Songs of the Humpback Whale

 

“You can take dead trees in an orchard, and bring them back to life.”

  I thought this novel would be about humpback whales, but humpback whales do not take center stage here. After having a strong argument with her spouse, Jane Jones packed up and left California with her fourteen-year-old daughter, to drive across America and reach Massachusetts. The odyssey was made even more incredible by Jane’s poor sense of direction. Her brother, Joley, helped guide her through letters.

  Bear in mind the story took place in 1990, when GPS devices were not common. Her brother, Joley, knew how to make the journey more exciting for her while she escaped from her concerned husband, Oliver Jones, a famous researcher with a passion for studying the singing of humpback whales. As you may know, it is hard to put Jodi Picoult’s books down.  

 What hooked me to this peculiar story straight away was the bond between Joley and Jane. Her brother’s genuine interest in helping her, their loyal relationship and the mysterious adventure Jane embarked upon piqued my curiosity. To make the read even more lively, Jodi Picoult unfolds the secrets of each character slowly, enhancing the motivation to learn about their personalities and life trials as we embrace the uncertainty of Jane’s journey throughout the landscapes of America.

 The novel has a dash of Kate Chopin’s The Awakening and a dash of Romeo and Juliet. There are alternating chapters written from the points of view of different characters, a literary strategy that has the potential to elicit empathy in the readers.

   Jodi Picoult’s books are addictive. This one is not an exception.

    While wondering whether Oliver would find them, I enjoyed reading about the relationship between Rebecca and Jane as they roved the roads and highways of America, discovering places that I will probably never visit myself. I liked how the suspense of the story soars, even though I was a bit irked by the lack of chronological order… Rebecca’s narrative starts from the end, whereas the other characters’ narratives are presented in chronological order.

  I appreciated the bond between mother and daughter. Sometimes I was struck by the special moments they shared, conversations that seemed to promise new dimensions of understanding between mother and daughter. Therefore, I was disconcerted and disappointed by Jane’s unexpected reaction to Rebecca’s love interest while they spent time in Massachusetts. When Rebecca fell in love, Jane behaved in an irrational, selfish way that was not consistent with the way she normally interacted with her daughter. I did not expect that sort of response from Jane. It was puzzling to me. It made me pause and reflect. I wondered if Jane would have behaved differently if Rebecca had been a teenage boy. The adverse situation led to a tragedy that could have been avoided. I did not like that a young person died in this novel. The dramatic outcome could have been fleshed out more. I still have questions about it.

  Jodi Picoult’s interest in family relationships becomes clear in her novels, and is one of the reasons why I enjoy reading her books.

 Like the male character who researched wolves in Jodi Picoult’s Lone Wolf, Oliver Jones had neglected his family and had also been unfaithful to his wife a few times, but Jane’s escape appeared to be life transforming for him: Oliver is ready to change because he loves his wife and does not want to lose her. At least this is the hint Picoult offers the readers. On the other hand, his own attitude toward his previous infidelities is not something that ignites remorse in him. He seems to accept his past infidelities as a normal part of his cultural landscape.  

 Oliver Jones was passionate about his research, just like the wolf lover in Lone Wolf, but what about Jane Jones? She was a speech pathologist, but I did not get a deep sense of her love for her career. How did she feel about her career and hobbies? Jodi Picoult could have dug deeper into this aspect of her as a human being. Are women not expected to devote time and motivation to their own passions? Or do they need to follow the motions of the novel to satisfy the plot? Hence, I would not describe this novel as a journey of self-discovery because there are important branches from Jane’s personal tree of life that appear to be missing here. Is a woman’s identity only defined by her family relationships?

  I don’t think so.

   With poetical language Jodi Picoult throws us into the world of her characters, imbuing situations with vibrant sensations, displaying vivid settings and painting memorable experiences. This novel conveys the expression of different forms of love and how relationships change over time. Picoult uses humor to dilute the tension, but she also reveals pain and the simplicity of everyday life while weaving into it intrigue and mystery, twists and surprises about the characters and their intimate experiences. There is a lot I would like to write about here, but I will refrain from doing so lest I spoil the story for my audience. Go ahead and enjoy this one. I can’t wait to read more of Jodi Picoult’s books!

  I would like to add a special comment for Jodi Picoult here. Dear Jodi Picoult, please avoid using the word “pig” as an insult in your characters’ conversations. Pigs are compassionate, complex, intelligent beings who deserve to be treated better. Thank you.

 Songs of the Humpback Whale made me muse and reflect on the future of the  characters. It is a good choice for a book club. I don’t belong to any book club myself, but I know this novel may spark controversy and fiery arguments and discussions. It is what thought-provoking books do, so let’s keep the waters of literature flowing. Enjoy the stream of reflections and emotions that can well up from Picoult’s novel. Let the bumpy ride make you uncomfortable. Good literature does that.

  I wrote about two other books by Jodi Picoult:

The Storyteller

Lone Wolf

 

Here’s an interesting article on relationships between siblings:

https://www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2024/04/27/1246380504/siblings-happiness-relationship-family-age

 

White Torture: Interviews with Iranian Women Prisoners by Narges Mohammadi

 

  White Torture is a book that should be read by university students across the world. I am humbled by the courage and resilience of Narges Mohammadi and other women in Iran who resist the oppression and abuse of the Iranian government. When Narges Mohammadi won the Nobel Peace Prize in 2023, I thought that the international community would be more determined to support these women. However, the torture and executions of innocent women by the Iranian government continue to run unabated.  Narges Mohammadi provides details of the gender apartheid in Iran in a recent letter she wrote to Antonio Guterres, urging the United Nations to declare gender apartheid a crime against humanity and demanding action against it.

 I could not find any response from Antonio Guterres.

 White Torture contains interviews with highly educated Iranian women who are in jail due to false, ludicrous accusations or for merely disagreeing with an authoritarian government that treats women as inferior beings. Practicing a religion that is different from the one imposed by the government is also a reason for imprisonment and torture.  Reading about the ways these valiant women were separated from their children was heartbreaking.

  I could not find Narges Mohammadi’s book at the library, so I purchased the book myself, in solidarity with these amazing women. I will be donating it to one of the little libraries in my town and I encourage you to do the same. It is necessary to support the voices of these women whose lives have been suppressed by an authoritarian regime that trashes democratic principles and gender equality.

  I am impressed by these women’s boldness and clarity of mind despite the trauma. The way they analyze their social context and navigate situations with dignity and integrity shakes the heart and strengthens the spirit in ways that are difficult to describe. (It was a very emotional experience to read the book, and it also confirmed previous statements I made in my blog…) I was not exaggerating when I said that misogyny is legal in some countries. It is not uncommon for dissidents to be jailed and tortured in Iran. A woman who faced various threats and insults by an interrogator shares an anecdote. After blowing his nose on a paper towel, her interrogator said, “Women are like this paper towel. They are to be used and then thrown away.”

    Narges Mohammadi said, “What keeps me on my feet in this prison, while my body is bruised and wounded, is my love for the honorable, but tormented, people of this country, and my ideals of justice and freedom. To honor the innocent people’s blood shed atrociously, I pledge to speak the truth, defy tyranny, and defend the oppressed and my last breath.”

 Narges Mohammadi was not allowed to receive the Nobel Peace Prize in- person because she is in prison, and we don’t know what her medical condition is now. Her family does not know if they will ever see her again.

  The only ones protesting to support these women are in Iran, and these brave people are jailed and executed for doing so. Where is the solidarity with them?

  Narges has always been an activist for human rights and democracy in Iran. She was born on April 21, 1972 in the city of Zanjan in a middle-class family. She studied physics at the International Imam Khomeini University in Qazvin. After graduating she worked as a professional engineer with the Iran Engineering Inspection Corporation. While working as an engineer she wrote articles for newspapers and magazines in which she expressed her concerns regarding gender equality and democracy in Iran. Working as an engineer and writing these articles, however, became untenable under the repressive system of the Islamic Republic. In 2009 Narges was dismissed from her position with the Engineering Inspection Corporation. In 2010 she was summoned to court for being a member of the Defenders of Human Rights Center. She was later released on bail (50,000 $), but was rearrested several times after that. While in Evin Prison her health declined.

  The book has an introduction by Shannon Woodcock which gives a relevant account of the Islamic regime, “The Islamic regime has used legislation and physical coercion to create a society in which women and ethnic and religious minorities have restricted rights of movement, education and employment. Those who protest are flogged, imprisoned and executed. The Iranian state targets and persecutes families across generations, threatening to incarcerate and torture political prisoners’ children--and sometimes doing so—to further push families into total socio-economic exclusion and isolation.”

  Interestingly, her explanations provide insight into a situation that extends beyond the borders of Iran, “White torture unveils how the Islamic Republic of Iran demands the total annihilation of a belief in justice, and how it tortures women for advocating human rights, for their religion or, in cases like Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe’s, in order to pressure other states to negotiate with Iran. From its very beginning, the Islamic regime has taken hostages in order to exert pressure on the prisoner’s family and community and to terrorize society into submission. These testimonies show that white torture inflicts deep wounds, but also that it cannot achieve what the regime intends. The Islamic regime cannot separate a woman from her love for her family, her fellow citizens, or her God. This book introduces us to a group of women who clearly speak with all their senses and their soul; they are the antidote to white torture: they build strength, solidarity and love.”

 

   Nayereh Tohidi highlights the essence of Narges’s strengths as a role model. Her intentions are summarized well in these words, “In her own way, Narges is part of the growing counterculture in Iran that stands against the violent and ascetic culture preached by fanatic Islamist extremists. She advocates for a life affirming culture that embraces the pursuit of happiness, liberty and equality. Unlike the religious extremists among the current rulers of Iran who sacralize ascetism or hypocritically pretend in public to be ascetic, pious and strict ‘men of god’, but behave immorally in private, Narges is among those who believe we should honestly and openly promote beauty, happiness, non-violence and joy.”

  The book reveals the experiences of women who stand up against injustice and gender inequality in Iran. With deep introspection the women in this book share some of their unique responses to despair, their zest to cultivate resilience during their incarceration, to resist when loneliness and isolation permeate every aspect of their existence. Cruelty is used to humiliate and demoralize them. I was speechless at their determination and grace, and I wish with all my heart that freedom and justice will prevail in their lives. Yet the basic question in my mind is, will they survive?

    The book is the starting point to learn more about their struggle. I read the letter Narges Mohammadi wrote to Antonio Guterres, urging the United Nations to consider gender apartheid a crime against humanity. In her own words, “the government of Iran uses religion as a cloak for despotism and authoritarian rule.” It helps them to oppress citizens. I want to share some of the important points of her letter about gender apartheid in Iran:

1)     Not adhering to the religious hijab laws in Iran will result in up to 74 lashes for a woman and these punishments will be further intensified with the approval of the Chastity and Veil Bill.

2)     Obtaining a passport and traveling abroad requires the legal guardian’s permission, which is exclusively in the hands of fathers for daughters, and husbands for wives.

3)     Women in Iran are denied the right to study in certain university fields, such as aerospace engineering.

4)     Testimony and witness accounts of men in Iranian courts are considered equal to those of two women.

5)     The blood money (diyah) and inheritance for women are half that of men.

6)     In Iran men are allowed to have simultaneous marriages with up to four wives. This number is significantly higher for engaging in temporary marriages known as “Sigheh”. Meanwhile the punishment for a married woman having a relationship with another man is execution.

7)     Men in Iran with legal support can easily divorce their wives if they face issues like blindness in both eyes. However, women do not have such a right.

8)     Enrollment in specialized medical courses and dental assistantship for women in Iran is only possible with the consent of their husbands.

9)     The rate of femicides, especially the ones attributed to honor killings, are on the rise in Iran. During the year 2023 21 percent of the honor killings were against women under the age of 18.

You can read more details about gender apartheid in Iran by clicking on this link.

 The Iranian regime is not only oppressing women. It oppresses men as well, so those who blatantly disregard this issue because they think it is only a problem that pertains to women, should pay attention and understand that authoritarian regimes affect people of all genders. Again, White Torture can be a useful resource to introduce the subject, and university professors should be the first ones to read it. The Iranian regime is a theocracy with clear features of fascism, and the ways it treats those who dissent reminds me of the way Vladimir Putin treats its own people in Russia. These countries, along with China, align to delegitimize Western democracies across the world.

  The ideology of Hamas aligns with the ideology of the government of Iran. The goal of attacking Israel on October 7 was to cause a genocide of Jewish people but also to expand their ideology into Israel. Like Iran, Hamas does not believe in democratic principles. They do not support gender equality.  Their goal is to destroy Israel and annihilate Jews. I hope that Hamas will release the hostages and surrender to peaceful negotiations. Terrorism has never accomplished anything. Terrorism triggers wars and empowers extremist rulers.

  Mother’s Day is coming up. I will be thinking of Narges Mohammadi and her family. I will be thinking of every woman and man in similar situations. I will be reflecting on the suffering caused by an ideology of violence that wants to impose the idea that terrorism, vandalism and authoritarian regimes are the solution to current problems. They are not. I will be reflecting on the need to educate children for peace and against hate, and about the pain of mothers who lost their children in wars, and about those who lost their mothers. I will be thinking of the hostages in Gaza…

My Writing Life blog stands up against hate of any kind, supports democratic principles and the freedom to read books.

Thank you for visiting My Writing Life blog: awareness, reflection, inspiration.

Here’s a list of supplementary links:

https://www.cnn.com/2023/12/09/middleeast/narges-mohammadi-nobel-children-intl/index.html

 

https://time.com/6590643/iran-executions/

https://www.context.news/socioeconomic-inclusion/should-gender-apartheid-be-an-international-crime

https://rsf.org/en/watch-out-because-we-re-coming-you-rsf-report-unprecedented-transnational-repression-iranian

https://carnegieendowment.org/2023/11/29/aggressive-new-digital-repression-in-iran-in-era-of-woman-life-freedom-uprisings-pub-91025

 

https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/blogs/econographics/global-sanctions-dashboard-how-iran-evades-sanctions-and-finances-terrorist-organizations-like-hamas/

 

https://www.cnn.com/2023/04/21/europe/iran-paris-dissidents-mime-intl/index.html

 

 

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-68840881

 

https://pen.org/press-release/nobel-peace-prize-laureate-narges-mohammadi-handed-an-additional-sentence-for-propaganda/

https://www.reuters.com/world/russia-iran-strengthen-ties-trusting-atmosphere-russian-foreign-ministry-2023-10-24/

https://ecfr.eu/article/iran-hamas-and-islamic-jihad-a-marriage-of-convenience/

 

 

Dirty Goumet Plant Power: Food for Your Outdoor Adventures

 

 You may have celebrated Mother Earth by helping to clean up your neighborhood (we did). This is the time of the year to open up space to plant our seeds, to celebrate the elation of plunging our fingers into the soil. The season invites us to garden, hike, bike, and take longer walks with our furry friends. The sun on the skin feels different; it revives something inside the heart-- a sense of communion with all life-- inspiring us to appreciate the beauty around us.

   

    Perhaps there is a picnic or a camping trip in your future plans. Outdoor adventures call for delicious, healthful meals to nourish the body and mind. It was exciting to discover this book at the local library: Dirty Gourmet Plant Power by Aimee Trudeau, Emily Nielson and Mai-Yan Kwan provides a broad spectrum of recipes to make this possible. I love the adaptability of these recipes. It is easy to substitute and add ingredients to create something that works for you and your family.

  The photographs included are equally inspiring. The authors also offer tips and instructions on how to carry the food, and ideas to adapt the meals to every outdoor situation. I appreciate how each recipe is accompanied by a paragraph about the authors’ personal lives and experiences, and how it connects to a memory or personal anecdote.

  The book also contains a section of desserts, so those with a sweet tooth will get an added bonus. Another compelling feature of Plant Power is the purpose of the authors, which they reveal clearly in their introduction.

 “One of our fundamental values is caring for the natural world. It’s important for us to teach how to not only nourish yourselves but also protect and support our public lands. We hope we are leading our readers to be responsible stewards, helping to ensure that future outdoorists can continue to enjoy public landscapes just as they do today.”

  The intention of collaboration and connection relayed by the authors entices the heart and fosters a spirit of community.

 “This is a collaboration and an ongoing conversation. Let’s continue to be resources for one another so we can keep growing as a food-loving outdoor community.”

   As we welcome the beauty of the new season, feel free to read or revisit the following posts as well. I hope you find inspiration and ideas to do your part in sustaining the gifts of Mother Earth for generations to come:

The Ecological Gardener

What a Bee Knows

Ride, Cycle the World

 

 

The Library of Lost and Found by Phaedra Patrick

 

  I have been asked how I manage to have time to read and write about books. The answer is simple: I neither watch television nor movies. I prefer books.

    Books engage us in fascinating conversations in my family. I appreciate how books inspire us to come together and communicate, to learn more about ourselves and others. Hopefully, this blog will inspire other families to share the joy of reading books and to connect through them…

  My Writing Life blog celebrates the magic of books and encourages others to do the same. What’s not to like about that?

 I found today’s book, The Library of Lost and Found, in one of the Little Free libraries in my town. If you don’t know anything about Little Free libraries, I invite you to learn about them here. Little free libraries can be found across the world and are a fun way of spreading and sharing the wonder of books with your community.

  Martha Storm, the main character of The Library of Lost and Found, worked as a part-time librarian, but she also volunteered full-time at her local library. The library was located in a seaside village in the United Kingdom. Martha was in her early forties and she applied three times for a full-time position there. Every time she applied she got rejected, even though she had been volunteering at the library for many years. The manager preferred to employ younger people with little or no experience. Martha did her best to excel, but her efforts were not valued.  

  Martha hosted a reading group at the library, but the participants had no genuine interest in books. They were there to tease her.

  One day somebody sent her a mysterious book that contained short stories she had written during her childhood years. There was a handwritten dedication to her by her best friend—her grandmother-- whom she thought had died almost three decades before. The dedication was dated three years after she had died, so Martha contemplated the possibility that her grandmother could be alive. 

 Martha was motivated to trace the origin of the book to understand what had happened. Who had published it? How did it reach her? Her quest would lead to various secrets and discoveries about her life. This intriguing aspect of the story captured my attention and spurred me to keep reading. Unlike other books I’ve read this year, which were hard to put down, this one felt claustrophobic.  Most of the female characters in this story are submissive and boring. They lack assertiveness and personal aspirations. They are overly concerned about pleasing others. At the beginning I thought the story had taken place in the 1950s, but then I read that the characters were exchanging emails, so it dawned on me that the novel was set in the twenty-first century. There are also chapters about her childhood from the 1970s and 1980s.

    There was a history of emotional abuse in Martha’s childhood and her family was dysfunctional. The absurdity and outrageous nature of their actions, lies and poor decisions left me reeling. The only reason I forced myself to complete the read was that I wanted to get to the core of the mystery. I was intrigued, but I did not feel any kind of connection to the characters. Martha was supposed to be a book lover. However, there was nothing about her that suggested that her interest was authentic. She spent her time pleasing others and responding to their needs, even when they treated her with disrespect. None of the characters was relatable. I thought Owen Chamberlain was an interesting person, but we do not get to know him very well.

 What did I like about the story?  The author created a vivid atmosphere. She knows how to immerse the reader fully in the setting. I love the Read and Run idea to share a book and leave it behind for others to grab it and own it (I will not elaborate on this because I want to avoid spoilers). I also appreciate how the author shows the ageism that women face. Ageism is often ignored, and it is a very serious issue that deserves attention.

  When I discovered the book, I thought it was a mystery novel with unique, quirky characters. However, I ended up being trapped in a dismal story of emotional abuse, trauma and senseless behaviors.

  I dislike stories about women that behave like martyrs, even when the ending shows that something deep changes in the character.

   There are other titles by the same author that may be different from this novel. I would like to explore them. I may appreciate some of her other works.

 

Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmus

 

  Elizabeth Zott’s dog learned over nine-hundred words and her daughter, Madeline, was an early reader, but Madeline had to pretend to be like other kids in kindergarten: illiterate. By the same token, as a professional chemist Elizabeth Zott struggled to gain basic respect and recognition at work, because when women are good at something, somebody may be quick enough to steal their ideas, or false rumors may be spread to make others believe that she has slept with somebody to attain something specific, whereas a man’s accomplishments are celebrated and his intelligence is not questioned.

 “It is not your imagination. People are awful.” Elizabeth wrote these words in one of the daily notes she stuck in Madeline’s lunch-box.

  Even though the story takes place in the fifties and early sixties, this novel resonates in today’s world. Stereotypes, prejudices and biases continue to pervade societies in subtle and not so subtle ways. Misogynistic trends continue to exist in the most unexpected situations, so I am thankful for this clever novel. It brings to light the social nuances that continue to put women down, the unspoken truths that still linger in the workplace and in so many conversations around us.

 Hard work and education are important to succeed, but “luck” plays a role too.  Amid the darkness of societal nonsense, however, there is hope. A friend, a boss, a partner may trust you, and   believe in your skills, and that faith in you can make a world of difference. Everybody needs support, so why is it more difficult to grant women the same support that is provided to men? 

 Luck can hit a person in unpredictable ways, and this is clear in this novel when Elizabeth is wooed by Walter Pine to work as a cooking television host. This is not something she had planned, but she needed the job to sustain her family and pay the bills. Elizabeth was expected to teach how to cook while entertaining the audience.

  As a chemist, Elizabeth knows that chemistry is the foundation of cooking, and that nutritious, balanced meals are paramount to everybody’s success in life.  Nourishing the body helps to support a healthy mind. Why do you think, for example, that a man cooking is treated with more respect than a woman doing it? Why is the word “chef” immediately associated with the male gender? The paradox is that it is not uncommon to come across online trolls who want to dismiss a woman’s opinion by “sending her to the kitchen.”

  Making a balanced, nutritious meal from scratch requires knowledge, skills and motivation. If you take a moment to reflect deeply on this act, you will conclude that it has an impact on the health of the people who eat it and the planet.

 A woman may choose to be a scientist; a woman may cook nutritious meals for her family or she may become a cook to make a living, but regardless of her choices, she is never treated with the same respect as the man who chooses to do the same tasks. Why?

  The answer is rooted in gender double standards that still exist today. Why is the same work considered to have more value when it is done by a man ? Both men and women are guilty of underestimating the work of women, so let’s stop pretending otherwise, and it is necessary to examine how gender double standards are part of this reality. Confidence in men, for example, is regarded as a positive trait, but it is often considered a sign of arrogance in women. A man asking for help may be considered assertive, whereas a woman in the same situation may be viewed as "opportunistic".

  Elizabeth and her partner, Calvin Evans, commented on the fact that ninety percent of women adopt their husband’s last name when they get married. Bonnie Garmus may have referred to women in America. I think it is important to clarify that the fact that women in America change their last name when they marry should not be a reason to assume that women do the same in every country of the world. Hint: they don’t… Eureka!

 I devoured the fruits of Bonnie Garmus’s imagination. The comparison between the different kinds of chemical bonds and falling in love was brilliant. She describes the three types of chemical bonds: ionic, covalent and hydrogen bridges. Elizabeth uses the knowledge of chemical bonds to make analogies about the ways people interact with or fall for their significant other or potential lovers. This was hilarious and witty. Another theme the novel touches is that of grief: Elizabeth endures the loss of her significant other.

  Elizabeth Zott had not chosen to work as a cooking television host, but the job became a medium through which she gave herself permission to express herself against all odds, and to instill confidence in the women whose work was treated with disdain. Think about the ways homemakers are treated today and you will agree with me that little has changed. Every woman deserves respect, whether they choose to work inside or outside the home. Yet this does not happen.

 Supper at Six was the television program Elizabeth hosted, and it became a success. As you can imagine, when a woman does something well, it sparks envy and admiration, which are the driving forces of sexism. Haters are ready to threaten and intimidate the successful woman and to dismiss the fruits of such a woman’s work. Again, some things have not changed.

 Do people with enthusiasm and motivation overwhelm others? I don’t think so unless the agent of enthusiasm and passion is a woman, in which case the situation sometimes evokes envy and hate and triggers irrational behaviors in the haters.

 I also noticed that people who criticize the choices that women make are in fact unhappy with their own choices in life, so it is a kind of scapegoating. Misogyny never goes out of fashion apparently. (And in some places misogyny became law and we are mocked and ignored when we speak up).

  Elizabeth Zott defies the systems that oppress her. Through her story, the readers may be able to fathom how any kind of religious fanaticism can be used to oppress and denigrate women and to promote homophobia.

 Lessons in Chemistry is a compelling read with various twists and surprises. I rooted for Elizabeth and my favorite character is Six-Thirty, the dog.  It is uplifting to learn that the novel has been welcomed with several awards and recognitions; you can learn about them here.

 Lessons in Chemistry is entertaining, humorous, thought-provoking and… outrageous. There is a scene of rape in this book, so if you deal with trauma, keep this in mind as you venture through the pages. There is a lot of food for thought in Lessons in Chemistry, so savor it at your own pace, enjoy the “meals” and then make sure you pass it on.

We need to raise more awareness.

 

 

Don’t forget to check the supplementary links and feel free to share them:

https://criernewsroom.com/news/2022/04/16/the-sexist-nature-of-the-cooking-industry/

 

https://time.com/6257188/disinformation-women-online-hate-study/

 

https://www.latimes.com/opinion/story/2024-03-05/women-social-media-instagram-linkedin-toxic

 

https://medschool.duke.edu/news/equality-women-science-not-there-yet

 

https://wearerestless.org/2022/02/04/why-are-stay-at-home-moms-looked-down-upon/

https://tooambitious.com/3-subtle-ways-women-are-undermined-at-work-and-how-to-handle-them/

https://iwpr.org/new-report-women-earn-less-than-men-in-all-occupations-even-ones-commonly-held-by-women/

 https://helpfulprofessor.com/double-standards-examples/

 

Notes from The Dog by Gary Paulsen

 

The title of this book and the author’s dedication intrigued me:

  “This book is dedicated with all respect and hope to everybody who has ever faced cancer.”

   The enticing title and dedication along with the inkling that there was something powerful and unique about this novel convinced me to read it.

   My intuition did not fail me. This is a book that made me rejoice, reflect, laugh and, finally, cry like a child. The unique characters stayed with me after I finished reading it.

    It is a book that makes you acknowledge how a simple person can make a difference in the lives of others with motivation, cheer and a new perspective on different matters. It is an opportunity to reflect on the multiple ways in which one person can touch lives and make them better.

    Finn is a fourteen-year-old teenager who loves books and spends most of his free time reading novels. He is an introvert whose best friend is Dylan, a dog. He also has Matthew, whom he describes as a true friend, “It’s because he’s the only person I know who doesn’t make me feel like he’s drifted off in his head when I’m talking. Anyone who listens to everything you have to say, even the bad stuff and the boring things that don’t interest them, is a true friend. Matthew’s always been the only person who’s easy for me to talk to. He’s a lot like Dylan when you think about it.”

   Finn did not know how his life would change with the presence of her new next-door neighbor, Johanna. In the first chapter Johanna introduces herself to the boys and Dylan. I read the first chapter twice because I enjoyed it so much. I was smitten with the characters. It made me laugh out loud, and I appreciate Paulsen’s social commentary.

   When Johanna met the boys, she greeted Dylan first. Then she said, “In this world, you either like dogs or you don’t, and I don’t understand the ones who don’t, so I’m glad to finally meet the three of you.” Her chemistry with Dylan and the boys was instant. After the end of their first conversation, she asked them to sign her journal because it was her habit to write down the best thing that happened to her each day…

   Gary Paulsen knows how to shake and break the reader’s heart, but he does so while imbibing the spirit with the light of hope, joy and inspiration. There is so much wisdom in this story. It is the kind of wisdom that sneaks in with grace and gentle steps without resorting to sentimentality or preaching.

   I recommend this book to adults, teenagers and middle schoolers. It is a celebration of the empowering nature of true friendship. In the next edition I hope the publishers will consider adding illustrations by his talented wife, Ruth Wright Paulsen.

 

 

   Gary Paulsen shares a poem right before the first chapter of the novel:

 To every thing there is a season,

a time for every purpose under the sun.

A time to be born,

and a time to die.

A time to plant,

and a time to reap.

 

A time to weep,

and a time to laugh.

A time to mourn,

and a time to dance.

                               Ecclesiastes

I’ve read two other books by Gary Paulsen. You can check those reviews as well:

 

The Glass Café

The Island

I am Bunny: How a "Talking" Dog Taught Me Everything I Need to Know About Being Human

 

“Trust creates peace.” (Anonymous quote).

 Trust is the foundation of every healthy relationship. Relationships with dogs are not the exception to this rule. Genuine friendships with dogs are based on trust and communication.

 Alexis Devine has always been eager to do her best to optimize communication with her adopted dogs. In a delightful friendly style, Alexis shares her personal journey with Bunny, a dog she adopted three years before publishing her book. Alexis’s curiosity, kindness and sense of wonder led her to seek new ways of understanding Bunny. For this reason, she resorted to the use of buttons that her furry friend accepted with enthusiasm; Bunny uses them to express herself. These buttons play recorded words when pressed.

 Alexis Devine’s exploration eventually led her to connect with researchers who study dog behavior, and now she is collaborating with their work. Interestingly, the choice of buttons kindles conversations with her dog, interactions that reveal fascinating insights into Bunny’s thoughts, emotions and feelings. This kind of communication shines a light on the ways Bunny perceives the world around her. If you’ve ever wondered whether dogs have night dreams, you will learn about this topic in her book…

  In addition to the anecdotes and dialogues she shares, there are relevant snippets of Alexis’s life intertwined with Bunny’s experiences. Alexis shares aspects about herself, vulnerabilities and challenges she had to contend with, and a personal adventure of self-discovery, growth and transformation. She also carves out interesting reflections about life in general, inviting the readers to appreciate situations from refreshing perspectives.

 There are a few chapters about research on animal communication interspersed throughout her book. I chose to read these chapters separately because I did not like to be distracted from the story of Alexis and Bunny.

 Alexis Devine is an artist and entrepreneur from Seattle, Washington. She is also part of an ongoing canine cognition research study at the Comparative Cognition Lab at UCSD. “Her goal is to further our understanding of the power of connection and importance of empathy, meeting her dogs where they are and understanding them on their terms to facilitate trust and promote an environment that supports them as the incredible creatures they are.”

 You can learn more about Alexis Devine and her experiences with Bunny by listening to this brief interview:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Id6jvQPzEQo

 

 There are various photographs of Bunny and Alexis in this book, but they don’t reveal the essence of their unique connection. Most pictures showcase Alexis’s unconventional clothing style and makeup. There is nothing wrong about an artist marketing her art, but we somehow miss out the energy of the bond between Alexis and Bunny in those images. On the other hand, the heartwarming photos of her parents spending time with Bunny truly reveal the spirit of their relationship:

 

  Books that focus on communication with dogs are of special interest to me. I experience a deep connection with my own furry friends. Words can hardly describe the bond that blooms when we care deeply for them. Every moment with them is a precious gift that I don’t take for granted.

 You can also check my review on Canine Confidential.by Marc Bekoff.

Have fun with these supplementary links!

 

https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/dogs-that-saved-lives

 

https://www.cnn.com/2024/03/13/health/playing-with-dogs-affects-brain-waves-study-wellness/index.html

 

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9534402/