<i>The Country of the Pointed Firs</i> by Sarah Orne Jewett

I have read this short book before---some time in high school before I was keeping book notes. I didn't, though recall any of the story, just that it had included wonderful descriptions of the Maine coast, which reminded me distinctly of Winter Harbor. This time through, I took better note of the story (and was reading it while within Downeast, Maine, which helped cement it further to my brain).

The problem I often have with short books (and often short stories for that matter) is that the characters are restricted to a single scene or tale. In this case I would have liked to see Captain Littlepage further developed in other stories, as well as William (Mrs. Todd's Brother). I am left wanting more, which is my no means a bad thing, as it was that feeling that led me back to the book after a number of years.

Jewett, with each of the stories of a summer in Dunnet, ME, sketches a different aspect of coastal New England life in a manner that is not strongly romantic nor sentimental. She instead describes the coast in a manner where the reader gains a subliminal understanding of the isolation and hardship, but also the friendship and trust that a small, poor community has for itself. Being able to successful bring forth those aspects is an achievement in itself.

<i>Green Mars</i> by Kim Stanley Robinson

After reading the rather lousy sci-fi of The Puppet Masters, this book was a welcome change. Looking back on my notes at what I liked about Red Mars (the first book in this sci-fi trilogy that I read about 2 years ago), I liked similar aspects of this book. I had forgotten all of the characters---only faint scenes remained (much like the first 100's memories---I can sympathize in that regard). The characters came back as their stories were told.

I completely fell back in with Sax as one of my favorites---predictable, as he is the "pure science" character. I sympathized with his attempts at slight personality modification, so he could better integrate with society---i.e. hide in plain sight, not drawing attention to the fact that he was indeed *the* Sax Russell. It turns out, though, that he can't hide his scientific introverted self and inclinations for too long.

I had more trouble connecting with Nadia this time around. She was so well communicated in the first book and I had really identified with her (a female engineer who just wanted to be working on useful projects), but I couldn't find that same connection in this book. It may have been because the section of the book in her voice was so near the end of the book.

I liked how Robinson split the story telling task up between the various characters (each character had a collection of sequential chapters where were from their perspective) and didn't bounce around between perspectives in each chapter as some authors do. Though it does mean that the reader only sees one perspective of each scene, it gives a more coherent narrative and a stronger voice to each character. Additionally, it would have been exceedingly difficult to write such a planet encompassing story from only a single perspective---many of the varying view points would have been lost.

The question of what happens to the power structure when we colonize other planets is a compelling question. Robinson answered it with something akin to the American Revolution, where distance trumped force. It like that, as it seems a likely outcome when colonists are there fore more than just extracting riches, and generations have grown without stiff, defined authority from the mother planet/country.

Robinson's writing is clear, descriptive and scientifically reasonable. I had trouble with some of the words he coined, but was able to gather the gist through context. Also, the geography of Mars and the settlements was very difficult to follow at times. In those regards, a map and glossary would have been helpful. Other than that, I enjoyed the book emensely.

9/10

<i>The Puppet Masters</i> by Robert A. Heinlein

I can't remember where I picked up this book, but I had reasonably enjoyed Heinlein's Stranger in a Strange Land---at least the sci-fi aspects---so I figured this might be a good read. Overall, it was alright, though rather pulpy. I was a bit annoyed with the main character: he was really rooted---values-wise---in the era the book was written (the early 1950s), though they did have a very capable female agent (who, of course, ended up marrying the main character).

The plot was similar to countless invasion stories, where a virus kills the aliens in the end. I did like the "puppet master" aspect where the "slugs" were controlling the bodies and minds of the humans. It was different than some of the other mind control methods I have read and seen. The funny part of that was the "masters" didn't know how to run the humans. It reminded me of how the Sims need to be taken to the bathroom, put to bed and made to eat.

Heinlein's writing was nothing to speak of. It reminded me of detective novels that I have read from the same time period, with a nonchalant though-guy attitude. It was a bit annoying at times, but moved the story along quickly.

6/10

<i>Notes of a Native Son</i> by James Baldwin

One significant omission in my knowledge of American history that I realized upon reading this collection of essays is the state of race relations from Reconstruction through to the Civil Rights Movement in the 60s. I will put that omission up to the focus of US high school history on wars and any of my own teacher's focus on their youth and young adulthood in the 60s and 70s---and, frankly, my own acceptance of this gap.

Baldwin groups his 10 essays into three parts. The first deals with literature, movies and black America's place within each. Included in this section is an excellent assessment of Uncle Tom's Cabin. Baldwin notes that it is a protest novel and, as such, cannot be considered in a any way to be a well written work of fiction.

The second group are about Baldwin's experiences (and those of his family) as a black man (Negro, in his time period) in America. One story he tells in this section is about his brother's experience campaigning for the progressive party in the South. His family is from Harlem and the reason his brother went with the campaign in the first place was to sing, but he was more-or-less forced to campaign. This episode highlighted what Baldwin described as a complete lack of interested from any black American in the politics of the time, since promises made to them were never kept and they knew they never would be.

Also in this second group is an excellent essay about his father's death. In particular, a scene that sticks with me is Baldwin being led up to see his father's body in the casket by a well-meaning church member. He had little desire to see the body in the first place and no desire to do so with a non-family member. This essay also described some riots in Harlem that occurred the day after his father's death. It is funny, as I think to myself now, of course there were riots and other demonstrations of poor race relations, otherwise the movement of the 60s would never have happened. I, though, never even thought enough about it to wonder about the origins.

The final group, and the group I liked the best as a whole, were about Baldwin's stay in Europe. Much of it---and particularly his description of his stay in a French prison---reminded me of Orwell's Down and Out in Paris and London. I particularly liked the descriptions of the difference of being black in the US vs. in Europe. The baggage is different between being a colonial citizen and the descendant of a slave. Also, the idea of not being able to trace one's ancestry back beyond a bill of sale is one of the more thought provoking ideas about what it means to be black in America that I've heard (today, of course, with DNA they are able to find out what part of Africa the ancestors of modern American blacks came from---but that means little when you can't follow the direct family tree back there).

I enjoyed Baldwin's writing and will look for some of his other works. His prose is strong, clear, engaging and intelligent.

8/10