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Book report
Nov. 8th, 2012 10:13 amMy Two Moms by Zach Wahls – At age 19, Zach Wahls addressed the Iowa House Judiciary Committee in a public hearing on a proposed constitutional amendment to ban same-sex marriage in Iowa. A video of his testimony posted on You Tube went viral and got millions of views right away. Wahls, the son of a lesbian couple, didn’t set out to be an activist but that is what he became. It may be a little crazy that he wrote a memoir at such a young age, but I knew for sure that I had to read it. I listened to it on audio and loved it. It was nice to hear what life has been like for a guy raised by lesbians. I gotta say that his book made me think twice about Boy Scouts too; he’s an Eagle Scout and he made it clear that the organization’s homophobic policies don’t represent all their members. I liked how he used logical arguments to make his case and illustrate his beliefs, and I liked hearing about the values that shaped his life. Grade: B
Across Many Mountains by Yangzom Brauen – Years ago, I read “Wild Swans” by Jung Chang. More than any other book, this memoir of three generations of Chinese women painted a vivid picture of life in China during the 20th century.*This memoir aims to do the same but for Tibet, and I think it succeeds just as well. I was riveted to the page when reading about the author’s grandmother, born sometime in 1930’s Tibet. She led a quiet life of contemplation and Buddhism in remote mountain villages. Then China invaded and began torturing and killing monks, nuns, and anyone else who challenged their rule. The grandmother and her family begin a dangerous escape attempt, trying to flee through the mountains to India. This was a fascinating picture of life for an “ordinary” family coping with extraordinary circumstances. As with “Wild Swans”, I often find the truth to be more enthralling than fiction. Grade: B+/A-
‘* Yes, I know that one family’s story can’t possibly describe life for everyone in China or any other country, but bear with me! I’m just saying it gave me a better glimpse of everyday life for some people than any textbook would have.
More books behind the cut.
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Across Many Mountains by Yangzom Brauen – Years ago, I read “Wild Swans” by Jung Chang. More than any other book, this memoir of three generations of Chinese women painted a vivid picture of life in China during the 20th century.*This memoir aims to do the same but for Tibet, and I think it succeeds just as well. I was riveted to the page when reading about the author’s grandmother, born sometime in 1930’s Tibet. She led a quiet life of contemplation and Buddhism in remote mountain villages. Then China invaded and began torturing and killing monks, nuns, and anyone else who challenged their rule. The grandmother and her family begin a dangerous escape attempt, trying to flee through the mountains to India. This was a fascinating picture of life for an “ordinary” family coping with extraordinary circumstances. As with “Wild Swans”, I often find the truth to be more enthralling than fiction. Grade: B+/A-
‘* Yes, I know that one family’s story can’t possibly describe life for everyone in China or any other country, but bear with me! I’m just saying it gave me a better glimpse of everyday life for some people than any textbook would have.
More books behind the cut.
( Read more... )
