end of the world fiction

Is it the end of the world?

Data from End of the world -- Fiction - Cedar Rapids Public Library-Metro Library Network

Data from American poetry -- African American authors - Cedar Rapids Public Library-Metro Library Network

We all need some Dark Roast Comedy

A good dark roast is the essence of breakfast, don't you think?

Today I am going to introduce a new menu item. Because sometimes life is pretty terrible. Perhaps it is the middle of February and in addition to being very cold and snowy, you are in the midst of an election. There are terrifying candidates running for the opposition and your hope for the first female president is getting a serious challenge.

What do you need? How about a dark and funny book! In this case the "Dark Roast Comedy" is Margaret Atwood's new novel The Heart Goes Last. This dystopian story commences in a near future of continuing wealth inequality and crumbling society. In the beginning, it was almost depressing but low and behold, the "solution" is a planned society. Using a twin cycle of imprisonment and freedom to fix all ills, what could possibly go wrong. Sound  a little bitter? You bet, but the comedy kick comes in with the addition of some interesting LIBIDO which really makes the story perk. If you haven't read Atwood before, be prepared for a high level of weirdness. Weirdness and wit, the perfect dark roast comedy.

Other menu options and what they mean:
Escape Fiction: Any book set in another time or situation so different than everyday it will help you escape the crushing reality that is your life.
Modern Love: Not necessarily contemporary. Modern love in this case refers to books that explore relationships in a more nuanced manner than traditional romance. Admit it, we all want to know how to get love right, right?
Narrative Nonfiction: This genre is so delicious and good for you too. Basically you read a real life story that is very compelling and educational. Best kind of nonfiction there is by the way.
Novels that take me back to social studies class: These are books that explore societal ills in a realistic way. This genre helps me to understand other's point of view and sometimes experience very dangerous situations in a safe way.
Transformative: Books that show a protagonist becoming someone new. Don't we all love a make over? These books are great in that they can inspire us to set goals and take chances.

and Culinary Adventures are just some bits about some experiences I have had with food.

Epic Series: 8 served

Do you like to read series fiction? I do too; especially epic series. I’d like to recommend some but could find no accepted definition of what makes an epic (fiction) series. Some people group fantasy series with epics and I can see their point. However, I believe some historical or contemporary fiction series which could also be described as epic, at least by my definition.   

Think "epic" and The Odyssey comes to mind.  The Odyssey is great story where lots of crazy stuff happens to Odysseus and his heroic qualities are tested. That is pretty much sums up what an epic is to me. Also that the world created by the author is distinctly different than my rather ordinary world.

So, here are eight of my favorite epic series. For each I will tell you about the heroic qualities, the crazy things that happen, the atmosphere and an indication of the level of fantasy because not everyone loves magical beings and such.

Harry Potter series by JK Rowling

Heroic Qualities?- Bright and brave children find a way to save the day despite the lack of trust given to them by adults.

What Crazy Things Happen?  Murder, torture, witchcraft, troll attacks, haunting, betrayal, explosions and even some snogging in year 4.

Atmosphere- Despite the fact that the world of Hogwarts is a dangerous place, the feeling is loveable and full of fun, like Christmas morning. 

Fantasy Quotient- Medium

Song of Fire and Ice series by George RR Martin

Heroic Qualities?-  Conflicting loyalties and the complexities of leadership make none of the characters all good or bad. 

What Crazy Things Happen?  Murder, torture, dragon attacks, betrayal, explosions and some major hooking up between various characters.

Atmosphere- Dark and fascinating. Kind of a primer for intrigue.

Fantasy Quotient- Low

The Lord of the Rings Trilogy by JRR Tolkien

Heroic Qualities? The heroes are a small race of humble hobbits who by their very nature are the best suited for the quest at hand.

What Crazy Things Happen- Sorcery, orc attacks, haunting, betrayal, battles galore, the clash of egos and different races.

Atmosphere- Dark but starkly good verses evil.

Fantasy Quotient- High

The Millennium Series by Steig Larssen

Heroic Qualities?  A techie heroine  plays by her own rules. She possesses a code of honor that serves her well. Despite her diminutive size she is one bad ass who saves the day.

What Crazy Things Happen-Sexual assault, consensual sex and amazing computer hacking

Atmosphere- Dark with a cast of misogynistic villains and some sophisticated Swedish culture.

Fantasy Quotient- No fantasy here.

The Outlander Series by Diana Gabaldon

Heroic Qualities? Loyal, physically attractive and sexually adventurous leads. Most of the heroic characters can also time travel and try to avert large and small disasters that they know about from their perspective.

What Crazy Things Happen-Time travel, war, rape, lots of consensual sex, piracy.

Atmosphere- Enchantingly full of the details that make up marriage and family in an authentic historical context.

Fantasy Quotient- Low

Lonesome Dove by Larry McMurtry

Heroic Qualities? Our heroes are experienced cattlemen who had worked as Texas Rangers. They know the land, the men and the cattle. Their hearts are a little less knowing.

What Crazy Things Happen- What can wrong on a cattle drive with a prostitute along? Lightening, snake bites, jealousy, drinking, gambling and fighting galore

Atmosphere- Despite the sadness in parts, the simplicity of the life and death decisions is reassuring.

Fantasy Quotient-Zero, word is there is a real life story behind the first novel.

Bridget Jones series by Helen Fielding

Heroic Qualities? The pressure of trying to be perfect mate is a quest that our bumbling disaster somehow gets right.

What Crazy Things Happen-Workplace dalliance, wardrobe malfunctions, online dating, weight gain and some of the other horrors that face a single woman.

Atmosphere- Romantic comedy, UK style

Fantasy Quotient- Zero

The Strain by Guillermo de Toro and Chuck Hogan

Heroic Qualities- Unlikely heroes use their specific knowledge to fight the horror.  Bravery and self-doubt abound.

What Crazy Things Happen- A plague of vampires is crazy enough, oh and rats, lots of rats.

Atmosphere- Darkly horrific in a post-apocalyptic manner

Fantasy Quotient- Medium, although there is the undead, this updated vampire story is told with a quasi-believable explanation.

A Book about Monarch Butterflies by a Favorite Author

Flight Behavior by Barbara Kingsolver is not a new book.  I am not sure how I missed it when it was originally published but  I just read it over my vacation. 
Similar in setting to Prodigal Summer, the story concerns the choices we make and encourages us to think about the future. A change in Monarch Butterfly migration is both the event that drives the plot, creating conflict and suspense and a magical element that helps to bring a spiritual tone to the book.
Ultimately Kingsolver's theme is one of environmental concern which is not surprising if you have read any of her other books. However, I found this one to be well balanced with a story of the transformation of the main character, Dellarobia. Initially portrayed as an unhappy wife and mother, she becomes the voice of reason.
I am very happy to have read this book and hope you enjoy it as well.

Twin reading magic: Outlander, Redshirts and Tortilla Curtain

I have a twin who often spontaneously reads the same books as I. It is even freakier when we are reading them simultaneously.   The first time this happened we found out we were both reading Outlander by Diana Gabaldon.  This was at least 10 years ago long, long before the Startz TV series. Interestingly enough both of my daughters have gone on to read the series too now that they are adults.

The most recent case of this coincidental (or possibly magic) reading synchronicity

is Redshirts by John Scalzi which I highly recommend. It is a fun, playful and creative look at the boundaries of fiction and reality. Anyone who has seen the original Star Trek tv series should also get the reference. 

 I also recently read Tortilla Curtain by Boyle, T. Cor­aghes­san. I was talking to my twin and voila, she had read it a while back. This is a much more uncomfortable book but worth the time if you are interested in exploring the views of wealthy white people and illegal immigrants in the western part of the country. No spoilers here but I was hoping for a happier ending.

Are the kids alright?

Sometimes I randomly pick books with similar settings or themes. Recently I read two books that both explore the awfulness of institutions for children.  With the closing of the Iowa Juvenile Home being a hot topic in the local news, I find both of these books very enlightening.

The Panopticon is set in the UK and concerns a young woman with some serious behavioral and emotional disorders. The institution described is  designed to provide continuous supervision of inmates in a prison setting. The irony is that the kids in the story seem to do whatever they want so I guess that the message is that no one cares. The main character, Anais has a history of broken foster homes and dreams of escaping impending lifelong institutionalization.  She makes some progress but ultimately also is self destructive. It was an interesting read but the Scottish slang took some getting used to. I give this book a 3 out of 4 stars. It was interesting but not super original.

Good Kings, Bad Kings is set in Chicago and concerns the staff and residents of a care center for children with emotional, mental and physical disabilities.  I really can't say enough good about this book. First off, you come out of it with a whole new respect for those with a physical disability who are unlucky enough to be wards of the state. Second of all you can see how the privatization of formally State run institutions can go bad. This book really helps me have some perspective on the whole issue of the Iowa Juvenile Home and about nursing homes in general. In addition, the characters are extremely realistic and lovable.  Four out of four stars.