much I want to cry in the process – seriously. 

Ok, ok. I thrive on it. I enjoy being busy. This is true.

The public affairs lab is now M/W from 1:00 – 3:00. woooo