Cait Guyette

What might have been...

Revisado: 08-16-20

Maybe reading What Happened was an act of masochism and finding a Hillary Rodham Clinton that was more relatable and real than you ever see in the media was the most painful part. I am a born and raised Democrat and I definitely voted for Clinton, but she wasn’t my first choice. This is not because she’s not supremely qualified, but because of her (perceived) baggage and electability. What Happened chronicles the obstacles she faced in 2016 that no other presidential candidate had ever seen. Clinton spends a lot of time on James Comey’s unprofessional obsession with her emails, Russian involvement in the election, the perfect storm of that moment in time meeting a Trump candidacy, sexism, misogyny, and unequal treatment by the media. And although she does mention her tendency to put up her guard when attacked which explains a lot, I do think she didn’t really commit to being open about how her own weaknesses might have affected the results. Everything can’t be someone else’s fault. That being said, it was a good book. Clinton is nothing if not thorough, detailed, well thought out, and very smart and this book is evidence. There are sections that are a bit repetitive, especially if you’ve read her other books, but it’s worth it for the insights into her personal moments of running for President and being married to a former president. It’s not all crying into the abyss that is our current State, because, as usual, Clinton is moving on, and I think that is the most inspirational. If she can still have hope in a country that elected a narcissistic, unqualified sexual predator over a woman who has spent her entire life trying to make our nation better for everyone, then we probably all should have hope, too. Of course, Clinton has a strategy and she lays that out in the last chapter.
I still remember voting by mail for Clinton with my Nana who instilled in me the Democratic virtues of seeking a newer world and the hope I felt that day as a woman - and as an American - to see her finally break that glass ceiling. And the despair I felt election night when it was clear she wouldn’t. But Clinton’s right, someone will. And someday Americans will look back at this ridiculous point in time and the huge mistakes that were and will be made and at how small-minded some could be for thinking a woman couldn’t be President. And we owe her a debt of gratitude for paving the way.

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3.5 stars

Revisado: 05-09-20

Into the Night is the second in Sarah Bailey’s DS Gemma Woodstock series. I had many of the same issues with this instalment as I did with the previous. Something about the way she describes the person who ends up being the murder but it immediately tips me off and ruins the suspense. Or maybe I’ve just watched enough Law & Order to be *that* good? Also, I found that aspects of the story often too neatly connected back to Gemma. She is the main character, but not the nexus of the universe. Since the primary murder victim was famous I did find the focus and study of modern celebrity very interesting and realistic. Other than that, much of the book is focused on Gemma’s dumpster fire of a personal life. It’s interesting and a bit refreshing to see a female character who has put her career before her child. Bailey delves into the feelings of guilt and detachment associated with this. There are also some very realistic and raw #metoo elements that for me elevated this book.

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Interesting but disappointing

Revisado: 04-05-20

3.5 stars
I've found myself re/reading all of Jane Austen's novels in the order in which they were published and was quite surprised by Mansfield Park. I have seen and very much enjoyed the 1999 film adaptation, but I have discovered it does not strictly follow the book.
Mansfield Park is not what is expected of an Austen novel but it is very fascinating social commentary of the time. In that way there is not a tremendous amount of plot which can make it seem to drag a bit (more so at the beginning). I think the main thing for me is that I don't particularly *like* Fanny Price which is a big change from Austen's great heroines of the Bennett and Dashwood sisters, etc. Those women are in less than desirable situations but all have qualities and strength which ends up lifting them from these situations and end up making them happy. Fanny Price is from the poor branch of a family and goes to live with her wealthy aunt, uncle, and cousins. She is put down and disparaged nearly her entire life (and book) as less than purely because she is the product of a less than desirable marriage. This obviously makes her very shy, self-conscious, and timid. The part I don't like is that this deference to everyone and her feeling of unworthiness is what ends up making her so liked by the men in the story - the rich uncle and her cousin, Edmund, who she is in love with (also ick). She is physically weak (because of her inferior birth obvs) and is painfully awkward. She has spent her time improving herself with reading instead of more lavish activities the spoiled cousins are indulged with, but she, and Edmund, are very judgemental of anything outside of their purview. Fanny is also rather two-faced and jealous, but those things never come back to haunt her as everyone else's flaws do. It is literally not until the last paragraph that Edmund thinks of Fanny as anything other than a sister and with little reasoning behind it or much revelation of how Edmund has come around to agree with Fanny's inner hopes. Perhaps as the author of some of the best heroines ever written my expectations were too high. Mansfield Park is an interesting and entertaining study in social satire which I will certainly be thinking about for a while, but it is a story that I found difficult to be invested in.

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Dry writing doesn’t do justice to the story

Revisado: 03-23-20

2.5 stars
Defiance is the true story of a group of jews who survived World War 2 hiding out in the forests of Belarus. Although there were other otriads of partisans, the Bielski Otriad, led by the the three Bielski brothers was the bravest. They would accept any jewish person - young or old, fighter or not.
This book is very difficult and dense to get through. It can sometimes feel like a list of facts, which, I think, doesn't do justice to how brave these people were and what insane, horrific times they lived through. The author talks about interviewing many survivors, including an interview with Tuvia Bielski before he died and I think the book would have been greatly improved by adding some of their feels about that time and also maybe a section about what the 1200 survivors went on to do.
The most powerful moment of the book was a quote from Tuvia about how they would take any jew and were prepared to die for them, because then they'd at least die like a human being. Certainly a sentiment to think about during these times.

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Amazing story disserviced by writing

Revisado: 03-03-20

3.5 stars.
I feel bad giving this a low-ish rating as it is an amazing and true story and its outcome is very welcome, but in the writing it is often lacking.
The title alone removes most suspense in how the story will turn out. It’s hard to get emotionally invested in a story when you already know the outcome.
Each chapter bounces from one part of the family to another, and while I liked that it kept all the timelines even, every chapter I had to remind myself who these characters were again and where they were, both geographically and in terms of the bigger story. Because you are following all branches of the Kurc family you are detached from feeling the anxiety the characters feel about what has happened to everyone. I think it would have been beneficial to hold Addy’s updates from the moment he gets his draft notice until a chapter after V-E Day, so the reader, too, could feel the elation of finding him alive.
The prose is very journalistic and could do with a major infusion of emotion. The book feels more like a nonfiction account than a terrifying and heroic dramatisation of her family’s history. I felt I was drawing more on my past Holocaust sources (Schindler’s List, etc.) to paint a picture in my mind because of a lack of detail and feeling. There are parts that are truly horrific and terrifying and read like a to-do list.
I also didn’t like the implication I felt that the family survived because they took chances. Yes, they did take chances and survived. And perhaps others would have survived if they had taken different chances, too. But that is not why others died. They died because of evil people. Many people took destiny in their hands and died because of it. We need to remember it was not Jews’ actions that caused their genocide but the actions of Nazis and those that allowed them to perpetrate their evil plans. That’s why Felicia says they were “the lucky ones.”

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I can't help rereading this classic

Revisado: 02-27-20

There is something so comforting about rereading a favourite book. I've decided to read Austen's entire oeuvre and Pride & Prejudice never fails to satisfy. Every time I read it I always acutely feel Elizabeth's romantic tension with Darcy and her mortification of her family's words. If you find "less insipid" a brutally funny compliment, this book is for you. It is full of the sly, biting social commentary for which Austen is known. On top of which, it is one of the greatest love stories ever told. Elizabeth and Darcy come to love each other after seeing all of each others' flaws. Practically revolutionary at the time. There are some wonderful adaptations for the screen, but the book is always best. Rosamund Pike is a delightful narrator and really loved her versions of this and Sense and Sensibility.

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Manages to make the interesting quite dull

Revisado: 02-22-20

Karen Abbott writes about such interesting subjects, but somehow makes them arduous efforts to finish. I liked this more than her others but owe that to my natural curiosity in prohibition. Abbott is an incredible researcher, but fails in weaving her research into an enjoyable endeavour for the reader. Too much secondary and tertiary information muddles a story which should be quite interesting on its own. The grand Crescendo of the story is reduced to rote court documents. I don’t expect a novel, but there are so many wonderful nonfiction writers that easily avoid the pitfalls that Abbott continually falls in.

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A must read and a brilliant performance

Revisado: 02-17-20

Sense and Sensibility is definitely a story I know so well I might get away with not reading it. I’m a long time fan of the Emma Thompson/Ang Lee adaptation which is great. I have even more respect for Thompson, who adapted the screenplay, because that film is so close to the book. I think the only thing it cut too much of is Jane Austen’s great sense of humour. I laughed out loud several times reading Austen’s sassy descriptions, dead pan retorts, and sometimes vicious observations. It feels so fresh and modern.
Rosamund Pike is so talented. She deftly switches voices with each distinct character and is able perfectly portray Austen’s dry wit.
Pride and Prejudice is the most popular of her works and it is one of my favourites of all time as well. Elizabeth Bennett is one of greatest characters ever written. But Eleanor and Marianne are more dynamic and entertaining sisters and made for such a fun and fulfilling read.

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Not worth the hype

Revisado: 02-02-20

American Dirt is a novel about Mexican cartels and migration written for basic gringas in book clubs. I am a fairly basic gringa. (But I did get kicked out of my book club years ago for the books I picked: David Sedaris was the nail in my book group coffin. I feel no remorse.)
The story starts compellingly but unravels into cliches. When I got this book I liked the sound of the story but as I live at the end of the earth, I wasn’t aware of the hype and subsequent backlash this book had received until after I started reading. I then tried to avoid all of the above.
So this is my take: To begin I am a person who believes in a full scale overhaul of the United States’ immigration policy is needed. I believe in Dreamers. I believe we need to create viable paths to citizenship for people. I’ve worked alongside legal and illegal immigrants and 1st generation citizens who have become lifelong friends and who are the most generous, kind people you could meet despite the majority of the USA treating them like garbage. I also left the United States and am a migrant in another country. I did not leave because of violence or in fear, so I don’t know that experience, but leaving your home, whether you want to or not is hard - and I travelled on a plane not jumping onto moving trains or trekking through the desert. But I know what it’s like to be “other” and to learn to never refer to myself as American again.
That being said, I do think books are a powerful way to bring awareness to these issues. Some basic white people need to realise “these criminals coming to take their jobs” are people: mothers, fathers, sons, and daughters. The fact that it this needs to happen is sad, but true. I think Jeanine Cummins meant well (and a 7 figure book deal probably didn’t hurt). I do believe an author is most effective when writing what they know, but should be able to write to others’ experiences if done with respect and research without condemnation. But they will and should be held to a higher standard.
The biggest problem with American Dirt is it just doesn’t hold up to even a normal standard. The characters are simple stereotypes, the action is predictable, the morals are clumsy and heavy handed, and the American Dream propaganda a bit too loud.
The most interesting and complex character to me was Javier, La Lechuza. I wish there had been more chapters on him and his viewpoint. He is still a bit of stereotype and the way that storyline ends is very disappointingly anti-climatic.
Yes, I think people who have lived a life a bit closer to Lydia’s should write this book. Yes, I think people who have been writing books of better quality but with less impressive press tours and blurbs should get more press and widespread devotion. But maybe this book and the controversy will get a basic gringa to seek out more authentic voices or, even better, to support immigration reform and closer ties to our neighbour, Mexico, to work together to reduce cartel violence.

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Fascinating Read

Revisado: 01-27-20

Former Director of National Intelligence, James Clapper's book Fact and Fears: Hard Truths from a Life in Intelligence might seem like it's going to be boring, or overstuffed with facts to be considered an interesting story, but, in fact, he's led a fascinating life and his self-deprecating style makes this a good read. After retelling his childhood and rise in the ranks of the intelligence community, roughly the full second half of the book deals with modern intelligence issues like WikiLeaks. Some readers might be only in this for the goss on the 2016 presidential election and any Russian collusion allegations, but I think leaving the book in chronological order is important. It sets up the trust in Clapper. He is man that cares about the truth. He's apolitical throughout the book - openly admiring and sparring with leaders from both sides of the aisle. He openly admits when mistakes were made. Me explains his public "gaffes". You can tell that he published this book out of sincere public interest for national security. Clapper swore an oath to uphold the constitution and despite being "only a civilian," you can tell he still cares deeply about this promise. Since this book was published two years ago there aren't going to be any new revelations about Russia's involvement in the election and what Trump and his team did behind closed doors, but it make you certain that there needs to be something done to protect the legitimacy of all future elections.

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