Sunday, February 17, 2008

TSS Week 2

This week I completed Land of a Thousand Eyes by Peter Olszewski. It is a travel memoir about his time spent in Myanmar, teaching the locals about journalism as a staff member and trainer at the Myanmar Times.

I became interested in Myanmar after reading Amy Tan's Saving Fish From Drowning, and this book did not disappoint. Olszewski describes the junta (military regime) and their involvement in the newspaper through censorship as well as the daily lives of the people, their customs and traditions, and how he eventually came to connect with and care for them. It even contains a romantic cross-cultural love story. Olszewski also has a great personality and sense of humor that comes out in his writing. All in all, I really couldn't put it down.

(The book is available for free download at Wowio.com.)

I also reread The Vagina Monologues by Eve Ensler. I first read it a couple of years ago and enjoyed it, and I enjoyed it again this time, although it is very hard to read about female genital mutilation, rape and other atrocities committed against women and girls without becoming very uncomfortable and very angry. I am therefore glad this play was a quick read because I don't know how long I could have endured it. There were some light, funny and touching parts too, so it was not all darkness, which gives the book a great balance. I think that not only women but men too should read this book at least once. It is an important piece of literature for our time.
I also read Eve Ensler's The Good Body this week. It was another important read, in terms of how women view their bodies and how harmful that can sometimes be. This is another book that packs a powerful punch, yet for someone who has only read both of these Ensler works, I think I should see both of them performed. I think that the theatrics and the faces are an integral part of the experience of these works.

In other notes, the SARK book I wrote about last week is complete, and it was excellent - a very worthwhile read (though if you want my opinion, Succulent Wild Woman is an important first SARK read for women). I am also reading Marcel Proust's Swann's Way and Frances Hodgson Burnett's The Secret Garden, so stay tuned for notes on those next week :)

6 comments:

Anonymous said...

I've taught 'The Secret Garden' to third year undergrads for several years now and they're always amazed at how it has stood the test of time and how much it still has to say about the way that children should be encouraged to grow. I do hope you enjoy it as much as they always do.

Jill said...

How timely to read the Ensler books this week with Jane Fonda's recent Today show interview.

You have a wonderful blog! I look forward to reading your posts in the future.

Jill
http://mrstreme.livejournal.com

stu said...

You should definitely see them performed before you make up your mind. After all, the performance is part of what a play is.

Iliana said...

I went to a performance of The Vagina Monolgues years ago and it was really great. I didn't realize Ensler had another book. I'll have to look into this one. Oh and thanks for the link to wowio - I think I'll have a good time checking out that site! :)

Literary Feline said...

Peter Olszewski's book sounds quite intriguing. While I do not gravitate towards travelogues in general, the subject matter interests me very much.

I've been wanting to see the The Vagina Monologues, but have yet to do so. I imagine I would have much of the same reactions as you did reading it. And it definitely sounds like something that needs to be read by both men and women.

I hope you have a good week!

Andi said...

I've read The Vagina Monologues at least four times, and I sat in a bookstore and read The Good Body after it came out. Overall I find the Monologues far more affecting, but I did think The Good Body a worthwhile read as well.

The Myanmar book sounds fantastic! Must see if I can mooch it.