Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut

I just finished reading this, finally. I mean, war books can take a long time to get through, right? So it goes. Anyway, Slaughterhouse Five is largely about author Kurt Vonnegut's experiences fighting as an American soldier in World War II. His tone and phrasing throughout the book are full of dark humor. A commonly used expression in Slaughterhouse is, "So it goes." It is Vonnegut's unique writer's device, used to transition from A to B in his writing, and to explain the "why" behind unjust events. To me, it's Vonnegut's equivalent of saying "Shit happens," "And that was that." Here's an example of how he uses the phrase: "..they saw some other people moving down by the riverside and they shot at them. They hit some of them. So it goes."

Vonnegut mainly writes about the awfulness of one particular bombing, in which he was present after he'd been captured as a prisoner of war during the final months of World War II. It was the Bombing of Dresden, an air raid bombing in Germany in 1945, whose death toll and destruction Vonnegut implies, were greater than the death toll and destruction of Hiroshima, Japan. (Casualties according to estimates in the 1970s by comparison: Hiroshima - 71,379; Dresden - 135,000). (More recent estimates suggest the casualties from Dresden to be between 22,000-25,000).

The plot of Slaughterhouse Five, and the main characters, are presented in such a way that Vonnegut's timeline of events is extremely erratic. This disjointed storyline is perhaps a coping mechanism for Vonnegut the writer, or to represent a reflection of a soldier's nightmarish memories. OR perhaps a way to make the story more interesting and bearable for readers, or himself. It does make the story more full, more colorful, and much less horrible to read about the destruction and aftermath of the bombing. His erratic plotline, absurd events and darkly comedic commentary make me think that Vonnegut himself must have suffered serious psychological repercussions from having witnessed the firebombing of Dresden. So it goes. (and by the way, I generally found this book to be very entertaining, enjoyable and historically educational).

Favorite excerpts:

[after the author compares the wreckage of Dresden aesthetically to the face of the moon].
"Nobody talked much as the expedition crossed the moon. There was nothing appropriate to say. One thing was clear: Absolutely everybody in the city was supposed to be dead, regardless of what they were, and that anybody that moved in it represented a flaw in the design. There were to be no moon men at all."

"Billy got out of bed in the moonlight. He felt spooky and luminous, felt as though he were wrapped in cool fur that was full of static electricity. He looked down at his bare feet. They were ivory and blue."

Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert

Genre: Self-help; travel-adventure narrative
Length: 445 pages (compact version)
Purchase here (used: $3 ; new: $8)

You've probably heard of this book. I'm not a girly-girl, but personally I found it helpful--even comforting to read. It reminded me that I don't have to be traditional if I don't want to be. It reminded me that I don't HAVE to get married and have kids by age 30--or by any age for that matter.

I can relate in so many ways to Gilbert's journey, reflections and her most cherished role--that of a writer. After a bad breakup--and much deliberation and desperation-- she chose to temporarily leave her life in New York City and travel to Italy, India and Indonesia for one year (4 months each). I too was seeking something more in 2009 when I went to South Korea for one year. The events that lead up to my travels mirrored Gilbert's story in many ways. So, this story spoke to me on a sincere, personal level. But I believe Gilbert's message is so universal--anyone can embark on a similar, soul-searching adventure, (and without the international travel). This is what I took Gilbert's message to be: If you're stuck in a rut and you can't find your way out, take a bold leap and create a new path for yourself--one that might defy convention--one that feels right for YOU. Search yourself and your surroundings--or change your surroundings--be willing to work at it. Don't hold onto your possessions and your attachments so tightly. Be yourself and allow time, space and people to help heal you.

I wasn't much a fan of Gilbert's quirky, informal writing style at first, but I came to appreciate it as her own. She added a lot of needed texture by researching the histories, evolution and etymologies of the things she wrote about and including her findings along with her personal anecdotes and musings--which were oftentimes hilarious. She at times revealed details of her darkest hours--something to which every reader can reach out and connect. I eventually came to like her writing style, but I do think it was very "Sex and the City" at times, too. (Only more cultured, with less drinking and much less sex).

Something that still strikes me as a little peculiar is how "perfectly" everything seemed to evolve throughout the story. I find myself asking several questions. 1. Had Gilbert not had a wealth of prior international travel experience, would she have adapted so well to living in 3 foreign countries for a year during her writings? 2. Had she not had financial support and abundant resources to pull from, would she have been able to fund such a wild, luxurious and therapeutic journey? However, I believe her message is that we should each create our own journey--whatever works for each person's budget and personal needs.

Verdict: 4 stars out of 5.

Ten Things I Wish I'd Known Before Going Into the Real World

Author: Maria Shriver
Genre: self-help

I ordered this one on half.com as an audiobook, because I've only ever done the audiobook thing once in my life before. I got this particular piece by Shriver because I was so inspired by her last little self-help book, and I admire her focus, ambition and ability to multitask career & family. As a woman, that kind of balance is like a fine art. What made me respect her so much in her last book was that her writer's voice uniquely demonstrated her ability to be down-to-earth and laugh at herself - while realistically acknowledging her fortunate background.

I was able to listen to Ten Things...while just driving around to various appointments in the span of 2-3 days. I would recommend this as an audiobook because it seemed like the perfect way to consume/ingest such a story. Shriver's story further inspired me to work through professional and personal obstacles and to not worry about the opinions and judgments of others.

The Language of Blood by Jane Jeong Trenka

Length: 263 pages
Genre: Narrative Memoir/World Cultures
To Purchase: $0.25-$23 on Amazon

This novel is a memoir by a Korean-American adoptee. Brought to the United States in the 1970s, Kyong-Ah left her Korean identity at the time of her adoption by American parents--thereby becoming Jane Brauer. Trenka tells her story chronologically, detailing her grade school years spent in rural Minnesota, and college years in a more urban setting in MN. Later in the book, she tells of her return to Korea and learning all about her family--recovering her Korean identity and establishing special bonds with her Umma (mother) and sisters.

The perspective with which she writes is fascinating and I admire Trenka's style--she is a realist and tells it like it is. Some parts of her story were challenging to get through, but overall it was extremely insightful for anyone interested in topics ranging from cultural studies to adoption. My experience living in S. Korea this past year gave me a deeper appreciation for Trenka's story. I'm grateful my Korean friend Zee was kind enough to lend me this book!

To learn more the author's books and writings, visit her blog here. I'm looking forward to reading her follow-up book. Here are some of my favorite quotes from throughout The Language of Blood:

"Some things I will never know; others I am learning gradually, with effort and determination. In the latter category are Korean manners and language, including the names of things with no English equivalents; Korean history; the difference between Eastern and Western dragons; how not to stereotype other Asian people. I am learning to navigate the gap in perception that lies between my view of the world, the white American view of the world, and the Korean view of the world."

"Consider another recipe: Start with a girl girl whose blood has been steeped in Korea for generations, imprinted with Confucianism and shamanism and war. Extract her from the mountains. Plant her in wheat fields between the Red River and the Mississippi. Baptize her. Indoctrinate her. Tell her who she is. Tell her what is real. See what happens."

"So, like a know-it-all, naive college graduate who thinks she is going to be "alternative" and cool, like a dumb American who tries to mimic the native culture but fails badly without even knowing it--I choose a gold, reversed swastika. I thought it would be great to take back to America because it's a Buddhist symbol, and I would look super-exotic wearing it, and I was so happy with myself for even knowing it was a Buddhist symbol, and so on."

"I have little patience for "ex-pates" who ricochet around the globe in search of the perfect cafe, willing women, cheap wine. Yet there are some whose experiences resonate with me; for those who find their place, their second home, yearning is transformed into something else, something ghostly yet real as flesh."

"All She Wrote" - a poem by Harryette Mullen

The following poem is a favorite of mine and especially lately, having been in Asia for almost 10 months now, it makes a lot of sense to me :) I studied Harryette Mullen's book of poetry Sleeping With the Dictionary in college and it is one of my very favorite poetry books.

All She Wrote

Forgive me, I’m no good at this. I can’t write back. I never read your letter.
I can’t say I got your note. I haven’t had the strength to open the envelope.
The mail stacks up by the door. Your hand’s illegible. Your postcards were
defaced. Wash your wet hair? Any document you meant to send has yet to
reach me. The untied parcel service never delivered. I regret to say I’m
unable to reply to your unexpressed desires. I didn’t get the book you sent.
By the way, my computer was stolen. Now I’m unable to process words. I
suffer from aphasia. I’ve just returned from Kenya and Korea. Didn’t you
get a card from me yet? What can I tell you? I forgot what I was going to
say. I still can’t find a pen that works and then I broke my pencil. You know
how scarce paper is these days. I admit I haven’t been recycling. I never
have time to read the Times. I’m out of shopping bags to put the old news
in. I didn’t get to the market. I meant to clip the coupons. I haven’t read
the mail yet. I can’t get out the door to work, so I called in sick. I went to
bed with writer’s cramp. If I couldn’t get back to writing, I thought I’d catch
up on my reading. Then Oprah came on with a fabulous author plugging
her best selling book.

"Bumping Into Geniuses" by Danny Goldberg

Genre: Narrative rock 'n roll
Length: 288 pgs.
to purchase click here - from $1 (used) to $20 (new)

Music executive Danny Goldberg began his career as a rock fan who "wanted to worm [his] way into...the community of rock critics." Right out of high school, he landed a job at Billboard's head offices in NY, thinking they were a "generic magazine," soon learning that, the rock music that meant so much to him, "was also part of something called the music business." He then takes readers through his eventful and awe-inspired career, working with bands and artists such as Patti Smith, Led Zeppelin, Stevie Nicks, Bonnie Raitt, Kiss, Nirvana, Stone Temple Pilots and Warren Zevon. Though interspersed with enchanting tales of musicianship, artistry and touring, Goldberg's stories sometimes lulled my interest. They were primarily told from the perspective of a PR businessman, so some parts I forced my way through, like the financial breakdowns of various albums he helped market, etc. That being said, I couldn't put the book down when I read his substantial section on his time working with Nirvana. His perspective on their music and surrounding events was refreshing--seemed more authentic and sincere, like it was coming from a real friend and not a rock critic. In addition, Goldberg also includes a substantial section on one of his later clients, Warren Zevon, whose extensive and inspiring music career I'd have probably never learned about otherwise. All in all, it was a good read for someone like me, who is a bit obsessed with rock music and its history, but maybe not a choice read for a non-music fanatic.

The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy

Author: Douglas Adams
Genre: science fiction
Length: about 215 pgs.
available for purchase here ($10-15)

Hmm...what to say about this impossibly clever sci-fi adventure? Apparently, there is a cult of fanatics who are obsessed with this series, but this was my first real science-fiction read (besides reading some Bradbury in HS). HHGG wasn't a book that particularly moved me in a literary sense, BUT it did move me to laugh out loud many times and expand my mind--it was a challenging read with its innovative concepts.
There's so many new concepts and strange names to remember!

The story basically traces the week-long adventure of a human being from Earth, as he's abruptly taken from his doomed planet by his friend, who is actually an alien. Their adventure takes them throughout the galaxy on a state-of-the-art spaceship as they are reunited with old friends and learn about a new, mysterious and man-made planet called Magrathea. The funniest part to me was this one character's name, a resident of Magrathea. His name is Slartibartfast. Every time I read his name I couldn't help but laugh to myself. The plot is hard to explain, as are the characters, and this isn't really my literary genre of expertise, so all I can really say is that it was a really enjoyable and entertaining read. Here's an excerpt from one of my fav. parts of the book:

"Curiously enough, the dolphins had long known of the impending destruction of the planet Earth and had made many attempts to alert mankind to the danger; but most of their communications were misinterpreted as amusing attempts to punch footballs or whistle for tidbits. .... The last ever dolphin message was misinterpreted as a surprisingly sophisticated attempt to do a double-backward somersault through a hoop while whistling the "Star Spangled Banner..."