Weekly Review through February 24!

Another awesome week in Fitness, Farm, and Life! Read on for more!

Fitness
This week started off strong, but we were really busy over the weekend, so I really tapered off on Friday-Sunday.
February 18- 30 minute dance workout on YouTube
February 19- 35 Minutes virtual ride on Rouvy!
February 20- 30 minutes dance routine for Shape Up Montana challenge!
February 21- 45 minutes treadmill walking. Sometimes I watch movies or tv shows. I have to say that the climax of Thelma and Louise really kept me walking! Such a great movie!

Recognize this unforgettable scene?!

February 22- Rest.
February 23- Drive to Bozeman. Rest day.
February 24- Drive from Bozeman. Rest day.

This week for Shape Up Montana, our weekly challenge was to complete the "Shape Up Jam" dance and submit a video of the dance. I did it. My video is ridiculously bad, as are my dancing skills. If you want a laugh, here it is:

Farm-
We are nearly ready to start calving season. Our "due date" is March 1, so we could actually start any day. Jeff spent the week preparing the corrals and doing other chores in advance of calving. Then on Friday, he and a friend of ours sorted our animals into groups: older cows, young cows/heifers, and late-calvers. We also have a separate pen for our bulls, and another for the yearlings. It remains frigidly cold with highs in the single digits below zero and lows in the -20s or worse. Horrible weather for calving. We are hoping the cows will hold off until it warms up even a little bit!

Hello, girls!
This is the yearling pen. 

Life
We took a quick overnight trip to Bozeman for a family gathering. It was nice to get together, even if it was brief. It was a lot of car time for Genevieve, but overall, she handled it pretty well!

Traveling to Bozeman!
She's just too much with those pigtails!

I also just finished reading Becoming by Michelle Obama. I don't normally read a lot of biographies/autobiographies, but I really enjoyed this book. She is someone I think we can all learn from in terms of making the best out of every situation, positive mindset, encouraging others, and much more. If you haven't read this book, I would highly recommend it, regardless of your politics. To be honest, it's much more about her as a person than it is about politics anyway. It is especially eye opening to read about life from the viewpoint of an African-American woman, as her experience was vastly different from mine.

That's all for this week! Have a great week, everyone!

Two Novels

Do you ever read a book that just stays with you? You've finished the book, but it almost feels sad to be done because it feels like you're leaving your friends behind?

That's how I felt about a pair of books I finished recently:  Where the Crawdads Sing, by Delia Owens, and True Places by Sonja Yoerg. Both books were featured consecutively in my local book club. Both featured female central characters who lived outside the mainstream in rural midAtlantic states. Both cause the reader to examine just what it is we need to feel fulfilled in our lives, right along with the protagonists of each book.

In Where the Crawdads Sing, the book, set in the mid 1900s, takes off with young Kya's mom walking down the road and away from their North Carolina coastal marshland shack, fleeing an abusive marriage. One by one, every member of Kya's family leaves her, until at last she is the only one who remains. Kya turns to the marsh itself for solace: ""The sun, warm as a blanket, wrapped Kya's shoulders, coaxing her deeper into the marsh. ...whenever she stumbled, it was the land that caught her. Until at last, at some unclaimed moment, the heart-pain seeped away like water into sand. Still there, but deep. Kya laid her hand upon the breathing, wet earth, and the marsh became her mother." p. 34

But even the marsh can't protect her from natural human longing for companionship, as she grows up alone, living out her days with gulls and tides as friends. The dual storyline in this book follows a murder investigation and trial of surrounding the death of a prominent young man from the local community, found dead not far from the marsh Kya calls home. Was Kya, the "Marsh Girl," involved somehow?

True Places brings a character very similar to Kya, a young girl named Iris, into our lives, yet in a modern-day setting. This book begins very similarly to Where the Crawdads Sing; Iris has been living alone in the Blue Ridge Mountains, surviving off the land, her father has left the family and her mother has died. Iris is picked up along the roadside by the mom of a quintessential modern family, Suzanne. Suzanne's own two teenage children, Brynn and Reid, are nearly estranged as they are caught up in their own struggles with modern life in the Instagram and Snapchat era. Will Iris' pure innocence make or break this family as they navigate through the mess of possessions, appearances, and relationships that have come to define their lives?

There are many common themes and motifs between these two books, and both are written very well. I especially loved the nature writing in Where the Crawdads Sing, which was beautiful and yet not superfluous. It always seemed to serve the plot or the setting of the story, and in that way, reminded me of some of Barbara Kingsolver's work.  In True Places, I loved how the narration slipped between each of the different characters and did so convincingly. I found myself somewhat fatally attracted to the teenage daughter, Brynn, and thought the writing on that character in particular was spot on. She was a perfect representation of a modern teenage girl--you could feel the sarcasm oozing and practically felt spurned yourself through her many perceived eyerolls.

Overall, while both books were really great and kept me completely absorbed, I liked Where the Crawdads Sing a little bit better. The main character was so compelling, and I just found myself completely cheering for her until the very end. In that sense, it reminded me of another great book, Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine, which I also highly recommend.  In comparing those two books, they both feature women who are stronger than they first realize, who have been through trauma, and who have been marginalized from mainstream society, in one way or another.

Lastly, if you take Crawdads as an ovearching metaphor for the sort of struggle between human-kind and nature, I think it's comparable to A Thousand Acres, by Jane Smiley. Both could be considered allegory for mankind taking advantage of, or manipulating, nature. In one, the ending is very satisfying, while in the other, it feels very pessimistic.  I'll let you read either or both books, and tell me what you think.

If you're looking for a great piece of writing with compelling characters and great plot, and you're willing to give yourself completely to a book, try either Where the Crawdads Sing, or True Places. You might find a new favorite that you can't put down and you'll certainly welcome a few unforgettable new fictional friends into your life!



Check out these two books on Goodreads:

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/36809135-where-the-crawdads-sing

https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/39904267-true-places

400th Blog Post

Celebrating my 400th Blog post with a new name, new look, some self-reflection and a giveaway! Read on!

What does celebration look like?

When you live on a farm, sometimes confetti comes in the form of freshly harvested wheat berries spilling and jumping out the back of the grain truck as it dumps into the augur.

We don't drink a ton of champagne around here, either, but sometimes a light beer at the end of a hard day tastes as good as bubbly. Celebratory balloons are the kind of puffy clouds you see dotting this part of the Big Sky State on a clear day.

The cheering section is comprised of curious cow faces, tongue-out farm dogs, and our farmer family members' crooked grins.

No matter what form it comes in, I'm celebrating my 400th post to this blog.

Yes, this is it. I've been blogging for 4 1/2 years and 400 posts. I started writing as an outlet for sharing about the unique lifestyle of living on a dryland wheat farm and ranch in North-Central Montana. Over the years, and the posts, I've learned a lot about what being here is all about. I've learned about the day-to-day operations of farming and ranching, how everyone contributes, how I contribute, and how we get things done. I've learned about family, legacy, sustainability, and pride. I've learned about the unique ways of small town communities. I've learned what it means to have and to be a neighbor. I've learned about myself- my own strength and ability to adapt. Writing in this blog has been a means to explore all of those topics, and to share them.

I think I've grown a lot as a person over the past four and a half years. Growing up in Iowa, I never would have guessed I'd end up here. At first, it was hard to see my future here. How would I eventually figure out who I am in this place? First off, how do I figure out WHERE I am when all the landscape is so similar- flat and treeless? Now, I see and appreciate the nuance of the land, and I feel like I have found more of who I am and what my role can be in this place. It has taken time, but I think I have found my spirit, my voice, and my identity here. The blog, as an outlet for my thoughts and feelings, has been an invaluable tool in this discovery process.

As for the new name, Prairie Sun Life, and the new look, well, it was about time. I found that I was tired of using canned Blogger themes and I wanted something more representational of this place and also of my spirit. The new name and new URL come from the corporation name that Tom and Carol chose many years ago- Prairie Sun Farms. I've always loved the optimism and cheeriness that name implies. The new name and new look of The Prairie Sun Life are not a complete departure from the old Prairie Ponderings MT, but rather I think build on that foundation and move forward. Just like I've grown and changed, it was time for the blog to grow and change, too. The new graphic, expertly done by my friend Joellyn, embodies exactly the spirit I was hoping for: optimism, cheerfulness, sunshine, and a strong sense of place.

And now, let's talk about YOU. If you're reading this, thanks for coming along on the ride. Sure, there have been ups and downs and long breaks. There have also been high times of many posts. If you've stuck around this long, thanks for continuing to read, learn, and discover along with me what this Prairie Sun Life is all about. If you're new, welcome! Please stay!

I did mention there was a giveaway involved, didn't I? Here's the part where I explain it. Currently, I'm reading a wonderful young-adult fiction book called Hattie Big Sky, by Kirby Larson. It's about a young woman who moves from Iowa to Vida, Montana to homestead in the 19-teens. (Hmm...why do you think this book piqued my interest?!) There is much in this historical fiction piece that I find I can relate to and many passages that stand out, including this one about getting to know the land:

When I first arrived, I thought this country flat and dull. Now, I see each roll and dip, each cutbank and coulee, through fond eyes. (p. 271)

I'm giving away one copy of this book, and YOU could win it! First, you can enter by commenting. I've got three discussion questions below. Answer one of the questions below in the comments section on the blog OR by leaving a comment on Facebook. Second, you can enter the drawing by SHARING the link to this post or to my blog on Facebook. I'll give until Tuesday, March 8 at midnight for the contest and then I'll pick a winner at random and announce on Wednesday, March 9.

Here are the discussion questions-

• What have been some of your favorite blog topics?
• What would you like to see more of on the blog?
• What is a book you really connected with that you would recommend?

Again, comment below or on Facebook to be entered to win a copy of Hattie Big Sky, and/or share this post on Facebook to be entered! 

Thanks everyone for reading, and for celebrating 400 blog posts with me! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go great my cheering section of curious, pregnant cows and their calves! 

Early Fall Roundup, 2013

As I have alluded to in previous posts, a lot has happened in September and early October. I decided it was time for a general Roundup of all the goings-on, complete with photos.  With all the photos and randomness of this post, it could get a little long. Nevertheless... Enjoy!

I also wanted everyone to know that I did adjust the comments settings for the blog, so I think it will be easier for people to leave comments if they want to.  (Be kind!)

First event in the Roundup is Fall Seeding.

Not my best photo, but Jeff is actually standing on the platform of the air drill, which is directly behind the semi trailer, while it is filling with seed.  Bad angle. 

Again this year we seeded winter wheat. Early fall precipitation was bountiful, which generally makes seeding winter wheat an easy decision.  This year, the majority of the winter wheat we seeded was planted on Tom and Carol's land, and also on some CRP Jeff and I are seeding on our leased-ground for the first time.  Already the crop has sprouted well for Tom and Carol.

Second Event in the Roundup: Travel to the Tetons

Mt. Moran as the clouds lifted on a September morning.

I met my mom in Grand Teton National Park (obviously this was before Government Shut-Down) for a few days of photography adventures and light hiking.  The fall weather was warm and beautiful.  Wildlife and colorful scenery was abundant.

The photographer and the understudy!  

September was a great time to be in the parks because the elk herd was in full rut. Our lodging for the weekend was in the cabins at Jackson Lake Lodge, which was ideal for early morning walks listening to bugling elk in the valley.  The next two photos are actually of the same elk, that I saw while driving back north through Yellowstone at the end of the weekend.

This is his "Blue Steel" expression. 

Many of you know that my husband is an avid hunter. The joke of the weekend was that yes, we did indeed "shoot" multiple elk... with our cameras! Har har har...  This bull elk was just posing for the camera, however. In the height of the summer tourist season, he would have created an insurmountable traffic jam. On this cool, drizzly fall day, however, the park was pretty empty, which allowed a more prolonged, more relaxed viewing.

Section Two Point Five of the Roundup: A Wedding
Regrettably, I took very few photos at the wedding of our friends Skyler and Deitra, which was the evening of the same day I shot those elk in Yellowstone.  I did, however, stealth this great photo of Tom and Carol dancing at the reception...


Third event in the Roundup: Chicago
We went to Chicago a few days after I was in GTNP/YNP.  We were minus my mom, but the group at one point included me, Jeff, Katie, Josh, Tom, Carol, my dad John, and my brother Ryan, and Ryan's lovely girlfriend, Marissa. We took in two Cubs vs. Braves baseball games at beautiful Wrigley Field, celebrated Tom's 60th birthday at Tommy Gun's Garage (a delightfully hokey mobster themed dinner theater event), watched the Bears beat the Steelers at a classic Chicago sports bar, visited museums and toured the city.  Somehow I managed to take zero photos.

Event Four: Bobcat Football

Jeff and I before the Gold Rush season opener.

As we have the past two seasons, we again have season tickets for Bobcat Football, which means we are travelling to Bozeman for as many home games as we can.  We made it to the first game of the season back in August (above photo), missed the second home game in September (because we were at the aforementioned wedding in Helena), and took in the third home game, Homecoming, this past Saturday (photo below). As always, it's great to reconnect with family in Bozeman, cheer on the Bobcats, and enjoy gameday atmosphere.  We have three more regular season home games this year, and hopefully home playoff game(s) to follow in December! Go Cats!

Katies love Bobcats!
Special Thanks to Tom Bangs for allowing me to borrow his vintage Bobcat hat!!! 

And now for the Odds and Ends...

Evening walks with Harvey tend to yield excellent photo ops.  This photo was taken last week of a pair of antelope engaged in what looked to my uneducated study as a courtship dance. Photo was taken on my phone and again really isn't that great, but we spent several minutes watching these two speedily chase each other around the stubblefield directly across from the house.  Harvey has learned that he can't catch antelope and so did not try to chase them, but he did watch very intently.  The parlays and retreats were like a fencing match.  It was fascinating. In this case, between a buck and a doe, the point was not a battle to the death, but I was reminded all the same of Shakespearean sword fights.  My mind narrated the scene in iambic pentameter. 

And speaking of literature...

This book, Wild, by Cheryl Strayed is one that I recently completed. It is the pass-around book du jour, I am certain, among many circles. I also hear it is to be made into a movie soon starring Reese Witherspoon. All the more reason to read it as soon as you can! It is a memoir by the author, detailing her adventures hiking the Pacific Crest Trail.  I finally read it after many recommendations by friends and family. I think the biggest compliment I can give this book is that I came to feel like Cheryl was my old friend. I found myself thinking of her as she thought of her hiking pack, Monster, like someone who was with me wherever I went.  I would think to myself, "Time to check in on Cheryl," and then devour another fifty page chunk of the book.  I was sad when the book was over and now I feel like I want to call her up as if she is one of my long lost friends, and just chat.  She really bared all in the book and it is truly a remarkable story. If you haven't yet, read it now. Or, kindly ask my sister in law and perhaps she'll pass it on to you when she's finished with the copy I received from my Mom, and the chain of strong women who preceded her in reading it.

On the docket for this afternoon is working cows. I'll try to sneak in a photo hear and there and hopefully a blog post on the event later this week. 

Cricket and The Men

 

What is this horse doing?

She is trying to get to her friends across the road.

 

It sounds like there should be a joke in there somewhere a la "Why did the horse cross the road?"  To get to the other side!  In this case, the smart-aleck response is actually the correct answer.

 



You see, the horse, Cricket, has made friends with the bulls.  She spends most of her time with them throughout the year and feels like she is part of their group.  It's hard to say whether or not they like having her there or not, but she stays out of their way during displays of male dominance and alpha-male establishment exercises and doesn't take much of their food, so I suppose they tolerate her at least.  It seems like an unlikely friendship, but that's exactly what The Men are to Cricket- they are her friends.

According to Temple Grandin in her book Animals in Translation, "Animals have the same core emotions we do. Just keeping animals healthy and well fed isn't enough; we need to give animals enough social contact with other animals-- and with humans in the case of cats and dogs-- to live an emotionally normal life."  Grandin writes frequently in the book about horses being particularly social creatures who need companionship.  She writes that in social grazing groups, you can "find animals keeping company with other animals they aren't related to...Animals need friends and companions, and humans need to make sure they have them." Example A: Cricket and The Men.

Cricket was only left on the wrong side of the fence for a short while before let in with her beloved bulls.  I saw her leaned up against this fence while driving home from work one afternoon and I identified with how she felt.

One drawback of living in such a remote place is that often your closest friends and family are far, far away.    It's not easy for my friends, many of whom live in other states, to make it out here for a visit. Really, it's not easy for anyone to make it out here for a visit. I'm not blaming- that's just how it is. And we're just as busy, so it's not always easy for us to get away either. Even in this age of limitless connectivity possibilities, the busyness of life still impedes. Internet connections go down, phonecalls can be missed or dropped, or not returned because something else comes up.  It happens. 

Obviously, I'm very happy with the choice I made to be here.  There are innumerable benefits I could list and have written about frequently. But, that doesn't keep a person from missing her closest friends. Lately I have been feeling that separation. It's been a long time since I have been home. Perhaps reading about the Adam family gathering last weekend is what has been behind these feelings of nostalgia.  Missed phonecalls between me and friends don't help either.  Yes, I would describe myself as an introvert who very much enjoys, even relishes, time spent alone, but there's also something about being with those close friends and family who know you so deeply that can be just as restorative. Unfortuntely, there's much more than a couple fences and a stretch of gravel road separating me from some of my dearest friends, none of whom are bulls.

Track Season Wrap Up

As I type this, rain is falling steadily outside.  After a long, dry April and most of May, we finally got several impressive rain events in quick succession, just as we were about to become seriously discouraged over the outlook of our crops this year.  Now, there are puddles all about, all the grass and trees are green, roads are muddy, and crops are growing up gangbusters.  Ducks and other waterfowl have set up camp in our farmyard and song birds happily chirp away.  I imagine they are extolling the sudden boon of earthworms slithering to the surface of the soggy ground. Farmers are happy.  Rain is a sigh of relief.

 

Our computer has been on the fritz again lately, over the past few weeks, and we finally were able to take it to Havre to get it looked at. Despite our antivirus software, the computer keeps contracting various illnesses, rendering it virtually unusable.  A shame, I was in a nice roll with posting on the blog! I should be able to get back into it now.  There may even be a guest-blogger appearance by my husband sometime soon…

 

During the absence of blog posts, my time with the North Star Track Team came to an end for this season.  Memorial Day weekend was our State track meet, located in Laurel, MT this year.  It was a coed meet, as were all the meets we went to this year as a team, and featured the championships for Class C (North Star is Class C) and Class A.  Class AA and Class B were held together in Bozeman.  Next year, Class C will be with AA and the meet will be in Great Falls.  Class C alternates each year between holding their meet with A or with AA.  I am told C and B are never together because both classes tend to have many more fans in attendance than A or AA, and most track stadiums would not be big enough to accommodate so many people.  Something about small towns—people really seem to support their local kids in all endeavors.  If you haven't read the book Blind Your Ponies, do it.  It's about Class C basketball, but the way the small town in the book rallies around their team is applicable and accurate for any sport.

 

The North Star fans were out in numbers in Laurel to watch our kids compete. Even Jeff, who admittedly does not care much for track and field, made the drive down.  Sure, he got in a few rounds of golf in Billings, which was most definitely a major draw for him.  I was glad he was there for some of the meet- to see what I had put so much time into this spring. 

 

It was a great track season.  The girls won the District meet in early May, took second in Divisionals, and third as a team at State.  They also set several new school records in multiple events, including Triple Jump and 4 x 400 meter relay, and perhaps others, too.  Boys took second at Districts, and qualified 2 individuals for State at the Divisional meet. Both boys competed very well at State- one of them medaled in all three events that he qualified in, and I believe he also set at least one new school record.  Two of my hurdlers made it to State- one of the boys, and one of the girls. They both did fantastic- I am so happy for the progress they made over the season!  There is so much to be proud of over the course of the season, and State was the culmination of it all.

 

After Memorial Day weekend, it was strange for me to not stop in Rudyard for track practice on my way home from work in Chester.  I knew I would really enjoy coaching, and I did enjoy it all throughout the season, but I didn’t realize how much I would miss it after the season ended.  Such a great group of kids- they worked so hard day in and day out.  The track team is a great example of how a group of unrelated people can come together for a common purpose, and come to act as family to one another. It is definitely something special to be part of. Hopefully, helping with Track will be something I can be part of for many years to come, however, I am sure there will be no other season, no other group of kids, just like this one.

 

Photo by Tiffany Boehm Rettig
This is the girls team after claiming the 3rd place trophy at State. I'm on the left with a few of the other coaches. 

 

"A Weight Worth Waiting For"

In Montana, we are blessed with beautiful, inspiring landscapes and people.  One of the best showcases for both of these is the magazine Montana Quarterly, published by Big Sky Publishing, out of Bozeman. Some of the best writers and photographers in the state are routinely featured in this  award winning magazine.

Each issue of Montana Quarterly features a spotlight article on a town in Montana, usually a small town.  The issue that recently came out this fall did an article on Chester, which is one of our anchors to the Hi-Line for supplies and groceries, and also the town where I work.  The article was written by one of my favorite Montana writers, Jeff Hull.

The article is appropriately titled, "Small Town that Lives Big," and covers what might seem to be a renaissance of activity in Chester.  As a newcomer, I learned a few things I didn't know about Chester and the people who call it home, but what won me over most about the article (writing nerd that I am!) was Jeff Hull's tremendous prose.

Take this excerpt, the second paragraph of the article:

"This is a land of exquisite patience. It requires footfalls.  It can only be solved by gazing both at the horizon and at your feet, by opening your nose and breathing what the growth of wheat smells like, by crumbling the soil between your fingertips, by noticing the way the wind wants to comb your hair.  Amid such fastness, each single note of bird song acquires a weight worth waiting for.  Be still, and you will be deeply moved." 

This short paragraph puts into words how I have felt this land should be approached.  With stillness and patience.  In a sense, Hull's words are the Mission Statement for this blog.  There is more here than meets the eye.

If you see an issue of Montana Quarterly at your local newsstand, pick it up.  It is always worth the money spent.  And, if you're looking for a good book, check out Jeff Hull's book Pale Morning Done, perhaps at your local bookstore.  If not, there's always Amazon.  I recommend taking your issue of Montana Quarterly or your copy of Pale Morning Done, and heading out to an open space with a lawn chair or blanket and a good glass of wine.  As you read, take pause now and again-  "Be still, and you will be deeply moved." 

Rurally Screwed

It was Memorial Weekend one year ago when, with the help of my now husband and a few good friends, my belongings were loaded into a U-Haul trailer, I worked my last day in retail, said my goodbyes, and moved north.

Goodbye, Bozeman.
Hello, HiLine.

Goodbye, urban amenities.
Hello, rural seclusion.

There were many themes I readily identified with as I read the book Rurally Screwed, by Jessie Knadler. Rurally Screwed is a light, quick read, though it covers some pretty important topics. Especially, I think, for people like me who have made such a drastic lifestyle change in moving from city/town to country. Knadler actually grew up in Missoula, MT, but moved to New York City in her late teens, where she lived and worked for over a decade in the magazine industry.  She fell in love with a cowboy, and they settled in rural Virginia, where, together, they raise chickens and run a fencing business.  Knadler is also now a successful author and has a great blog: www.rurallyscrewed.com.

The storyline is familiar to me.  I grew up in a college town, Ames, IA-- very comparable to Bozeman or Missoula. I spent time in New York City (Ok, a summer internship is hardly a career, but its still a summer!) and had a study abroad summer in southern France.  Living where I do now was never on my radar.  In fact, throughout much of college, the guy I was dating dreamed of living in the country as a mixed animal vet.  That was one of the reasons our relationship didn't work out. I did NOT want to live in the country. No. Way. I can remember thinking the only way I would live in the country would be if I lived close to a larger town. Keep in mind, too, that in Iowa, you're never really more than ten miles away from the nearest town.  If anyone had told me five years ago I would meet and marry a farmer/rancher from northern Montana, move there, and live happily ever after, I would have laughed. Ha Ha. Great Joke!

Well, here I am. Guess some guys are good enough to change a girl's mind! I really connected with this book Rurally Screwed because some of the emotions and situations Knadler describes are so familiar. I had left everything familiar to me- my family, my town, my friends, my career, and started a completely new life with Jeff.  It's impossible not to occasionally question what in the world I have gotten myself into! It was great to read a book by a strong young woman who has gone through some of the very same things I find myself facing often.  Check out Rurally Screwed for an example of a person who has balanced it all with grace, and a little sass! 

Havre Book Exchange

I love a good book store.  Even better is a book exchange where you can bring in volumes you have already read but don't necessarily want to keep in your permanent collection, and earn credit towards new purchases.

Yesterday on my trip to Havre, I stopped in at Havre Book Exchange to make my first trades.  I brought in 5 or 6 paperbacks and one hard cover.  For paperbacks, you get credit towards 'purchase' of any other used paperback in store.  I can't remember what the ratio was, but it was something like one half of the original value, and could only be credited towards used paperbacks.  Hard Cover earns you one quarter of the original value, but you can spend that credit on anything in the store.

Only one of the books I brought in was denied for trade, and that was because they already had several copies of that book.  Everything else was approved.  After my trade, I came away with three used paperbacks:

Moo, by Jane Smiley
The Runaway Jury, John Grisham
The Lincoln Lawyer, Michael Connelly

I also picked up Blind Your Ponies, a New paperback, by Stanley Gordon West.  It is a novel with the small town of Willow Creek, MT at its core.  Looks pretty good.

I'll keep you all updated as I finish these or other books.  I don't review everything I read, just books that I think deserve a few words.  I've got enough to keep me going for a while, now, though.

Blindness: A Book Review

Some of you who know me know that I enjoy a good book.  I try to read a variety of fiction and non-fiction, everything from the classics (I am trying to read everything by Steinbeck, one of my favorites) to deliciously light and predictable mystery/thriller paperbacks.  My most recent read is Blindness by Jose Saramago, which I just finished last night. 

In Blindness, an entire city is overcome by an inexplicable illness wherein all the residents come down with 'white blindness'-- they are blind, but instead of seeing everything black, it is as though there is a white light shining into their eyes.  All the afflicted are herded up and brought to a former insane asylum for quarantine.  Within the quarantine they are subject to every possible humiliation and degradation. They are reduced to living as animals, with "packs" competing one against the other.  They live among their own filth (the toilets plug early on, and when you're blind you can't see where you're going anyway), their food rations arrive sporadically, and the women are forced into unthinkable acts of profanity to earn what food there is to be shared.   It is a living hell. 

They are all blind, save one.  The Doctor's Wife, as we know her, (Saramago does not give any of his characters formal names) has feigned blindness so she could stay with her husband. It is through her eyes that the reader sees the atrocities occuring in the forsaken asylum. It is she who becomes the heroine of the story and eventually leads her own small band of compatriots out of the asylum back into the heart of the city. 

The writing style Saramago uses in Blindness is tedious as well.  The book is laid out in lengthy paragraphs. There is a lot of stream-of-consciousness, and dialogue is embedded.  There is also less punctuation.  While it is difficult and slow to read, this writing style forces the reader to pay very close attention to what is happening.  Saramago does not want us to miss anything. 

To me, a major theme seems to be totalitarianism vs. anarchy.  Are the people better off with the government supposedly taking care of them?  What happens if this government abandons its people?  And yet, when there is no government left to take care of its charges, the people self-organize anyway. 

Another major theme is human nature at its best and worst.  There are moments in this book that make you hate what humankind can bring itself to do, and also moments of supreme generosity and kindness that not only make up for the darkness, but give a sense of hope. Every possible human emotion is explored in Blindness.

To be honest, Blindness is, well... not my favorite.  Reading Blindness was like watching the movie Requiem for a Dream.  I don't know if any of you have seen that movie, but if you have, you will know what I mean.  Requiem for a Dream and Blindness are both very dark, very graphic, and emotionally wrenching, and leave you thinking about what you have read/seen for a long time.  They are both very well done, but yet not enjoyable.  Does that make sense?

Jose Saramago won the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1998; Blindness was published in 1997.  I would deduce that this book had something to do with why he won the prize. As I said, it is extremely well written and brings up some major themes that are very relevant to modern times.  One other review I read stated, "This is an important book, one that is unafraid to face all of the horrors of the (20th) centry," (The Washington Post).  I think it is important to acknowledge and learn from past human tragedies and triumphs, but I like to enjoy what I read.  Blindness is a masterful work of fiction, but for me, it was simply not enjoyable.