When you re-read a classic you do not see in the book more than you did before. You see more in you than there was before. -Clifton Fadiman
Ok... so it seems like every time I turn around, I become completely enraptured with something new: monkeys, room mate time, moto-taxis, mint-choc bars...the list goes on and on. But today I want to draw attention back to an old love, one that has been faithful and enriching throughout my twenty two years. Yes, the relationship I've had with books has been one of the most satisfying of my life. As a matter of fact, this trip, I think I've probably spent more at the bookstore than I have on rent and food and airfare combined. But what can I say? It's love.
My love for reading was certainly instilled in me by my mom and grandma, who are both the most diligent of readers (although I don't seem to have inherited their love of crossword puzzles...hmm...). By the time I was in Kindergarten, while my classmates were puzzling over "See Spot Run"-esque books, I was powering through juvenile paperbacks. By grade 2, I had sunk my teeth into the typical adolescent girl series, the Little House on the Prarie books, and before long, I was into the Anne of Green Gables series (which remains one of my ultimate favorites to this day).
While I've struggled through some of the "classics" over the years, I've always leaned towards fiction. However, through this past year, I've really started digging into some really neat stuff, especially autobiographies and memoirs. Since coming on this trip, I have completely immersed myself in some amazing works, even alot of non-fiction. It's like the more I step out of my comfort zone and read books that I have considered too challenging or dry in the past, the more I pleasantly surprised I become.
I've gotten in a habit of asking new friends I've met to write down a list of the most important books (academic and otherwise) that they'd strongly recommend. I've already read so many amazing things just by hearing about them through others. For instance, Heather recommended A Thousand Splendid Suns, by Khaled Hosseini, which I'd always discounted in the past because it follows the lives of two Afgan women. I shamefully have no idea what is going on in the Middle East, so the book really didn't interest me in the least, but after reading it, I am completely fascinated, and have now found yet another corner of the earth I can't wait to learn all about. The book is heartwrenching, infuriating, and an absolute rollercoaster, but an amazing tale of two women and how their lives intertwine.
Another great novel that I just happened to stumble across is My Father's Daughter by Hannah Pool. I picked this one up in Rwanda, and powered through it in one afternoon. It's the story of an Eritrean woman who was adopted by an English couple as an infant, and raised in Eupore. When she finds out that she has an entire faimly in Eritrea, she heads back for the first time, to meet the family she never knew she had. It's realy fascinating, she talks about growing up as a black woman in a predominantly white community, only to arrive to her birthplace and be treated as as a foreigner because of her upbringing, despite the fact that now she is with her blood relatives.
Shake Hands with the Devil by Canadian Lt. Gen. Romeo Dallaire, which I have mentioned before, is the book that basically inspired to me to jump on a plane to Rwanda. I so highly recommend this book! It's a grueling and technical read, and incredibly graphic and infuriating, but perfectly describes the precursors to the genocide, as well as a detailed account of the UN mission throughout the 100 days. Shelby (who has a huge crush on Dallaire, as do I... haha) was reading the book while we were there, and locals would notice, and come up and talk to us about Dallaire, and what a hero he is. Man, sometimes, I'm so proud to be Canadian, I can hardly stand it.
Thanks to Hallie, Corrine, Amanda, Hans, Cherie, and Shelby, I've been pointed towards some really fascinating books about the current affairs in Africa, including:
Dead Aid Dambisa Moyo
Race Against Time Stephen Lewis
An Imperfect Offering James Orbinski
The Challenge for AfricaWangari Maathai
The Bottom Billion Paul Collier
The books are all really diverse; some focus on international aid as the pivotal problem in Africa today, while others argue that with huge increases in aid, all of the problems will be solved. I would so strongly recommend them all! It's really satisfying to be able to start understanding how all the issues come togetehr. I hope I am inspired enough to continue this independant reading and learing when I return home!!
For anyone who is so inclined to pick up a really amazing book, the following are probably my favorite books in the world, and I completely guarantee that they are some of the most uplifting, thought-provoking books I've ever read:
The Diary of Anne Frank Anne Frank
Shake Hands with the Devil Romeo Dallaire
The Glass Castle Jeanette Walls
Anne of Green Gables Lucy Maud Montgomery
Eat Pray Love Elizabeth Gilbert - This book gets an honorable mention because it is my favorite book of all time, and I can't even explain how comforting and uplifting and inspiring I find it. If you were to read one book in the rest of your entire life, I would strongly recommend that this would be it.
It's kind of funny, I have had at least 2 or 3 books on the go all summer long. I always have at least a book or two in my bag when I go to work every day, and it helps pass the long ride to and from the office every day. Over time, I've become somewhat of the un-offical library of the office! It started out simply enough, with Anne asking me one day what I was reading as we sat side-by-side... Next thing I knew, I was being asked on a daily basis what book I was currently reading, and as soon as I finish one, it's already been promised to someone else who can't wait to read it. I love finding people who can understand my overwhelming love for literature.
-Delaney
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