Resolution52 – Brian Utley & Jenny Dalton

I haven’t been buying a lot of “actual” books lately. With the availability of digital books, and with the ability to have them instantly “in your possession” when the mood strikes you, buying a physical book has become less common. I certainly don’t buy books at bookstores, hahahahahaha!!  Who does that anymore? It’s like I said almost two years ago on Twitter:

So between books, I found myself at Costco, browsing the books. Costco actually does a good job at picking its book inventory, they always have 5-7 books that are of interest to me. I was with Jenny, who as I have mentioned before helps me take things less seriously, helps me enjoy life, and somehow steers me in a direction where I’m bound to bump into something interesting. I’ll admit, I judge a book by its cover quite often and this book caught my attention. A boat, a silhouette, and the New York skyline of long ago. And the title, “Only Time Will Tell”. I was in a relaxed mood, and I felt like it was time to dive into A STORY. A real story, rich with characters and settings and page-turning narratives. After a quick check of the important aspects of the book, which in my opinion are:

1. Who the author is.
2. The opening paragraph.
3. A random paragraph from the middle of the book.
4. The length of the book, usually to match the estimated time of expected interest.
5. Context of the story.
6. What people say about the book.

The book passed in all areas except number 6. Curiously, not a single quote was about the book itself, but about the author, Jeffrey Archer, who I hadn’t read before but was familiar with. Now, when all the accolades within the book make no mention of the book, that is usually a sign that the book underachieved and that the publishing company hopes to sell copies based on the merit of the author, not on the merit of the story. Despite this glaringly obvious sign that such was the case, I purchased the book. Although I put it down twice before I reached the checkout but finally made the decision after Jenny told me the actualy price was much lower than what the back of the book said. So, for roughly $5 I bought an actual, physical, real-life book, with paper and a spine and everything. I didn’t know at the time what I had gotten myself into.

The book was marvelous, and reminded me at times of Tobias Wolff’s “Old School”, but on a much grander scale. MUCH grander scale. As it turns out, I had unwittingly picked out a book that would was the first of a five-book story that would span roughly one hundred years. It covers the life of Harry Clifton, born into a tricky situation that quickly becomes uncommingly and mesmirizingly more tricky with each turn of the page.

The more I read, the more I was presented with great writing, crisp and clear without wasted sentences or tangential sections. Everything is so neatly packaged that turning the page became an almost subconscious act, keeping pace with the characters and matching the pace of the story and the pace of the writing as if it all came out of Archer at once.  But then it was never too fast, never too slow, everything being presented in perfect order, and even the waiting and anticipation so thoughtfully spaced as to catch the reader not just off guard, but off guard at the perfect time.  There’s a difference, trust me.

I’ve never been good at talking about stories. Which is why I hardly ever do, despite this being a blog about literature. Even with movies, I can’t tell somebody what a movie was about, but I sure can go on and on about what the movie meant to me, what feelings were conveyed, and oh yea, it had something to do with a spaceship having trouble in space, or about a guy whose Dad died and he meets this girl. Yea, that’s the story and the story had depth and all that and most people, when asked “What was the movie about”, can start at the start and finish at the end, and do a great job of summarizing what the movie was about. I’m terrible at that.

I watch movies and I read books similar to how I listen to conversations. And this is something of a pet peeve of Jenny’s.  I listen, but I listen to find the meaning. Contrary to what she sometimes thinks, I understand what she says, and I’m listening to what she’s saying, but what I’m really looking for is what she means. Deep down I’m trying to discover why she’s telling me the story, what is the motivation behind it, and what response she is looking for. Not that she isn’t a great communicator, she is, and not that I always try to placate, because I don’t. Great communication is something that we’ve had from day one. But every person has their own way of saying what they mean, few people come right out and say it, at least the important things, in a way that is without metaphor, or hidden within context that masks the core message. And that paragraph, readers, is a giant tangent. Bottom line is I’m horrible at summarizing stories, but I can analyze the motivation of the person telling it all night long. Jenny might say, “I’m not so sure about living in Pleasant Grove.” Simple enough statement, right? But what were the thoughts behind it? Did something specific happen to make her think that? Is she wanting to improve what she has here? Is she wanting to move altogether? Is this a loose reference to marriage, and the idea of relocation? Is she a spy and has suddenly been discovered? Witness protection program? Knowledge of an impending flood? Can she see the future and had a vision of a string of burglaries? I mean really, her statement could MEAN ANYTHING!

(Catching breath) So, the author, Jeffrey Archer, is pretty incredible. I’m surprised I haven’t read anything of his before. Check out his Wiki page. He knows what he’s talking about. He’s an amazing storyteller.

Lucky for me that once I was far enough into the book I happened upon unexpected news, that this was the first installment of a five-part series. The next book is being published right now and available next month. I can’t wait to find out how the heck Harry Clifton, now an adult, heading into WWII, comes to America and due to unforeseen and miraculous events, choses to take on the name of a dead man, and unselfishly allows reports of his death to spread across the Atlantic to England and collection of people that have become extremely familiar to the reader, with huge implications of his death affecting them all in very different ways.

It’s a great book, a fantastic story, and it has just begun. Highly recommended to all. I’d tell you more about it, but I’m not so good at that.

2012, Book Thoughts, Brian Utley, Jeffrey Archer, Only Time Will Tell Amazon, Brian Utley, Costco, Jeffrey Archer, Jenny Dalton

Did I ever tell you about the time I ran away and changed my name to Beth Murray? I only bring it up because The Geography of Bliss begins with a very similar story. Five years old, and the author recalls dragging his reluctant best friend towards the unknown world that lay beyond via a major thoroughfare close to home, looking for an adventure and possibly some happiness along the way. After all, he “always believed that happiness is just around the corner. The trick is finding the right corner.”

I picked this book up last summer at a yard sale for twenty-five cents, which, right away, makes it awesome. However, I did not expect to love this book as much as I did. Let me just say, hands down, best book I’ve read this year. In fact, while reading, I actually got out a pen and starting underlining passages and making notes, and I want you to know, I NEVER do that. The Geography of Bliss chronicles the quest of a self proclaimed grump who, with the help of scientists at the World Database of Happiness, or WDH, (yes, this actually exists) travels to almost a dozen locations around the world, whose people say they are among the happiest, (and a couple miserable places for good measure) and tries to find the secret to this alleged happiness. This book is as insightful as it is entertaining. Whether lamenting about his pornographic-esque addiction to bags, (his obsession is hilarious and completely relatable) or mulling over the Bhutanese government’s commitment to Gross National Happiness, he does so with not only a comical edge, but a genuine desire to find the root of this thing we call happiness. The book is laugh-out-loud funny and equally witty throughout, and despite all I learned, once again, made me long to be geographically somewhere else.

The travel bug hits many of us at a young age, and despite both the author and I being thwarted of our young attempts at adventure and bliss, (yes, I was discovered stowed away in the back of my neighbors car and promptly returned home) and though I’ve had itchy feet for as long as I can remember, I think running away for the first time and changing my name at the ripe age of six, for me, was just as much about changing my person as much as it was changing my location. For me the changing of location is what makes me feel different, alive. It makes me feel like I am a character in one of the books I’ve read, albeit a character with a much better storyline. In fact, I have a long history of using travel as a means of escape. As I’ve grown older, I realize the error of this thinking, and, as I have become a mother who can’t just up and move whenever life gets uncomfortable, I’ve learned to deal with life and its many pitfalls, and hope I come out a little stronger, a little more experienced, a little more able, in the end. I’ve also realized that, regardless of locale, you can never outrun yourself or your problems, and also despite said locale, one has to find a happiness inside yourself before a place, person, job, money, or circumstance will ever make you happy. That’s the point really; finding contentment, which in many minds seems to be the equivocal to happiness, regardless of circumstance. And, consequently, according to this book, that’s what the people in the happiest places have found.

And even though I think I’ve learned the importance of finding contentment and happiness in myself and my geography, I still believe, like many others who make appearances in The Geography of Bliss, that certain places feel like home, or call to us more than others. Certain places such as, surprisingly enough, Iceland, seem to be filled with happy, content people, which in turn fosters happiness and contentment in others. Thus, the old adage, surrounding yourself with happiness and goodness, will eventually breed, yep, more happiness and goodness.

That said, regardless of the personal contentment I’ve found here in Pleasant Grove, Utah, (yes, it is relatively pleasant) in Ireland there’s a small island called Inish Bofin that can only be reached by ferry. It is the most beautiful place I have ever seen. And when I close my eyes at night, I see it in my dreams. And one day, you will find me there, and I will be happy.*

*And yes, we all just had a very special Shawshank moment just then.

2012, Book Thoughts, Eric Weiner, Geography of Bliss, Jenny Dalton Eric Weiner, Jenny Dalton, The Geography of Bliss

I finished Blink tonight and now have an infinite number of choices as to what to read next. Or I can just choose from the dozen or so books that I have ordered but have yet to read. I like these moments, and I usually jump into the next book and get it started. Usually I avoid a gap in reading. So far this year, I’ve started a book literally moments after finishing another. Even if it’s just a chapter or two, I’ll get started on it.

What I think I’ll do now is just make this blog post and go to bed without having a book to read. I’ll choose something tomorrow.

Blink, Book Thoughts, Malcolm Gladwell

I also started and finished Henri Cartier-Bresson’s The Mind’s Eye yesterday. It was a short book at 105 pages. But it was brilliant and unpretentious and very candid. And I really enjoyed it. You don’t learn much about Bresson himself, as it seems through the book that he doesn’t particularly like talking about himself. But he loves talking about photography, and love, and friends, and that was very enjoyable to read.

Now I’ve chosen Malcolm Gladwell’s Blink, which I’ve already started.

We’re through Q1 and I’m holding a very good pace.

Blink, Henri Cartier-Bresson, Malcolm Gladwell, The Minds Eye

It feels so good to read a good book. No offense to Joel Comm (as if he cares), but dull dull dull.

Malcolm Gladwell is a genius and already, after a dozen pages, I pause in my reading only to blog, put on comfortable pajamas, and prepare to dive back in to The Tipping Point. A couple passages have already struck me, but now isn’t an appropriate time to go into it. But I will, someday.

Back to a GOOD BOOK.

Joel Comm, Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point

I’ve run into a little bit of a problem. I’m reading Joel Comm’s Click To Order and even when I’m not tired at all I fall asleep within 10 minutes or so of starting. This poses a significant problem when I’m trying to read a book a week, or 52 books a year. I’m only halfway into the book, about 140 pages. I’m been reading for a week and have only read 3 hours. So I’m going to do something that I haven’t done in a while. I’m going to read two books at once.

I’ll read a few pages a day of Joel Comm’s book, and start reading the next Gladwell book I bought, The Tipping Point. I’m behind schedule, my current book is terrible, so it’s time to kick it up a notch.

Click Here To Order, Joel Comm, Malcolm Gladwell, The Tipping Point