Tinkers

I'm always looking forward to the break between semesters. Winter break is hard because it is so short (though I think that's also a positive. I'm a geek and I love school). It also gives me an opportunity to read something of my own choosing. I decided to start reading Pulitzer of Fiction winners to broaden my influence.

Book number one: Tinkers by Paul Harding.

The story jumps between two narrators. Father and son, both narrators gives separate views of the same relationships and situations. Not only does the story jump between narrators, it jumps between different time periods.

The real standout aspect of this novel is the style with which Harding describes the relationships, settings, and mechanics of clockwork. Harding is an incredibly visual writer. The picture that is painted in the reader's mind, along with the feeling that accompanies it, is truly remarkable.

Because Tinkers is Harding's first novel, many critics have pointed out flaws with the plot. I agree that there were some loose ends that seemed not to be tied up at the end. The style that defines Tinkers is what will carry Harding through his career as a novelist. With more resources and more editors (which Harding is likely to invest in after winning that little thing they call a Pulitzer) many of those loose ends that he may have missed will be easily found and tied up.

I really enjoyed Tinkers. I like being able to see what I'm reading in my head. I like to feeling what I'm reading in my heart. For this reason, the next book on my list is... (drum roll please)... Angle of Repose by the great Wallace Stegner.

Maus

I read Maus by Art Spiegelman last week for my survey of American Literature class.  When I bought the book I was unsure about whether I would like it, mostly because of what I saw when I opened it up:

It's essentially a comic book.  I've never really been into comic books, and the Holocaust seems like it would be a little too intense for that medium.  At first I felt that it might take the events of the story too lightly (which is partly Spiegelman's point), but as I read I forgot I was reading about mice in a comic book.  I think that the medium makes it a little easier to read about some of the horrific experiences of Spiegelman's father.  

It is difficult to define the exact medium that Spiegelman is using.  The common name for a book of this style is graphic novel.  Unfortunately, this is not a novel.  It is the true story of what happened to Spiegelman's father. Thus, it's more of a "graphic memoir."  

The thing that makes this book so interesting is the narrative style.  Spiegelman uses what is called meta-narration.  The author and the narrator are both aware of the fact that they are writing and narrating.  The narrator, which is the writer, constantly refers to the book itself as well as the conversations he has with his dad.  The dynamic between Art and his father makes the story very real (which is almost a direct quote from Art in the book).  The narration is spun in circles, and Spiegelman humorously takes advantage of it.

This was an incredible book.  It won the Pulitzer Prize in 1992.  Maus has influenced me to want to read more of the recent Pulitzer winners from the past few years.  I am picking up Tinkers by Paul Harding today, winner of the Pulitzer of Fiction in 2010.  I am hoping to get a book or two in by the beginning of next semester, so stay tuned!

This is Spiegelman's picture inside the back cover in the About the Author blurb.

Tippy

A couple of weeks ago Melissa and I were talking about what we wanted to do for Christmas.  As is the case with many families today, our financial situation is a little tight.  There was an excellent deal on the Wii at Walmart on Black Friday, so we decided that would be a good idea for Christmas (we are tired of watching Netflix on our computers).

A week and a half ago we were down in Sandy for a family Christmas party, which was also be the last time we saw Melissa's brother before he left for a mission in Germany.  He worked at Petsmart, and they had a Guinea Pig that had an ear infection a while back.  Since then, he holds his head at an angle so Petsmart couldn't sell him, so they were going to give him away.  Melissa's brother suggested we take him, and we said,"heck yes!"

Meet Tippy! One of Melissa's brothers has been keeping him until we could come down and get him!  Looks like we'll have more of a Christmas after all.