Book Response: One Day by David Nicholls

I want to call it a love story, but I might be more accurate if I take the words from Emma, one of the main characters, and say that this is a novel about two people who grow up together. 

Emma and Dexter. Dexter and Emma. These two hook up at a graduation party on July 15, 1988. The book narrates their lives, together and separately, on July 15th each year after that for nearly twenty years.  We see and hear about only those things that they think and do on July 15. This structure could be odd, forcing the author to provide a great deal of back story for each year, but Nicholls deploys the structural trope so cleverly. I never felt like I was being force-fed information.  I occasionally wished I could see more of their lives because I loved the characters so much, but bits and pieces of their experiences emerged through the natural progression of living and remembering. In this novel as in life, often we don’t understand the significance of an event until much later in the story. 

Emma and Dexter are friends. We know that each one loves the other, but their friendship is filled with near-misses so tantalizing that we’re almost satisfied. We see how they are both brought together and pulled apart by their action and inaction.  Dexter is a pretty boy from a privileged background. He is sexually very promiscuous and a career alcoholic. Emma comes from humble origins, is politically liberal and vocal, and works hard for everything in her life. Nicholls paints their weaknesses—Dexter’s drink and personal uncertainty is a louder version of Emma’s self-limiting lack of confidence and self-knowledge—with honesty so that we love them both in spite of the stupid things they (ok, mostly Dex) sometimes do.

They have so little in common. We don’t know exactly why they make good friends, but they do. They reserve for one another an honesty and a humor that is absent in their other relationships.  When that—often snarky—honesty breaks down, so does their friendship. But it comes back. The things that we think most likely to drive them apart are often what bring them closer together.

The writing is beautiful.  The one day structure could be clumsy, but Nicholls carries it off with grace. That one day tends to become slightly loaded, perhaps overloaded, with significance for Dexter and Emma, but there’s an implicit argument that each person has days like that on the calendar. Days that for one reason or another attract significance on top of significance.

You will laugh at the dialogue sometimes. Emma and Dexter are so funny with each other. If you are like me, you will also weep. No, you will sob.  Great, body-wracking sobs of grief and anger and surprise and disappointment.  I can’t recall a book in recent memory that has elicited such a profound emotional reaction from me. Don’t quit the book when Nicholls punches you in the gut though. Stay with the story. The final chapters give you what you’ve been hoping for the whole book. They surprise you with what Emma and Dexter have had all along, since that very first July 15.

A stunningly beautiful book that I recommend to anyone wanting to enjoy or write rich characters living in honest realism.   

10 Things: TIPS

Okay everyone. Stretch your fingers. Take out a blank page. It’s time for 10 THINGS!  I give you a prompt, and you write down or type out the first 10 Things you think of. Be serious. Be silly. Just play with the words for a few minutes. There are no wrong answers, and no one will take away your birthday if you think of something absurd. In fact we might just love the absurd things the best. Put your 10 Things in the comments and then read mine.

Ready? What are the first 10 Things you think of when I say…

TIPS

Go!!!

~This space left intentionally blank to limit my influence on your 10 Things~ 

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My TIPS

1.  From the TIPS or your nose to the TIPS of your toes. All of you.

2.  “TIPS” written on the side of the jar, on the counter, in the sandwich shop, decorated with multi-colored squiggles by the guy wearing the rainbow cap over his unwashed hair. 

3. The TIPS of the fingers. FingerTIPS touching each other. FingerTIPS on the window, watching someone leave.

4.  The TIPS of hair. The ends.  TIPped, to be a different color from the rest of the hair, like the lead singer of Berlin in the video for “Take My Breath Away.” That’s what it was called, right?

5. TIPS over. When the little cup of water is filled by the fountain, it TIPS over to drench the giggling child standing underneath. 

6. TIPSy. A little drunk. I’m wondering if he’ll fall on his butt when the chair TIPS over.

7. TIPS from Crimestoppers. Bits of information given anonymously to the police, to help solve crimes. 

8. TIPS about stocks. Sometimes legal. Sometimes called Insider Trading.

9. TIPS off. Warns that something unexpected is about to happen. 

10. Steak TIPS. No, beef TIPS. What recipe would be good for beef TIPS? Would it involve gravy? How about onions?

11. Bonus TIPS (Full Disclosure: some of these acronyms are real. I know because I looked them up. Some of them aren’t. I know because I made them up.) T.I.P.S. An acronym for something, but what? Treasury Inflation-Protected Securities, Training for Intervention Procedures (for servers of alcohol), Tobacco Information and Prevention Source, Trevor’s Inevitable Party Syndrome, Tots Inciting Pickle Stomping, Terrible Innovations in the Postal Service, True Incidents in Parrot Singing) 

Add your 10 Things or your T.I.P.S. in the comments. Right now. 

ABAW September Edition

I finished only three books in September, and I’ve already written about one of them, so this will go fast.  Yes, three books is less than A Book A Week, but if I go with my total number of books read this year (63), I’m still well ahead of the 52 book per year curve. Heck, I could quit now and still be good. But I’m not going to do that. I’d rather torture you with my opinion.  

Books I Read in September

House of Leaves by Mark Z. Danielewski

You can read my reaction to this rather perplexing book here.

Artemis Fowl by Eoinn Colfer

I read this one out loud to the Sonars.  The elder Sonars had read this one on their own before, but for me and Sonar X5 it was the first time.  I enjoyed this book.  I won’t say that I adored it or loved it, but there were several things that I liked and in particular Respected about this book.  It already sounds like a lukewarm date, but I assure you, it’s more fun than that.  Artemis is a twelve-year-old criminal mastermind.  Other than stealing a copy of a very important book from a fairy through the use of threats, intimidation, bribery, and drugs, I wasn’t ever quite clear on the crimes that gave Artemis his reputation, but we are to believe that he is a genius, a hardened criminal, assisted by his faithful servant/bodyguard/thug Butler.  Artemis lives in a world where no one really believes in The People (fairies, trolls, gnomes, goblins, etc.), but they DO exist, living mostly underground and completely in secret.  

In this book Artemis steals gold from a leprechaun.  Except that the leprechaun isn’t a little dude in a green bowler hat, it’s the LEPrecon, “an elite branch of the Lower Elements Police.” And the gold is—oh, well, the gold is just gold. A lot of it.  And he accomplishes this by catching crack LEPrecon Captain Holly Short and holding her for ransom until her bosses pay.  Slightly gritty without being sinister or scary, there are just enough gross jokes to get a snorting giggle, just enough mild swearing to make it feel like you’re getting away with something, and just enough humanity in Artemis to remind you that he is a kid.  A kid with a lot of money and resources, but not a lot of friends.  I liked Holly Short and the struggle she faces as the first woman doing her job.  I liked Butler, who seems like brainless meat at first, but might really be the soul of the series.  I liked the mythology of the story.  I like and respect the honesty in the book and the lack of condescension.  I didn’t feel an instant connection to any of the characters in this book in the same way that I have in other series for kids, but I think that may come in time.  I look forward to the rest of the books in the series.   

Blood Rites (Book 6 of The Dresden Files) by Jim Butcher

This is my favorite Dresden so far.  Fans of the series will recognize the piles and piles of complications, some funny, some terrifying, as Dresden is hired to be the supernatural bodyguard for the taping of a porn movie (In spite of the setting, there is relatively little sex in this book compared to other Dresdens).  Meanwhile a pack of nasty vampires are trying to kill him.  He’s stuck with an abandoned puppy (that may have special powers).  Another, seemingly less nasty but no less dangerous, group of vampires have noticed Dresden and might want him out of the way.  And there’s flying flaming monkey poo.  All in a day’s work . My favorite bits: Orphan Dresden gets some family and the world seems a little less scary.  The door is opened for new romantic involvement for Dresden.  And while Dresden continually reminds himself that he can’t let their humanity distract him into trusting the monsters, it is equally important that he not let their monstrosity distract him from respecting their humanity.  Delicious fun. 

Now Reading

Reading Lolita in Tehran: a Memoir in Books by Azar Nafisi :: A happy gift from my sister.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J. K. Rowling :: Out loud to the Sonars. Again.

Want to Read

The Maze Runner by James Dashner

Physics of the Impossible: a Scientific Exploration into the World of Phasers, Force fields, Teleportation, and Time Travel by Michio Kaku

Sonars are Reading

The Wide Window, Book 3 of The Series of Unfortunate Events by Lemony Snicket

One of the Maximum Ride books by James Patterson. I forget which one. Whoops, it’s actually Ark Angel (an Alex Rider book) by Anthony Horowitz. 

N.E.R.D.S.: M is for Mama’s Boy by Michael Buckley 

Political Polls

I am a Voter.  I like to Vote.  I vote every chance I get.  I guess this gives me a reputation among pollsters as a Likely Voter. This speculation is based on the number of politically-oriented phone calls I get in the weeks before an election.  They call people like me because they think we’re going to vote.  I am an unapologetic Liberal too.  Which makes the quality of many of these calls, um, Interesting.  

This election season, the bias in the questions in these polls is often funny, occasionally appalling, and sometimes inaccurate, and most of the calls I get lean way, way to the right.  Why are there no Democrats calling me yet?

Full disclosure: I am a Democrat.  Do I Always vote for Democrats? No.  Do I usually vote for Democrats? Yes.  Do I consider each candidate on the basis of individual merit, regardless of their party affiliation? To the best of my ability, yes.  Have I made my choices in the upcoming election? Not yet.  Do I lean one way or the other?  Are you even paying attention?  

Back to the phone polls.  The questions often begin by assessing my voting likelihood (Definitely Voting).  After that they might ask about my affiliations and inclinations in general or on specific subjects before moving on to my opinions about specific candidates.  My favorite style is the one that asks me who I think I’ll vote for in a particular race, then asks if claims about one of the candidates have any influence on my vote, then asks me at the end if I’ve changed my mind about how I plan to vote.  Political argument disguised as a poll. 

Last night’s phone call was one of these.  First, it referred to a Senate race in my area in which the candidates are Rep. Solomon Ortiz (D), Blake Farenthold (R), and Ed Mishou (L).  First problem: this is NOT a Senate race.  These are the candidates for U.S. House of Representatives, Texas District 27.  Um, ok.  Second problem: the poller cannot pronounce Farenthold or Mishou with any consistency and keeps referring to the incumbent as “Solomon.”   Now, don’t take this as criticism of the poller.  She was sharp and enthusiastic and friendly.  She did a decent job with the script she was provided.  The script she was provided, though, that was inaccurate and absurd.  If they are wrong about which seat these candidates are vying for, why should I trust their claims about the candidates? 

If you knew that one of the candidates (specifically named) ate puppies for breakfast, would that influence your vote? Would it make you strongly more likely, somewhat more likely, somewhat less likely, strongly less likely, or have no effect on your vote?  

If I “knew” that?  Well, if I knew that to be true, I think it would give me pause.  I would wonder why the police weren’t involved.  But since I doubt the veracity of that statement, I’d have to say it has no effect on my vote.  Please don’t attack me for supporting a puppy-eater.  

Of course, this was not one of the questions, but several of them seemed just as absurd.  So with each question, I had to assess whether I thought the statement was true, and then, if I thought it was, if that would change my vote.  I feel like I have a decent handle on the issues in this race, since I sort of pay attention to that sort of thing sometimes.  But what about a voter who isn’t paying attention?  Would that potential voter be influenced by the statements in this “poll”?  

All but two of the litany of questions included statements that might be damaging to the incumbent, with only two statements about the Republican challenger’s intentions to fight recent legislation (did you notice the bias yet?).  To be sure, some of the statements about Ortiz had some validity.  According to the Wall Street Journal in August, he was among a group of representatives questioned about the use of travel stipends.  Mixing in these bits of truth with the exaggeration, in a long phone call, with the kids needing things and the poller offering to repeat the choices, made it even harder to discern what might be my right answer.  Thank goodness the voting booth is quiet and without time limits (other than the general social pressure of a long line, perhaps, if we’re lucky enough to have a long line at the real polls, the polls that count).

All of this is a long-winded guffaw at polling.  Don’t listen to the poll numbers.  Certainly don’t let pseudo-polls like this one influence who you vote for.  Make sure you’re registered.  Read about the issues in each race.  At least a little bit.  Then go vote.  Vote with your brain and your conscience.  Just vote.  

What’s the most ridiculous question you’ve been asked or heard about in a political poll?  Put it in the comments so we can all laugh with you.  

No one wants to be a puppet, the ethics of opportunity

In 1997 I lived in San Antonio, Texas for one year.  Fresh from New Mexico State University with two degrees (Biochemistry and English) and university honors and tangible working experience as a tutor, a lab tech, and a slinger of electronic media.

UN-gainfully UNemployed.  UNcertain what the heck I was going to do with my life.  UNderstandably worried.  Partner was responsible for our location, and thankfully he was employed.  New schoolteachers in Texas then and now do not get paid very well, though, so there was a certain pressure for me to unseat all of those UNs.

I spent a lot of time with the classified section of the Express-News.  I put out applications for just about everything that was even remotely related to my training and experience and a great deal that was not.  I was hoping to do better than bagging groceries or checking out videos, but was willing to do almost anything that would get a little positive cash-flow going.

One day I got a call from a law office.  This was the sort of law firm that is named after only one person and advertises on the back of the metropolitan phone books of several cities in Texas.  Those ads featured a cowboy hat and boots, and their TV commercials were filled with folksy truisms, a bushy mustache, and a drawl.  I remembered applying to this firm.  They were hiring for several different positions, and I was hoping only to be considered for an intake receptionist.  After all, I had NO legal training of any kind.

Color me surprised then when they wanted to interview me for a different position.  A New position within the firm.  A Very Important position.  And yes, they believed I had the perfect qualifications.  I’d like to say I was cynical, but I was so glad to get a bite for a job and so flattered by the charming voice on the phone that I didn’t blink when he said he wanted to talk to me about being their new Ethics Officer.

Let that sink in a minute.

I was completely terrified and had nothing appropriate to wear.  Almost nothing.  I ended up wearing a shirt and tie with these cheap, sort of dressy, sort of feminine suspendered slacks, and heels.  Everything was brownish.  I was sure I’d fall down with every step.  I thought I’d throw up in the car on the way there.

My interview consisted of thirty-seconds of hateful scrutiny by a receptionist, a ten-minute chat with the venerable proprietor, and five minutes with each of his lawyers.  I had expected to be interviewed by an office manager or something, and was really surprised to be interviewed by the boss.  Mr. Lawyer, esquire, wore a necktie and suspenders and heavy cufflinks.  His suit jacket and cowboy hat hung on a rack next to his office door.  I can’t remember a single thing about that interview except that I was intimidated and nervous and sure that I’d fall down when he led me on a tour of the office.  I remember thinking that MY suspenders were stupid compared to HIS suspenders.

The other two or three lawyers were mostly unmemorable except that none of them seemed too sure what sort of questions they were supposed to ask me or what I would be doing.  They were all white men over forty-five.  All of the staff that I met were hispanic women under thirty.  One lawyer was a retired Navy JAG so freshly installed in the office that half of his law books were still in boxes and his razor haircut was still fresh.  He looked uncomfortable there.

On the trip home the adrenaline rush and fear started to fade into headachy fatigue, and my skepticism and cynicism woke up.  Part of me hoped that they would pay me a lot of money.  Part of me knew that I would have no idea what I was doing in that job.  I had no background in philosophy or ethics or the law.  I didn’t even think I was particularly old enough or wise enough to offer any kind of credible advice about anything morally questionable.  That part of me knew I’d be nothing but a rubber stamp for that slick dude.  A young woman, easily ignored or patronized by the boss.  In that office, I suspected, an Ethics Officer was merely an empty rhetorical device to flash at critics of the morals of that style of law practice.

Still, I thought, it was a job.  I could probably overcome my moral compunctions for a job that didn’t involve videos or grease or even a name tag, right?

They called me the next morning with the job offer.  I declined before the phone call ended.  I think he was surprised, which gave me a thrill.  I eventually found a job in a souvenir gift shop, making almost no money at all, and went off to grad school the next year.  You’d think I’d be remorseful about passing up that job in that law office.  That it was a Good Opportunity, right?

I’ve regretted a few missed opportunities in my life, but missing out on being an Ethics Officer will never be one of them.