Summer Bookshelf

Lazy summer days have provided time for me to delve into some literary classics and other written treasures.

1.To Kill A Mockingbird—One of my students’ summer reading assignments, and a gratifying read once again. It’s been four years since I read this and found myself again treasuring the advice of Atticus and the written words of Harper Lee. One of my favorite literary passages comes from the book, and while it’s not necessarily the most positive, it’s still so relevant to our society. Lee writes, “Then Mr. Underwood’s meaning became clear: Atticus had used every tool available to free men to save Tom Robinson, but in the secret courts of men’s hearts Atticus had no case. Tom was a dead man the minute Mayella opened her mouth and screamed” (241). While race relations may have improved over the last 40 years, prejudice still exists in our world today and while on the exterior it may appear that we all can coexist peacefully, our thoughts often betray our actions.

2.Everybody Wants to Go to Heaven, But Nobody Wants to Die (or the Eschatology of Bluegrass)—The David Crowder Band is high on my list of favorites. Yes, I enjoy their music but even more so I love the witty musings of the band as they converse with their concert audience. While this book deals with the weighty and daunting topic of death and suffering, Crowder and Hogan put together a satisfying read that splices together their own anger and sorrow felt over a friend’s death, philosophical ponderings on the subject, as well as how the ebb and flow of bluegrass music is rooted in sorrow and suffering. At the same time they interject comical observations about music and life such as spending a chapter delineating the differences between a violin and a fiddle and explaining musical terms such as “working it” and “throwing it down”.

At one point of the work, the authors address the bluegrass stereotype people may have drilled into their mind: music played at the rinky dink autumnal craft festival or the background music found in Fronteirland. Quite honestly, I fell into that camp. However, their treatment of the subject matter so intrigued me that I found myself downloading said tunes once I finished this read. Even more delightful was their look at the Negro spiritual, which coincided with my students’ reading of Uncle Tom’s Cabin, another selection on their summer reading list. Oh I love it when connections come together.

3.The Hiding Place—My current read. This winter I read Night by Elie Weisel and was blown away. I feel it’s somewhat paradoxical to say it was an amazing read because you are reading a true account of intense horror and suffering. At the same time, what a powerful and compelling work it is. This work made me want to read more true accounts of this period in history. Only a fourth of the way through it, Corrie Ten Boom’s courage and faith are beyond inspirational.