Last week I finished East of Eden by John Steinbeck. The book is over 600 pages, but it never got boring. In fact, I would binge read just to move through the story. The story is set in California, like most of his books. The description, as usual, is amazing. When I think of any of his stories, I can picture them in my head. I don't remember just the storyline. I can picture it like a movie. The story is about sharing the blessing of the father between two brothers. The story is the Cain and Able story brought to life. The first part of the story has one set of brothers and the result. The second half is the story of one of those brothers who now has two sons. Along with that storyline is the discussion of good and evil, with a lot of words of the wiser throughout. The introduction discussed how Steinbeck took 2 1/2 years to prepare for this book. I believe this book is a masterpiece.
I also finished The Joy Luck Club by Amy Tan. In class we read Rules of the Game. That story is from the viewpoint of Waverly, the daughter. Well, this book has another story from her viewpoint, but this time she is older and married. Then, there is a third story, but the point of view is from her mother and what she was trying to do. Lastly, Waverly goes back to China because her mother has died. We get to see how her story and her mother's story join. There are other characters as well whose collections of short stories do the same thing. I loved this collection of short stories because of the different points of view. I also love the way I learned about the Chinese culture through these intimate portraits of families. Maybe I enjoy this book more because I am a 45 year-old and I am starting to see how my mom tried to teach me what she thought I needed, just as I am trying to teach my children. Regardless, the author weaves the stories smoothly, and I plan to use these stories as models when I teach short story.
Good luck in 9th grade. I hope you have spent time relaxing this summer. But, as you know, I hope you have spent time growing yourself. That does not mean I expect everyone to read books. No. Not at all. But pay attention to how much time you spent observing life, living life, and avoiding life.
Observing life: What I mean is, the best artists pay attention to the world around them. They study it. They can see that they can be apart from that life at times as an observer. The world has lots of lessons to teach us if we look for them.
Living life: Obviously we live life. I have spent much of the summer doing life. Later, in those quiet moments, I reflect on the day as an observer and look for what I have learned that day.
Avoiding life: We all are living, so obviously you cannot avoid being alive. But I pay attention to when I use anything to just get away from the world. What is it I am trying to avoid? Should I be getting away from it? Should I be facing it instead? Or, yes, I decide, I do need to get away. Avoiding life is natural, but I pay attention to why.
I say all these things because each of us has a story to tell. Each of us contains the lessons of our parents and the world. Writers take the time to write their stories down, just as an artist paints or a singer sings.
We all have something to offer if we pay attention.
-MrBoZ
