Following a year-long journey around the world, Conor Brennan dedicated three months volunteering at an orphanage in Nepal. During these three months, he not only fell in love with the children but learnt a disturbing truth about the true origin of the children. The children were not orphans, rather they were victims of child trafficking. During civil unrest in Nepal, Maoist extremists falsely promised parents in remote villages that they would educate their children in the city in exchange for money. Instead of fulfilling their promise, the children were taken to the city and placed in impoverished conditions or forced into child labor situations. Some of the children were more fortunate and rescued to be placed in orphanages such as the Little Princes orphange, founded by a French woman. Through the assistance of government and nonprofit organizations, she pressured the Maoist child trafficker to release eighteen children into her custody. Conor Brennan found his way into the Little Princes and at the end of his volunteer assignment wanted to aid the children even further- he embarked on a search for their parents.
Conor began a physically demanding journey into the mountainous region, Humla. The region was void of any roads, requiring Conor and his team of local guides, to trek by foot through the rugged terrain. Often it took several days to reach the different villiages. Suffering with a knee injury and obvious fatigue, Conor was determined to achieve his mission- reuniting parents with their children. Upon seeing their children's photographs, parents were filled with astonishment and overwhelming joy to discover the children they thought were lost to them forever, were actually alive and safe. The joy was reciprocated when Conor returned to children with photos and letters from their parents. While most of the parents could not afford to support their children, they were provided with an opportunity to spend time with them again when the children visited Humla during school vacation. Conor established a not for profit organization whose mission was to raise money to develop a home for additional children in Katmandu. At the time of the book's publication, the organization was raising money to build a home in the Humla region, to enable the children and parents to have more frequent contact with each other.
While Conor's journey and mission obviously moved me, it was the honesty and sensitivity in which he describes his story that made this book a superior read. Conor candidly shares his initial trepidations about interacting with children, an area in which he has little experience, and progresses to describe his unbreakable bond with the children. He strikes a perfect balance in describing each child, allowing readers to become acquainted with their unique traits and endearing qualities, without straying from the plot progression. Although he is involved in a risky mission, on account of the physically demanding trek into the mountains and the dangerous Maoist extremists he is fighting against, his humility resonates throughout the book.
While Conor's mission is obviously a life changing experience, specifically the Nepalese culture and the children provide Conor with several life lessons.
"I had learned a kind of patience in Nepal that did not come naturally to me. There is less stimulation, fewer pressures to get things done and the people in Nepal have a peaceful way about them that allows them to sit quietly for long periods of time..."
The children's inner strength and resilience despite their hardships are inspiring.
" I felt a surge of joy in seeing these twenty little Nepali tornados...I felt something else, too; respect. For the children. Because after all the rage and revolution that clawed at Nepal for years, after being forcibly marched through the mountains, after being taken from their parents, and watching volunteers leave them just when their country was imploding, these kids were still laughing, still studying and still showing off. They were survivors."
I felt the same awe and respect for the impoverished children I have seen in India. Despite the poverty, the still wear smiles and carry the playful spirit of children.
A secondary, but an incredibly vital sub-plot, is the blossoming romance between Conor and his future wife, Liz. An unconventional love story, the couple first meet online when Liz contacts Conor after learning about his not-for-profit organization. Like Conor, Liz shared an interest for volunteering with impoverished children abroad. Following her initial request for a recommendation of a global volunteer organization, they rapidly discovered a common ground for a friendship and soon began regular correspondence. Despite no previous meeting, Liz's words encouraged and motivated Conor during various trials. After seven months of email correspondence, Liz was scheduled to begin her volunteer program in India which served as the perfect opportunity for Conor to extend his invitation for a visit to Nepal. During her visit, their chemistry was almost instantaneous and their friendship soon became romantic. They are clearly kindred spirits. Conor and Liz are my favorite "characters" within my recently read books; their real-life romance, humanitarian spirit and sincerity charmed me more than any contrived, fictional characters.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
You Know When the Men Are Gone by Siobhan Fallon
This is a collection of short stories written by an author who is part of a miltary famly. She lived in Fort Hood, TX for two years while her husband was deployed in Iraq. Based on first hand knowledge, she superbly captures military families' lives and hardships both from soldiers and spouses perspectives.
The stories allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of an important group in our national diaspora. They reaffirmed the importance of not taking for granted what I treasure the most in my life, my relationship with my husband and our strong marriage. I ached for the wives who are forced to spend months alone, learning to be self-reliant not only in managing a household (i.e., raising children alone, daily household chores and tasks) but also in regards to their emotional needs.
Military families face additional challenges upon a soldier's return home, facing a period of adjustment as they attempt to reconnect with one another. I was surprised to learn that the army provides couples with pamplets, instructing them on how to communicate and interact with one another. Taken from "Things a Soldier Should Remember", some rules include:
* No cursing
* Your family members are not your men: they do not have to obey your orders
* Your wife has been handling the finances and diciplining the children during your absence. Work with her, and most importantly, tell her you appreciate her and that she has done a good jo
* Take time to be charming!
While several stories highlight the residual stress placed on relationships following months of separation, one story captures a wife's euphoric, almost-giddy excitement following her husband's return from service.
" He had gotten back from Iraq only three weeks ago and Carla still felt electricity flood through her whenever she saw him, a shiver of amazement that he was home, a mental alignment that she had a husband living in the same time zone.
Soldiers' perspectives are also presented in short stories about falling in love with an international translator, difficulty adjusting to civilian life, dealing with broken relationships, coping with life-changing injuries and dealing with a wife's infidelity.
Several of the stories are cleverly linked to each other. For example, a soldier who is abandoned by his wife in one story, later reappears in another short story in which he consoles the wife of a deceased soldier from his platoon, who saved his life.
While I recognize the sacrifice soldiers make to defend our country, these stories brought to light the vast parameters of their sacrifice that impacts every part of their lives. Unfortunately, not enough media attention is brought upon soldiers' and their families lives so that we can learn to more appropriately honor them.
The stories allowed me to gain a deeper understanding of an important group in our national diaspora. They reaffirmed the importance of not taking for granted what I treasure the most in my life, my relationship with my husband and our strong marriage. I ached for the wives who are forced to spend months alone, learning to be self-reliant not only in managing a household (i.e., raising children alone, daily household chores and tasks) but also in regards to their emotional needs.
Military families face additional challenges upon a soldier's return home, facing a period of adjustment as they attempt to reconnect with one another. I was surprised to learn that the army provides couples with pamplets, instructing them on how to communicate and interact with one another. Taken from "Things a Soldier Should Remember", some rules include:
* No cursing
* Your family members are not your men: they do not have to obey your orders
* Your wife has been handling the finances and diciplining the children during your absence. Work with her, and most importantly, tell her you appreciate her and that she has done a good jo
* Take time to be charming!
While several stories highlight the residual stress placed on relationships following months of separation, one story captures a wife's euphoric, almost-giddy excitement following her husband's return from service.
" He had gotten back from Iraq only three weeks ago and Carla still felt electricity flood through her whenever she saw him, a shiver of amazement that he was home, a mental alignment that she had a husband living in the same time zone.
Soldiers' perspectives are also presented in short stories about falling in love with an international translator, difficulty adjusting to civilian life, dealing with broken relationships, coping with life-changing injuries and dealing with a wife's infidelity.
Several of the stories are cleverly linked to each other. For example, a soldier who is abandoned by his wife in one story, later reappears in another short story in which he consoles the wife of a deceased soldier from his platoon, who saved his life.
While I recognize the sacrifice soldiers make to defend our country, these stories brought to light the vast parameters of their sacrifice that impacts every part of their lives. Unfortunately, not enough media attention is brought upon soldiers' and their families lives so that we can learn to more appropriately honor them.
Thursday, February 17, 2011
Me by Ricky Martin
February 2, 2001
As a huge fan of Ricky Martin in the late 90s, during the "Living LaVida Loca" era, I was compelled to read his memoir. While it was interesting to read about his life (i.e., his early career/childhood with the band Menudo, rise to international stardom, fame, volunteer work in India & Thailand, fatherhood and his homosexuality), his spiritual journey was the core of this book. He acknowledges the power of hope, faith and love throughout the book.
As I often struggle with patience in life's waiting game (in regards to pinacle life events such as marriage and motherhood), the follow passage deeply moved me:
" In my life there was a moment when the stars aligned perfectly and everything was in the exact spot where it needed to be so I could reach the goal I'd always dreamed of ,and beyond. And if I learned anything in the process, it is that when your moment finally arrives, you can't allow yourself to get held up looking back. You have to work tirelessly, give it your all and dedicate your heart and soul to actualize the blessing that has been given to you."
This passage reflects upon faith, hope, timing/destiny and gratitude, not taking one's blessing for granted.
Following the peak of stardom, he went to India where he spent time in an ashram learning to meditate which deepened his spiritual practice.
"Life's most valuable lessons are learned in absolute silence. It is when we are deep in the silence that we have the ability to think about and connect with our intimate nature, our spiritual being."
He beautifully describes his dreams to become a father:
"Sooner or later we reach a point when we aspire to do more with our lives. We begin to realize that it is no longer enough to simply exist in the world, and we feel the need to transcend who we are to become something greater. For me that aspiration manifested itself in my desire to become a father... I always knew I was destined to be a father...I simply felt that my moment had arrived and faced it when I knew I was ready. There are many people who are afraid to be parents, and I can honestly say it never worried me at all." to the moment when his dreams came true "I will never forget the moment that each of them (his twin boys) looked in my eyes for the very first time. Those were the most precious moments in my entire life. The were OUR moments."
I was inspired by his words throughout the book since they resonated his peace and genuine gratitude for life's blessings, a place in life achieved through his spiritual journey.
As a huge fan of Ricky Martin in the late 90s, during the "Living LaVida Loca" era, I was compelled to read his memoir. While it was interesting to read about his life (i.e., his early career/childhood with the band Menudo, rise to international stardom, fame, volunteer work in India & Thailand, fatherhood and his homosexuality), his spiritual journey was the core of this book. He acknowledges the power of hope, faith and love throughout the book.
As I often struggle with patience in life's waiting game (in regards to pinacle life events such as marriage and motherhood), the follow passage deeply moved me:
" In my life there was a moment when the stars aligned perfectly and everything was in the exact spot where it needed to be so I could reach the goal I'd always dreamed of ,and beyond. And if I learned anything in the process, it is that when your moment finally arrives, you can't allow yourself to get held up looking back. You have to work tirelessly, give it your all and dedicate your heart and soul to actualize the blessing that has been given to you."
This passage reflects upon faith, hope, timing/destiny and gratitude, not taking one's blessing for granted.
Following the peak of stardom, he went to India where he spent time in an ashram learning to meditate which deepened his spiritual practice.
"Life's most valuable lessons are learned in absolute silence. It is when we are deep in the silence that we have the ability to think about and connect with our intimate nature, our spiritual being."
He beautifully describes his dreams to become a father:
"Sooner or later we reach a point when we aspire to do more with our lives. We begin to realize that it is no longer enough to simply exist in the world, and we feel the need to transcend who we are to become something greater. For me that aspiration manifested itself in my desire to become a father... I always knew I was destined to be a father...I simply felt that my moment had arrived and faced it when I knew I was ready. There are many people who are afraid to be parents, and I can honestly say it never worried me at all." to the moment when his dreams came true "I will never forget the moment that each of them (his twin boys) looked in my eyes for the very first time. Those were the most precious moments in my entire life. The were OUR moments."
I was inspired by his words throughout the book since they resonated his peace and genuine gratitude for life's blessings, a place in life achieved through his spiritual journey.
Molokai by Anthony Brennert
January 14, 2010
I enjoy reading historical fiction novels since they allow me to get a glimpse of life during other time periods and places through the eyes of the novels' characters. A well-written historical novel is based on facts, which allows me to gain historical knowledge, in a relaxing manner.
Molokai provided me with a window into life on the Hawaiin island, which served as a lepers' colony from the late 19th century to 1980 when it was officially designated as a "National Historical Park." The novel spans almost eighty years, from 1891-1970. During this time the island transforms from a highly regulated, quarantined community to a less restrictive environment where "non-leper" volunteers where able to interact more freely with those with the disease and a place where residents voluntarily chose to remain even after they were cured. The island also changed as a result of technology from complete isolation from the rest of the world to increased access to the world through technological advances (such as moving pictures, short-wave radio and newspapers).
The main character, Rachel, as a young child is identified as exhibiting symptoms of "the sickness that tears families apart", resulting in her deportation from her family in Honolulu to Molokai. Here she finds a new family among nuns and children at a girls' home, a biological uncle and his lover, an honorary aunt. Among her family, only her father visits her on the island. During early adulthood, she falls in love and marries a Japanese-American resident.
One might expect this novel, given the subject material, to be depressing. However, this novel inspires and touches through its celebration of the human spirit, emphasizing the bonds of human connection and the celebration of life.
"This was life, and if some things were kapu (prohibited), others weren't; she had to stop regretting the ones that were and start enjoying the ones that were not"
Her love for her husband and friends remain steadfast and uplift through her life.
Rachel is not free from heartbreak and devastation. She outlives her childhood friends and witnesses her husband's murder. Everyday she lives with the pain of giving up her only child (babies were forcefully removed from their mothers at birth and taken to the mainland for adoption to prevent further spread of the disease). I ached for her loss and was overjoyed with her ultimate reunion with her daughter thirty years later when she is cured and released from Molokai.
I was deeply moved by the loved shared between Rachel and her husband, Kenji. Kenji exhibited the depth of this love and devotion to Rachel when he forgoed the opportunity to leave the island upon discovering he was cured, since Rachel remained positive. He made the ultimate sacrifice for love, proving that it doesn't matter were you live as long as you are with loved ones.
This reaffirms an important lesson for me as I have struggled with leaving our families in Houston to move to California with Allen and Buffy. While I miss my family and the familiarity of Houston, I am blessed to be with Allen and Buffy. Their love, in addition to the new friendships I have formed here, supports me. The natural beauty of California also comforts me as Molokai's beauty comforted Rachel.
"Rachel saw the lush green pali (cliff) soaring high in the sky...more beautiful than anything she could have imagined...There was a grandeur to the pali; that awed and moved her, and for the first time in days she actually felt something other than terror and lonliness."
I was also inspired by faith and hope which resonated throughout the novel
" God didn't give man wings; he gave him the brain and spirit to give himself wings. Just as he gave us the capacity to laugh when we hurt, or to struggle when we feel like giving up..."
I enjoy reading historical fiction novels since they allow me to get a glimpse of life during other time periods and places through the eyes of the novels' characters. A well-written historical novel is based on facts, which allows me to gain historical knowledge, in a relaxing manner.
Molokai provided me with a window into life on the Hawaiin island, which served as a lepers' colony from the late 19th century to 1980 when it was officially designated as a "National Historical Park." The novel spans almost eighty years, from 1891-1970. During this time the island transforms from a highly regulated, quarantined community to a less restrictive environment where "non-leper" volunteers where able to interact more freely with those with the disease and a place where residents voluntarily chose to remain even after they were cured. The island also changed as a result of technology from complete isolation from the rest of the world to increased access to the world through technological advances (such as moving pictures, short-wave radio and newspapers).
The main character, Rachel, as a young child is identified as exhibiting symptoms of "the sickness that tears families apart", resulting in her deportation from her family in Honolulu to Molokai. Here she finds a new family among nuns and children at a girls' home, a biological uncle and his lover, an honorary aunt. Among her family, only her father visits her on the island. During early adulthood, she falls in love and marries a Japanese-American resident.
One might expect this novel, given the subject material, to be depressing. However, this novel inspires and touches through its celebration of the human spirit, emphasizing the bonds of human connection and the celebration of life.
"This was life, and if some things were kapu (prohibited), others weren't; she had to stop regretting the ones that were and start enjoying the ones that were not"
Her love for her husband and friends remain steadfast and uplift through her life.
Rachel is not free from heartbreak and devastation. She outlives her childhood friends and witnesses her husband's murder. Everyday she lives with the pain of giving up her only child (babies were forcefully removed from their mothers at birth and taken to the mainland for adoption to prevent further spread of the disease). I ached for her loss and was overjoyed with her ultimate reunion with her daughter thirty years later when she is cured and released from Molokai.
I was deeply moved by the loved shared between Rachel and her husband, Kenji. Kenji exhibited the depth of this love and devotion to Rachel when he forgoed the opportunity to leave the island upon discovering he was cured, since Rachel remained positive. He made the ultimate sacrifice for love, proving that it doesn't matter were you live as long as you are with loved ones.
This reaffirms an important lesson for me as I have struggled with leaving our families in Houston to move to California with Allen and Buffy. While I miss my family and the familiarity of Houston, I am blessed to be with Allen and Buffy. Their love, in addition to the new friendships I have formed here, supports me. The natural beauty of California also comforts me as Molokai's beauty comforted Rachel.
"Rachel saw the lush green pali (cliff) soaring high in the sky...more beautiful than anything she could have imagined...There was a grandeur to the pali; that awed and moved her, and for the first time in days she actually felt something other than terror and lonliness."
I was also inspired by faith and hope which resonated throughout the novel
" God didn't give man wings; he gave him the brain and spirit to give himself wings. Just as he gave us the capacity to laugh when we hurt, or to struggle when we feel like giving up..."
Wednesday, February 16, 2011
The Song of the Lark by Willa Cather
January 7, 2010
The novel follows the main character, Thea, from her childhood in a small town in Colorado to her early adulthood in Chicago, followed by a turning point in Arizona and ends in her mid-thirties in New York City. Each geographic region corresponds to a period in her musical career beginning with her initial discovery of her interest and blossoming talent in music through piano lessons to the discovery of her gifted singing voice to her frustration with her stagnant career and finally to her rise to become a leading opera star in New York. Along her journey, she is inspired and supported by several men who serve as admirers, mentors, lovers and devoted friends.
This is the first novel I have read, written by Willa Cather, one of America's most respected female authors. Her immortal legacy and that fact that one of my friend's named her daughter after her, sparked my curiousity and enthusiasm towards reading this novel. I was not disappointed with her writing style, defined by insightful characterizations and vivid scenic descriptions. Not only Thea, but other key characters came alive through an understanding of their physical appearance, motivations, aspirations and weaknesses. The following passage captures her insight into human drive:
"Nothing is far and nothing is near, if one desires. The world is little, people are little, human life is little. There is only one big thing-desire."
She beautifully describes the admiration and love a town local, Ray, feels for Thea:
"The spark in his eye, which is one's very self, caught the spark in hers that was herself, and for a moment they looked into each other's natures. Thea realized how good and great-hearted he was, and he realized her many things. When that elusive spark of personality retreated in each of them, Thea still saw in his wet eyes her own face, very small, but much prettier than the cracked glass at home had shown it. It was the first time she had seen her face in that kindest mirror a woman can ever find."
While Thea's passion and determination to succeed in her music career is admirable, it also makes her hard and often cold.
They (acquaintences made during her musical training in Chicago) could see no reason for keeping up with a girl (Thea) who under her jocularity, was cold, self-centered and unimpressionable."
Her almost unidimensional focus on success reduced my respect for Thea and my overall interest in the novel. I know one does not need to completely like or even relate to a main character in order to enjoy a novel; however, in this case, my disappointment lay in the transformation of Thea over the novel's course from a sweet, hopeful young girl to a hard, intensely driven adulty. I respected her drive and passion but do not believe they have to exist at the expense of warmth. Thea was not evil and manipulative, but she appeared colder, almost stoic to emotions of warmth and human connectiveness. Despite these qualities, her two male friends/admirers remained devoted to her. Although I was disappointed with the Thea's character evolution, I still admire the novel due to Willa Cather's beautiful writing style and look forward to reading more of her work.
The novel follows the main character, Thea, from her childhood in a small town in Colorado to her early adulthood in Chicago, followed by a turning point in Arizona and ends in her mid-thirties in New York City. Each geographic region corresponds to a period in her musical career beginning with her initial discovery of her interest and blossoming talent in music through piano lessons to the discovery of her gifted singing voice to her frustration with her stagnant career and finally to her rise to become a leading opera star in New York. Along her journey, she is inspired and supported by several men who serve as admirers, mentors, lovers and devoted friends.
This is the first novel I have read, written by Willa Cather, one of America's most respected female authors. Her immortal legacy and that fact that one of my friend's named her daughter after her, sparked my curiousity and enthusiasm towards reading this novel. I was not disappointed with her writing style, defined by insightful characterizations and vivid scenic descriptions. Not only Thea, but other key characters came alive through an understanding of their physical appearance, motivations, aspirations and weaknesses. The following passage captures her insight into human drive:
"Nothing is far and nothing is near, if one desires. The world is little, people are little, human life is little. There is only one big thing-desire."
She beautifully describes the admiration and love a town local, Ray, feels for Thea:
"The spark in his eye, which is one's very self, caught the spark in hers that was herself, and for a moment they looked into each other's natures. Thea realized how good and great-hearted he was, and he realized her many things. When that elusive spark of personality retreated in each of them, Thea still saw in his wet eyes her own face, very small, but much prettier than the cracked glass at home had shown it. It was the first time she had seen her face in that kindest mirror a woman can ever find."
While Thea's passion and determination to succeed in her music career is admirable, it also makes her hard and often cold.
They (acquaintences made during her musical training in Chicago) could see no reason for keeping up with a girl (Thea) who under her jocularity, was cold, self-centered and unimpressionable."
Her almost unidimensional focus on success reduced my respect for Thea and my overall interest in the novel. I know one does not need to completely like or even relate to a main character in order to enjoy a novel; however, in this case, my disappointment lay in the transformation of Thea over the novel's course from a sweet, hopeful young girl to a hard, intensely driven adulty. I respected her drive and passion but do not believe they have to exist at the expense of warmth. Thea was not evil and manipulative, but she appeared colder, almost stoic to emotions of warmth and human connectiveness. Despite these qualities, her two male friends/admirers remained devoted to her. Although I was disappointed with the Thea's character evolution, I still admire the novel due to Willa Cather's beautiful writing style and look forward to reading more of her work.
Spoken by the Heart by Laura Bush
January 30, 2010
This memoir covers the life of First Lady Laura Bush from her childhood in Midland, Texas to her adult years ispent in Houston, Austin and later the White House, and culminates at their family ranch in centeral Texas.
This is the second First Lady's memoir I have read, the first being Hillary Clinton's memoir. I was intrigued to learn about both their childhood and early adulthood; however, more so with Laura Bush since she grew up in Texas. While she briefly lived in Houston, she unfortunately does not describe this period in detail. In fact, I was later surprised and disappointed that she did not provide more details about her courtship with Pres.George Bush.
She does provide a more in-depth account of their years in the White House, which personalized their roles of President and First Lady. Unfortunately, the media typically provides a skewed view of all Presidents and First Ladies, focusing more on the same political issues and giving us little opportunity to understand their "human side". Memoirs, such as this one, allows us to better understand them not only as political leaders but enables us to also relate to them more personally as daughters/sons, wives/husbands, and mothers/fathers.
As Laura Bush clearly pointed out throughout the book, the media and general public are often insensitive to the First families feelings as indicated by their prevalent criticism, insults and mockery. Obviously, and rightfully so, Laura was deeply hurt by the disrespect directed towards her husband (and also towards herself & her children). Regardless of our individual political beliefs, first and foremost the President should be respected as our Commander-in-chief.
I was moved by Laura's deep love and committment towards her husband, which mirrors our marriage and the feelings for each other:
"We do not have to speak,; ours is a language not just of words but a shared presence. We take comfort simply from knowing that each one is in the room. We are anchored to each other. And if it is my nature to be calm, it is also George's to steady and buoy me. We are two symbiotic souls"
I also felt a connection with Laura over her youth , as we were both significantly younger than our classmates (she began college at 17, while I began at 16) and our shared passion for reading which began at an early age. She shared a memory from her childhood in which she lined up all her dolls as if in a classroom and played the role of a teacher. I did the same thing, with the addition of taking several "class pictures" of my inanimate students.
Throughout the book, I gained valuable insights into Laura Bush's social advocacy and philantropy both in the U.S. and abroad. She helped AIDS victims, abused women, provided teacher training programs for women in foreign, rural areas, established literacy programs- to name a few. Again the media failed to shed light on her social activism and was more concerned with her wardrobe.
While there were several occasions in which I felt she glossed over chapters in her life (i.e., she just stated the facts, providing minimal details if any, and revealed little about her emotions at the time), overall I enjoyed the book. Laura Bush appears to be a kind, loving, strong and principled woman.
This memoir covers the life of First Lady Laura Bush from her childhood in Midland, Texas to her adult years ispent in Houston, Austin and later the White House, and culminates at their family ranch in centeral Texas.
This is the second First Lady's memoir I have read, the first being Hillary Clinton's memoir. I was intrigued to learn about both their childhood and early adulthood; however, more so with Laura Bush since she grew up in Texas. While she briefly lived in Houston, she unfortunately does not describe this period in detail. In fact, I was later surprised and disappointed that she did not provide more details about her courtship with Pres.George Bush.
She does provide a more in-depth account of their years in the White House, which personalized their roles of President and First Lady. Unfortunately, the media typically provides a skewed view of all Presidents and First Ladies, focusing more on the same political issues and giving us little opportunity to understand their "human side". Memoirs, such as this one, allows us to better understand them not only as political leaders but enables us to also relate to them more personally as daughters/sons, wives/husbands, and mothers/fathers.
As Laura Bush clearly pointed out throughout the book, the media and general public are often insensitive to the First families feelings as indicated by their prevalent criticism, insults and mockery. Obviously, and rightfully so, Laura was deeply hurt by the disrespect directed towards her husband (and also towards herself & her children). Regardless of our individual political beliefs, first and foremost the President should be respected as our Commander-in-chief.
I was moved by Laura's deep love and committment towards her husband, which mirrors our marriage and the feelings for each other:
"We do not have to speak,; ours is a language not just of words but a shared presence. We take comfort simply from knowing that each one is in the room. We are anchored to each other. And if it is my nature to be calm, it is also George's to steady and buoy me. We are two symbiotic souls"
I also felt a connection with Laura over her youth , as we were both significantly younger than our classmates (she began college at 17, while I began at 16) and our shared passion for reading which began at an early age. She shared a memory from her childhood in which she lined up all her dolls as if in a classroom and played the role of a teacher. I did the same thing, with the addition of taking several "class pictures" of my inanimate students.
Throughout the book, I gained valuable insights into Laura Bush's social advocacy and philantropy both in the U.S. and abroad. She helped AIDS victims, abused women, provided teacher training programs for women in foreign, rural areas, established literacy programs- to name a few. Again the media failed to shed light on her social activism and was more concerned with her wardrobe.
While there were several occasions in which I felt she glossed over chapters in her life (i.e., she just stated the facts, providing minimal details if any, and revealed little about her emotions at the time), overall I enjoyed the book. Laura Bush appears to be a kind, loving, strong and principled woman.
The Lost Girls by Jennifer Baggett, Holly C. Corbett & Amanda Pressner
December 26, 2010
This travel memoir follows three friends, in their late 20's, through their 18-month journey across four continents (countries include: Peru, Brazil, Kenya, India, Vietnam, Thailand, New Zealand & Australia). Each women alternates in narrating a chapter. While this approach was effective in understanding each woman's unique perspective and personality traits, I did have a clear preferences for Holly's writing and often wished I could hear more of her voice throughout the book.
Rather than delving into extensive details about each locale, the nature of each environment and the local people's charm (or in some case, not so pleasing traits) are revealed through anecodotes recounting their adventures (e.g., hikes, hostel stays) and unique experiences (e.g., volunteering in a impoverished Kenyan villiage, residing in an Indian ashram). Each women also shares their inner journeys as they try to find a life-work balance and question their past or current relationship status.
As I read the book, I admired several aspects of their journey. I admired that they had the courage and strength to put their day-to-day lives (i.e., careers & relationships) on hold in order to pursue their passion to travel the world. I respected that they spent a month volunteering in a Kenyan villiage, empowering and bringing joy into the lives of school-aged girls. I envyed their strong bond of friendship, which they nurtured and strengthened. While they revealead the challenges and tests placed upon their friendship, ultimately their travels created a lifelong bond. They appeared to fully understand each other and recognize they could always count on one another.
I had a difficult time relating to other aspects of their journey, in particular their choices of accomodations which typically consisted of bare-boned, hostel stays. While their tight budget restricted their accomodation options, often they longed for more comfortable and peaceful lodging. Accomodations play a vital part of the travel experience and I personally would have had a difficult time adjusting to most of their accomodations.
Each woman made several life-affirming discoveries. One of the more poignant was Holly's reflection upon her life, made during her stay at the ashram
"There's a metaphor in Buddhism about the lotus flower, which starts out growing on the bottom of all this muck and then rises through the swamping darkness into the light. When it finally gets there, it turns into what is was meant to be, opening into something beautiful. But the flower doesn't open instantly, it has to go through the muck to get to the light."
While God's spirit always shines within us, I am deeply inspired and moved by religious icons. In the presence of icons, I feel God's light emanate. They visited two majestic and awe-inspiring religious sites that I hope to visit someday: the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janiero and the Reclining Buddha statue in Wat Pho, Thailand. I can only imagine how being in the presence of such statues reinforces how tiny and dependant we are in His powerful presence.
The key lesson they learnt on their journey, a lesson I learnt a long time ago, is that despite cultural differences among people from different countries and cultures, one must discover and focus on the universal goodness in this world.
" After all my searching for something to believe in, what if taking the journey itself was the highest act of faith? Travelling anywhere that was foreign inevitabley meant I'd have to rely on the kindness of strangers."- Holly's reflection at the end of the trip
This travel memoir follows three friends, in their late 20's, through their 18-month journey across four continents (countries include: Peru, Brazil, Kenya, India, Vietnam, Thailand, New Zealand & Australia). Each women alternates in narrating a chapter. While this approach was effective in understanding each woman's unique perspective and personality traits, I did have a clear preferences for Holly's writing and often wished I could hear more of her voice throughout the book.
Rather than delving into extensive details about each locale, the nature of each environment and the local people's charm (or in some case, not so pleasing traits) are revealed through anecodotes recounting their adventures (e.g., hikes, hostel stays) and unique experiences (e.g., volunteering in a impoverished Kenyan villiage, residing in an Indian ashram). Each women also shares their inner journeys as they try to find a life-work balance and question their past or current relationship status.
As I read the book, I admired several aspects of their journey. I admired that they had the courage and strength to put their day-to-day lives (i.e., careers & relationships) on hold in order to pursue their passion to travel the world. I respected that they spent a month volunteering in a Kenyan villiage, empowering and bringing joy into the lives of school-aged girls. I envyed their strong bond of friendship, which they nurtured and strengthened. While they revealead the challenges and tests placed upon their friendship, ultimately their travels created a lifelong bond. They appeared to fully understand each other and recognize they could always count on one another.
I had a difficult time relating to other aspects of their journey, in particular their choices of accomodations which typically consisted of bare-boned, hostel stays. While their tight budget restricted their accomodation options, often they longed for more comfortable and peaceful lodging. Accomodations play a vital part of the travel experience and I personally would have had a difficult time adjusting to most of their accomodations.
Each woman made several life-affirming discoveries. One of the more poignant was Holly's reflection upon her life, made during her stay at the ashram
"There's a metaphor in Buddhism about the lotus flower, which starts out growing on the bottom of all this muck and then rises through the swamping darkness into the light. When it finally gets there, it turns into what is was meant to be, opening into something beautiful. But the flower doesn't open instantly, it has to go through the muck to get to the light."
While God's spirit always shines within us, I am deeply inspired and moved by religious icons. In the presence of icons, I feel God's light emanate. They visited two majestic and awe-inspiring religious sites that I hope to visit someday: the Christ the Redeemer statue in Rio de Janiero and the Reclining Buddha statue in Wat Pho, Thailand. I can only imagine how being in the presence of such statues reinforces how tiny and dependant we are in His powerful presence.
The key lesson they learnt on their journey, a lesson I learnt a long time ago, is that despite cultural differences among people from different countries and cultures, one must discover and focus on the universal goodness in this world.
" After all my searching for something to believe in, what if taking the journey itself was the highest act of faith? Travelling anywhere that was foreign inevitabley meant I'd have to rely on the kindness of strangers."- Holly's reflection at the end of the trip
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)