Starfruit

A new first for this week: Starfruit!

A co-worker brought in a sack of these beauties from her tree. I have never tried this type of fruit before; it was delicious--kind of like a plum/grape.

In case you were wondering how to eat a starfruit, I'll provide some directions:

Take the fruit and with a knife, cut off the ends; make a shallow cut down each spine to shave off each hard edge. Then make slices along the fruit to create the star-like shapes this fruit is named for (they are so cute!). You might have to pull out a few small seeds, similar to what you would find in a grapefruit or an orange. Then eat and enjoy! Mmm! So good.

Two More

I have two more books to blog about and both were books I would gladly recommend to a friend.

The first book, Room, by Emma Donoghue, was a book I found while wandering around Barnes & Noble. You see, our family loves the bookstore. We often make a trip to the bookstore for a treat at the cafe and then browse the various racks of books and magazines. I love everything about our bookstore. Anyway, I had picked up this particular book each time we've gone for the past month now. I've read a chapter or two and then put it back on the shelf. The last time, I was too engrossed to place it back on the shelf. Instead, I bought it, took it home, and finished it the next day or so.

What is so great about Room? The perspective of the narrator for one; the story is told by a five-year old little boy. Emma Donoghue does an excellent job at allowing the reader to see the world through the eyes of a small, innocent child. I loved the descriptions of play toys, games, television shows, food and daily routines that are ever so important to Jack. The setting is another interesting aspect of the book. Most of the story takes place in a very small room--a shed really. Though small it is the only world that Jack knows. I can't even imagine how difficult it would be for a person to live day in and day out in such a small space.

I also enjoyed the intriguing relationship of mother and son. The situation and circumstances they find themselves are more than what can be described of as unique--a heart-breaking ordeal really--yet the daily struggles and joys are familiar (i.e. getting your child to eat his vegetables, playing games and enjoying a laugh together, etc.). The mother takes her difficult position and makes the best of it; she encourages good habits, teaches her son without the aid of others and in return gains the reverence and respect of a wonderful little boy. I found the idea very inspiring.

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Sarah's Key, by Tatiana de Rosnay, came to me through a friend. She slipped it into my bag after church one day and told me I needed to read it. I had actually seen the movie recently and knew the basic details of the story; I agreed to read it.

The book was fascinating. A double-story is told for the first half. Each chapter fluctuates between the character of Sarah, a ten-year old, Jewish girl living in Paris in July of 1942, and Julia Jarmond, a present day American journalist, living in Paris, married to a Parisian and researching the round-up of Jews that took place in France. The subject matter is stirring and heart-breaking, but out of the haunting details of this horrible historical event, comes a tale of compassion, love, fierce independence and reverence for those who have come before us. The link, which forms between the lives of these two very separate lives, connects all at once and leaves the reader stunned. There is so much to this tale. It truly is worth reading.

I would also recommend seeing the movie. Kristin Scott Thomas plays as Julia Jarmond and I feel she gave a stellar performance. Plus, you get to see the images of Paris before your eyes, not just in your mind, and they use a lot more French than what is found in the pages of the book (I wish they the author would have included more actual French). Both, genres deliver excellent representations of an intriguing story. 

Number 11

I love, love, love this birthday boy!

Sassy Sisters

My sisters never disappoint; they are spirited and fun, classy and outrageous all at the same time.

I love the following pictures because they capture a portion of the playful personalities exuding from the amazing women you see. Being with my family is never boring--never!

Too cute!

This picture of my two cute nieces is one of my favorites from my baby sister's wedding. More to come later...

p.s. Just for your information, my talented mother sewed all of the nieces' dresses. My mom is super cool!

Strawberry Rhubarb Pie

My first attempt at Strawberry Rhubarb Pie...

 

Not so bad looking and even better tasting!

The Debate: To Interpret or Not to Interpret

Interpretation of literature always brings up good debates in our house. As an English major I have been taught to look for meanings found within the pages of a book, whether it be in circumstances of plot, dialogue or narration; it usually drives Zac crazy. He dislikes when people dissect and analyze literature; he claims that no clear evidence exists to support the idea of an author wanting his or her writing to be interpreted in various ways. Well, I just made a discovery that substantiates the process of interpreting literature.

I recently finished reading The Name of the Rose, by Umberto Eco (Harcourt Brace & Co., 1980). At the end of my book was a postscript written by the author, which describes everything from the meaning behind the title to his thoughts on writing a historical novel. Imagine my delight when upon barely starting into the postscript–in fact the beginning of the second paragraph–I read this statement: "A narrator should not supply interpretations of his work; otherwise he would not have written a novel, which is a machine for generating interpretations." Aha! Evidence that the author is expecting even encouraging interpretation of his writing. He continues:

Nothing is of greater consolation to the author of a novel than the discovery of readings he had not conceived but which are then prompted by his readers. When I wrote theoretical works, my attitude toward reviewers was judicial: Have they or have they not understood what I meant? With a novel, the situation is completely different. I am not saying that the author may not find a discovered reading perverse; but even if he does, he must remain silent, allow others to challenge it, text in hand. For that matter, the large majority of readings reveal effects of sense that one had not thought of. (506)

Let's review: although an author may not have intended a certain "reading" or interpretation of his work, he is not necessarily opposed to having the work interpreted in a variety of ways. I can accept that certain analyses push too far becoming "perverse" (as Eco puts it), but I still find it enjoyable and thought-provoking to hear different takes on readings. I will continue to read for enjoyment, but I will still read critically, searching for connotations, etc., that I can relate some significance to and further my connection to the literature I read.