For Shame, For Shame

2007-08-23T14:40:00.000-05:00

Yes, I know that as a self announced "book addict" I should have spent all summer reading. Reading tons and tons of books. From June to Mid-August I should've have accumulated millions of words and they should all be floating around in my head. I should be full of knowledge and tales of love, adventure, and death from reading.

Instead I found myself reading nothing at all. I have no excuse and for current and future parents: Don't allow your child to have a t.v. in his/her room. It's not good-we spend all day and night watching t.v.; from shows about motherhood to late night unedited comedy shows.

So ironically, I have managed to cram all of my reading into a two week period while getting ready for my last year of school. Here it is and I hope the rest of you have done much, much better than I did.

On the back of the book are the words. "Lies My Teacher Told Me is for anyone who has fallen asleep in history class." That sentiment might actually be true. History classes are, in general, the least popular. People consider it boring-why focus on the past? What's done is done man. Who cares? Frankly, I've always been a History buff, particularly WWII. I grew up reading my dad's books on the American Civil War and later read about ghettos during Hitler's reign. How could one not love History? Because schools make it boring for a lot of us, which is why many don't take any past their secondary education.

History is often sugercoated and/or simplified, making it quite boring. This book focuses more on American History and the things that we weren't/aren't being told in class. I had no clue Woodrow Wilson was such a racist? That he pissed off Latin America with his invasions? Everyone remembers Hellen Keller as the woman who was blind and deaf, yet learned to communicate with others. Did you know she was a socialist? They're not telling us that in the History books. Sorry Columbus, but you were not the first and I think you should get your holiday taken away-they don't even let us stay home from school on it anymore.

I wish I could give a great and in depth review for this book, but I'm only on Chapter Two. Yet I do feel this book should be read-it's a great eyeopener and quite fun in some places.

Introduction: Something Has Gone Very Wrong

Handicapped by History: The Process of Hero-making
1493: The True Importance of Christopher Columbus
The Truth about the First Thanksgiving
Red Eyes
"Gone with the Wind": The Invisibility of Racism in American History Textbooks
John Brown and Abraham Lincoln: The Invisibility of Antiracism in American History Textbooks
The Land of Opportunity
Watching Big Brother: What Textbooks teach about the Federal Government
Down the Memory Hole: The Disappearance of the Recent Past
Progress is Our Most Important Product
Why is History Taught Like This?
What is the Result of Teaching History Like This?

Afterward: The Future Lies Ahead-and What to Do about Them

Pros: The author is funny, candid, and manages to not spew out anti school propaganda. He's also done his research, referring to twelve standard school History books as reference to the chapter topics. He even offers suggestions at the end and isn't afraid to admit that even he doesn't know quite what to do about the situation. The stories told contradict what's been taught for years, without sounding "angry" about it. Rather he tells the truth, so far. He seems to understand that, like any business, there are unwritten "rules" that need to be followed in order to keep schools, the govt., and parents happy.

Cons: This books was published in 1995, so not everything is up to date. For all I know, many history books might be more honest now, much like the way McDonald's became more "healthy" after Supersize Me came out. Though there might be an updated and revised version out there-it is simply my own copy that is from the fore mentioned year. I wish there were more stories as this book focuses mainly on early American History. There actually is no "formula" with the book, as it seems to jump from a certain linear subject than to another chapter that is altogether different.

Note: There are actually other books written by the author, including one that focuses on Christopher Columbus which I am now looking for.

"Let them eat cake" Oh man, that infamous quote that has been forever associated with the Queen of France, who eventually got beheaded. Turns out she probably didn't even say it. Rather, it was a story that had been floating around for years and had been said about many women of high rank. I picked up this book because I love biopics and I read somewhere that it was the basis for Sophia Coppola's film based on the late queen.

We all think we know: the glamour, the clothes, the gambling, the later trouble, etc. Yes all of that is true and this book does nothing to challenge any of those things. Rather what Antonia Fraser does is go to the beginning to the end. When many are told about Marie Antoinette, she is already gambling away money as queen while the people of France starve away. Yet this non fiction book goes back to Marie's roots in Austria where she, as one of the younger of many children, was never expected to be queen at all. It explores the idea that Marie was indeed human, with a journey that goes from the relaxed palace in Austria to the rigid, rank obsessed, over the top Versailles. I actually felt sympathy for Marie, especially when reading about her marriage that remained unconsummated for years-imagine the humiliation, especially in a court that would probably put many high schools to shame.

Part One - Madame Antoine

Chapter One- Born to Obey
Chapter Two - Greatness
Chapter Three - Greatness
Chapter Four - Sending an Angel

Part Two - The Dauphine

Chapter Five - France's Happiness
Chapter Six - In Front of the Whole World
Chapter Seven - Strange Behaviour
Chapter Eight - Love of a People

Part Three - Queen Consort

Chapter Nine - In Truth a Goddess
Chapter Ten - An Unhappy Woman?
Chapter Eleven - You Shall Be Mine...
Chapter Twelve - Fulfilling Their Wishes

This is just the first half of the book, with three more parts and 15 more chapters to go.

Pros: It's a very detailed novel that takes a sympathetic look at Marie's life. It also goes back to the very beginning, with brief information on her own parents' lives and their rise to power. It studies certain events and people that might have had an impact on Marie's own personality and her choices in life. It not only explains her, but the life she lived in: The Austrian court vs. the French one, the politics behind the arranged marriage, the rivalry and hate felt against the Austrians and French people. Quite an interesting book, with details explained well and I imagine it this author were to write a fiction novel based on Marie's life, I would read it.

Cons: There's a lot of repeating in the novel, with certain things named over and over again. Sometimes it seems I would get all of the people confused, as they would be explained briefly once. I found myself taking notes on all the people mentioned and the role he/she played. Also this book takes a sympathetic look at Marie, and if one isn't used to that, it can feel as if the author is just making excuses- I didn't feel that way personally, but a friend did.

Up next? An article on my fascination and frustration with everyone's favorite boy wizard, Harry Potter.

Bring out the Champagne!

2007-04-06T12:51:00.000-05:00

Yes, here it is: a blog. Unlike my other blogs, yes I have a myspace, I want to dedicate this one to my favorite hobby in the world. Well, after destroying the self esteem of teenage boys. Anyways, reading. I'll read anything. I want to read everything I can get my hands on. I had no friends as a youngster, and books were the escape. They couldn't change. Eventually, I branched out from the Junie B. Jones series to Harry Potter, to my current fave Zadie Smith. So alas, I do not claim to be a book critic. I'm not a literary expert. I won't pretend to know everything an English major should know about a work. I read newspapers, magazines, and novels ranging from fiction to sociology. My grammer is not perfect and I won't tell you what you should or should not read. So enjoy!

Words on the Pages

For Shame, For Shame

Bring out the Champagne!