It is an election year, so there will be a flurry of publications by authors looking to capitalize on a candidate's popularity, and, in some cases, a candidate's hilarity. In Trump, we get growing popularity, and a hilarity that we will, at some point, have to take seriously. In the meantime, Carol Pogash has thrown her hat in the publishing ring with her little collection of cherry-picked Quotations from Chairman Trump.
If you've followed the presidential election this round, none of this will be new to you. I do like the fact that she focuses on quotes from his announcement last summer going forward. I said cherry-picked, and I did get the feeling that Pogash set out to paint a less-than-complimentary picture. Not that Trump needs a lot of help to sound bad. . . .
Quotations from Chairman Trump is mildly entertaining and minimally informative. It's looking more and more like he will be the Republican nominee. If he is, I hope and pray he can beat Hillary. I'd rather have a clown than a criminal in the White House.
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Sunday, March 13, 2016
Friday, March 11, 2016
Campus Sexual Assault, by Lauren J. Germain
Sexual assault on college campuses is not a new problem, but public discussion about it is certainly on the rise. Unfortunately, this has come at the expense of the reputation of my alma mater. Due to publicity surrounding rape convictions of a couple of student athletes, and subsequent ESPN coverage of those cases and others on campus, my university has had a spotlight on it, and awareness of sexual assault has skyrocketed. Even as I was reading this book, a fraternity president was arrested for sexual assault. Surely the young lady involved would not have come forward were it not for the heightened awareness.
In Campus Sexual Assault: College Women Respond, Lauren J. Germain reports on her extensive interviews with college women who have experience sexual assault while in college. (I hesitate to use the words victim or survivor, as she and her interview subjects have mixed opinions on those terms.) She conducted her interviews exclusively with women at a single, unidentified college in the eastern United States, but their experiences are certainly similar to college students' experiences everywhere.
Simply getting these conversations into the open air is important, not just for the victim/survivor, but for the culture as a whole. As Germain talks with the women about their responses and actions after their experiences of sexual assault, several themes arose. Most did not take formal action: "Twenty-two of the twenty-six women I met with for this project decided not to press charges through the school or anywhere else." The feeling is, Why should they? They believe, with good reason, that the University doesn't punish perpetrators. The victim has to speak about an unspeakable experience in front of strangers (and in front of the attacker), who grill her about her sex life and body. All the time, she would know the University is much harsher in cases of cheating (expulsion) than rape (see you in class on Monday).
Further, most of the cases involved friends or acquaintances, or at least people in the same social, academic, or fraternity/sorority circles. Some victims even felt pressure from peers not to report the crime, in the interest of maintaining good relations among their Greek clubs, for instance. On a personal level, the victim sometimes thought "if she did press charges, it would ruin his life. He would never be able to get a job."
I appreciated the honesty which Germain was able to bring more light to this subject through the voices of the victims/survivors. Even though almost all of them spoke of their reluctance to speak publicly or press charges, surely elevated awareness will help other victims speak up. More importantly, projects like these can help move our culture away from an environment of acceptance. "Kids do these things in college. . . . They were both drunk. . . . So some wild oats. . . ." It's never OK to have sex with someone against their will. No matter what. And if it happens, the perpetrator must be held accountable.
The biggest lacking element in Germain's book is actually outside of the scope of the book, but I felt like it should have been addressed to a greater degree. Writing as a woman interviewing women, she says she did not question the women's stories, and cites one study that concluded that a very small percentage of reported rapes by women are false. Speaking as a man, I would like to hear the man's side given more weight. The women in Germain's study are right when they say the physical evidence of rape is usually quite limited, and the case comes down to "he said/she said." Men and women are both capable of lying, misremembering, or misinterpreting a situation. Women are given the benefit of the doubt.
Are there not men whose lives have been turned upside down irrevocably due to false accusations of rape? The Duke lacrosse team? The Univeristy of Montana quarterback, whose assault of a classmate was the centerpiece of a popular book, was acquitted and received a settlement from the university that has given him the boot. He's not alone. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/02/17/montana-quarterback-receives-245k-settlement-for-universitys-unfair-and-biased-rape-investigation/ Universities are in a catch-22. Expel an accused rapist, and face a lawsuit if he turns out to be found innocent? Allow an accused rapist to continue to attend class, and face a lawsuit from the victim if he is convicted?
So I finished Germain's book with mixed feelings. She tells important stories, but only part of the story. We must listen to these women. We must be a part of changing the culture to build greater respect for women and for personal boundaries. Another thing that she doesn't talk about is the culture of sexual freedom on college campuses now. Mixed-gender dorms, condoms available everywhere, alcohol-fueled party culture, open talk of sexuality, university-sponsored sex weeks, and other hyper-sexualizing trends in culture aid and abet rapists everywhere.
I am certainly happy to see a guy who preys on women get thrown out of school and put in jail. Women who are their victims need justice and the support of their communities. They need to know that when they speak up, they will find support and action, not accusations, suspicion, and marginalization.
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
In Campus Sexual Assault: College Women Respond, Lauren J. Germain reports on her extensive interviews with college women who have experience sexual assault while in college. (I hesitate to use the words victim or survivor, as she and her interview subjects have mixed opinions on those terms.) She conducted her interviews exclusively with women at a single, unidentified college in the eastern United States, but their experiences are certainly similar to college students' experiences everywhere.
Simply getting these conversations into the open air is important, not just for the victim/survivor, but for the culture as a whole. As Germain talks with the women about their responses and actions after their experiences of sexual assault, several themes arose. Most did not take formal action: "Twenty-two of the twenty-six women I met with for this project decided not to press charges through the school or anywhere else." The feeling is, Why should they? They believe, with good reason, that the University doesn't punish perpetrators. The victim has to speak about an unspeakable experience in front of strangers (and in front of the attacker), who grill her about her sex life and body. All the time, she would know the University is much harsher in cases of cheating (expulsion) than rape (see you in class on Monday).
Further, most of the cases involved friends or acquaintances, or at least people in the same social, academic, or fraternity/sorority circles. Some victims even felt pressure from peers not to report the crime, in the interest of maintaining good relations among their Greek clubs, for instance. On a personal level, the victim sometimes thought "if she did press charges, it would ruin his life. He would never be able to get a job."
I appreciated the honesty which Germain was able to bring more light to this subject through the voices of the victims/survivors. Even though almost all of them spoke of their reluctance to speak publicly or press charges, surely elevated awareness will help other victims speak up. More importantly, projects like these can help move our culture away from an environment of acceptance. "Kids do these things in college. . . . They were both drunk. . . . So some wild oats. . . ." It's never OK to have sex with someone against their will. No matter what. And if it happens, the perpetrator must be held accountable.
The biggest lacking element in Germain's book is actually outside of the scope of the book, but I felt like it should have been addressed to a greater degree. Writing as a woman interviewing women, she says she did not question the women's stories, and cites one study that concluded that a very small percentage of reported rapes by women are false. Speaking as a man, I would like to hear the man's side given more weight. The women in Germain's study are right when they say the physical evidence of rape is usually quite limited, and the case comes down to "he said/she said." Men and women are both capable of lying, misremembering, or misinterpreting a situation. Women are given the benefit of the doubt.
Are there not men whose lives have been turned upside down irrevocably due to false accusations of rape? The Duke lacrosse team? The Univeristy of Montana quarterback, whose assault of a classmate was the centerpiece of a popular book, was acquitted and received a settlement from the university that has given him the boot. He's not alone. https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/02/17/montana-quarterback-receives-245k-settlement-for-universitys-unfair-and-biased-rape-investigation/ Universities are in a catch-22. Expel an accused rapist, and face a lawsuit if he turns out to be found innocent? Allow an accused rapist to continue to attend class, and face a lawsuit from the victim if he is convicted?
So I finished Germain's book with mixed feelings. She tells important stories, but only part of the story. We must listen to these women. We must be a part of changing the culture to build greater respect for women and for personal boundaries. Another thing that she doesn't talk about is the culture of sexual freedom on college campuses now. Mixed-gender dorms, condoms available everywhere, alcohol-fueled party culture, open talk of sexuality, university-sponsored sex weeks, and other hyper-sexualizing trends in culture aid and abet rapists everywhere.
I am certainly happy to see a guy who preys on women get thrown out of school and put in jail. Women who are their victims need justice and the support of their communities. They need to know that when they speak up, they will find support and action, not accusations, suspicion, and marginalization.
Thanks to Edelweiss and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
Under Our Skin, by Benjamin Watson
Shortly after the announcement that the grand jury in Ferguson, Missouri had chosen not to indict officer Darren Wilson for killing Michael Brown, Benjamin Watson's response showed up in my Facebook feed. It may have shown up in yours, too. Watson, a black NFL player, found the words to express what many Americans, black and white, we're feeling and thinking. Watson has developed that original post and his subsequent blog entries into a book, Under Our Skin: Getting Real About Race--and Getting Free from the Fears and Frustrations That Divide Us.
Watson writes as a black man, but his perspective is definitely a moderate one. I don't think the Black Lives Matter movement would embrace Watson. Neither would the hosts of shows on the Fox News Channel. He is much too reasonable, asking questions like this: "Could it be that Michael Brown both did something wrong and did not deserve to be shot six times? Could it be that Darren Wilson both was just doing his job and responded inappropriately to a perceived threat?"
He is also writing as a Christian. The problem is not skin. After all, we are all human. The amount of melanin in our skin shouldn't make a difference. The problem is sin. We are all flawed, we all are shaped by the values of our communities, we all fall short. He is, of course, correct, but the shame of it is that most slave owning, segregationist, racist bigots were and may still be active members of otherwise very conservative, evangelical, Bible-believing Christian churches. Every Christian knows that even the most faithful church member has sin that needs repenting of. For many, racism is one of those sins, and much repentance is called for.
I was especially interested in his view of the police. He writes that the view of the police is the biggest divide between black and white. Not that he doesn't respect the police. He does. But he is very frank about that fact that black people have good reason to fear the police. Getting pulled over for a minor traffic violation may be no big deal for a white man. But for a black man, in his own view, it may be a matter of life and death. Even as a successful NFL star, he harbors this fear, this "assumption that, in getting stopped by the cops, I would likely not get a fair deal because I am black." Unfortunately, our entire criminal justice system is, statistically, skewed against black people. Incarceration rates and conviction rates are way out of proportion.
I was a little disappointed in his favorable quoting of journalist Ta-Nehisi Coates. Coates writes about the "specious hope" that Americans felt after seeing the picture of a black boy hugging a white police officer. Watson writes, "I agree with Ta-Nehisi Coates that we live in an America that wants to believe in a dream that doesn't exist. I agree that in our search for hope, we tend to reach for what is too easy, sentimental, false, and cheap. . . . I have no reason to believe that things will change in my lifetime. . . . Often it feels as if not much has changed since my granddaddy's day and my dad's youth." I appreciate what he says here, but hearing this from a guy who's at the top of his game, presumably making millions, winning the respect of black and white football fans and others, rings hollow. It doesn't take long to name the many ways things have changed since his father's and grandfather's youth. Would I argue, as some do, that there is no racism? Of course not. But let's not allow the persistence of racism (sin) to cloud the reality of the progress we have made as a nation.
In spite of that bit of hopelessness, Watson does offer a great deal of hope and encouragement. He has a great heritage of support and strength in his family, and he's on the way to passing that on to his five children. As a believer, he is also hopeful in Jesus and the power of the gospel to change hearts and minds. He writes that "individually we may feel as if there's not much we can do" about racism. "But maybe we underestimate what God can do through us." I'm praying with you, Benjamin, for the healing of America.
Thanks to the Tyndale Blog Network for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Monday, March 7, 2016
The Conceit of Humanitarian Intervention, by Rajan Menon
When a people group is being oppressed or is suffering persecution or even genocide, the global community sometimes calls for humanitarian intervention. But what are the limits? What are the guidelines? Is it even practical, possible, or effective? In The Conceit of Humanitarian Intervention, City College of New York professor Rajan Menon argues that "the terms of peace and justice proffered by humanitarian interventionists withstand neither ethical nor practical scrutiny."
Menon reviews instances of humanitarian intervention (and lack thereof) in the late 20th and 21st centuries, including in Libya, Grenada, Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq, and elsewhere. Those who call for humanitarian intervention claim a "commitment to transnational moral responsibility, human rights, and justice," yet Menon is cynical about the purity of the motives, at least in practice. The inconsistency with which the principals of intervention are applied show the poverty of the argument.
The doctrine of "responsibility to protect" (R2P) provides cover for a wide array of government interventions, but "despite its egalitarian allure and homage to justice, in practice R2P will simply reinforce existing hierarchies." Menon cynically dismisses much intervention as self-serving: "Governments will engage in humanitarian intervention when it serves their interests or when the price that they expect to pay is tolerable."
Even the International Criminal Court has proven ineffective, or at least severely limited. The countries who agree to its terms don't really need it, and the countries that need to be policed don't agree to it, and it is subject to political biases. "The presentation of the ICC as a neutral organization--above politics, guided only by law and the pursuit of justice--does not withstand scrutiny." Although there have been plenty of opportunities, "the ICC has yet to bring to justice any top leaders connected to atrocities."
Menon recognizes the importance of humanitarian intervention. If today there are not innocents being slaughters, governments treating their people unjustly, atrocities and genocide, just give it time. Great evil is committed around the world, almost continually, by governments and quasi government groups. Menon is not satisfied with the ICC, R2P, and the current state of humanitarian interventions. He does not, unfortunately, offer much in the way of a solution, other than to recognize the state of things. Perhaps that is his next book. For now, perhaps his harsh, cynical assessment will jostle decision makers toward change.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Menon reviews instances of humanitarian intervention (and lack thereof) in the late 20th and 21st centuries, including in Libya, Grenada, Kosovo, Bosnia, Iraq, and elsewhere. Those who call for humanitarian intervention claim a "commitment to transnational moral responsibility, human rights, and justice," yet Menon is cynical about the purity of the motives, at least in practice. The inconsistency with which the principals of intervention are applied show the poverty of the argument.
The doctrine of "responsibility to protect" (R2P) provides cover for a wide array of government interventions, but "despite its egalitarian allure and homage to justice, in practice R2P will simply reinforce existing hierarchies." Menon cynically dismisses much intervention as self-serving: "Governments will engage in humanitarian intervention when it serves their interests or when the price that they expect to pay is tolerable."
Even the International Criminal Court has proven ineffective, or at least severely limited. The countries who agree to its terms don't really need it, and the countries that need to be policed don't agree to it, and it is subject to political biases. "The presentation of the ICC as a neutral organization--above politics, guided only by law and the pursuit of justice--does not withstand scrutiny." Although there have been plenty of opportunities, "the ICC has yet to bring to justice any top leaders connected to atrocities."
Menon recognizes the importance of humanitarian intervention. If today there are not innocents being slaughters, governments treating their people unjustly, atrocities and genocide, just give it time. Great evil is committed around the world, almost continually, by governments and quasi government groups. Menon is not satisfied with the ICC, R2P, and the current state of humanitarian interventions. He does not, unfortunately, offer much in the way of a solution, other than to recognize the state of things. Perhaps that is his next book. For now, perhaps his harsh, cynical assessment will jostle decision makers toward change.
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Sunday, March 6, 2016
The Great Carp Escape, by Irish Beth Maddock, illustrated by Lucent Ouano
Paul and Beth live next to a large, lovely lake, and spend their days in and out of the water, exploring their world. One day they see an ugly fish, a carp, but their wise father reminds them, "God thinks this fish is wonderful. God thinks you're wonderful, too." When the lake rises, it floods their lakeside world. As the water recedes, a pond is left behind by the weeping willow. Paul and Beth see that the pond is full of carp, and as the pond dries up, the carp have no way to get back to the large lake. So that the carp don't die in their shrinking pond, the children work together with their father and some friends and neighbors to dig a trench, allowing the carp to swim back to the lake and live.
Irish Beth Maddock's The Great Carp Escape has all the elements of a memorable children's book. Lucent Ouano's artwork is colorful and cute, with details that little eyes will delight in finding. Maddock gives the children a sense of adventure and wonder which young readers will embrace as they share Paul and Beth's fascination with the world around them. And Maddock teaches strong moral lessons. Paul and Beth see a problem: the carp will die if they stay in the shrinking pond. Along with their dad, they develop a solution, bring the community together to dig the trench. The larger lesson is even more important. Even the ugly little fish matter to God, and should matter to us. And guess what? We matter to God, too!
Thanks to Irish Beth Maddock for the complimentary review copy!
Irish Beth Maddock's The Great Carp Escape has all the elements of a memorable children's book. Lucent Ouano's artwork is colorful and cute, with details that little eyes will delight in finding. Maddock gives the children a sense of adventure and wonder which young readers will embrace as they share Paul and Beth's fascination with the world around them. And Maddock teaches strong moral lessons. Paul and Beth see a problem: the carp will die if they stay in the shrinking pond. Along with their dad, they develop a solution, bring the community together to dig the trench. The larger lesson is even more important. Even the ugly little fish matter to God, and should matter to us. And guess what? We matter to God, too!Thanks to Irish Beth Maddock for the complimentary review copy!
Friday, March 4, 2016
I am N, by The Voice of the Martyrs
Around the world, Christians are being targeted for persecution by their Muslim neighbors. In I Am N, the Voice of the Martyrs organization has gathered some of their stories. With the rise of ISIS, we began to hear more about the persecution of Christians in the Muslim world. ISIS has targeted Christians, giving the an ultimatum: "convert to Islam, pay an outlandishly high tax, or be killed." In some areas, they mark the homes and businesses of Christians with an N for Nazarene, marking them as followers of Isa (Jesus) the Nazarene.
The stories are arranged around several themes: sacrifice, courage, joy, perseverance, forgiveness, and faithfulness. I am forced to ask myself, would I be willing to sacrifice under persecution? Can I rely on Jesus for my joy in spite of circumstances? Could I truly forgive those who have persecuted me, even taking the lives of my family? I honestly don't know.
Many of these persecuted individuals spoke of the support they received from other Christians. But I was surprised by a few who were turned away. One new Christian, a former Muslim, had a hard time finding a pastor to baptize her. Pastors she asked feared retribution. Another fleeing family was turned away by their friends, who feared that they, too, would be targeted. At the same time, there were some who received help from Muslim neighbors, demonstrating that there are some Muslims who are truly peace-loving and able to coexist with Christians. I wish the authors had explored this nuance more. As a Christian living in the U.S., I find it difficult to discern among Muslim groups. I don't fear the Muslim family across the street in my Texas neighborhood. But who, among their associates and fellow Muslims, should I be leery of, if any?
The most shocking stories, to me, are the Christians who are tortured and beaten by their own family. Who would torture his own daughter because she became a Christian? Who would poison his own wife because she assisted their Christian child? How about the Christian housekeeper who was beaten by her Muslim boss: "Fatima [a wealthy Muslim woman] called for her two daughters and husband to join her in beating Parveen [their Christian maid]. They accepted her invitation without hesitation." What kind of people live like this? Evil people. These are stories of evil.
Every one of the stories in I Am N falls way, way outside of my experience as an American Christian. I have never been called on to give up home, family, security, wealth, or my life because of my faith, nor do I ever expect to in the United States. These stories remind me that in some parts of the world, following Jesus has a high cost. I pray with the Voice of the Martyrs that Jesus will continue to strengthen Christians under persecution and reward them for their faithfulness.
You can commit to join with The Voice of the Martyrs in prayer for the persecuted church here:
www.i-am-n.com
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
The stories are arranged around several themes: sacrifice, courage, joy, perseverance, forgiveness, and faithfulness. I am forced to ask myself, would I be willing to sacrifice under persecution? Can I rely on Jesus for my joy in spite of circumstances? Could I truly forgive those who have persecuted me, even taking the lives of my family? I honestly don't know.
Many of these persecuted individuals spoke of the support they received from other Christians. But I was surprised by a few who were turned away. One new Christian, a former Muslim, had a hard time finding a pastor to baptize her. Pastors she asked feared retribution. Another fleeing family was turned away by their friends, who feared that they, too, would be targeted. At the same time, there were some who received help from Muslim neighbors, demonstrating that there are some Muslims who are truly peace-loving and able to coexist with Christians. I wish the authors had explored this nuance more. As a Christian living in the U.S., I find it difficult to discern among Muslim groups. I don't fear the Muslim family across the street in my Texas neighborhood. But who, among their associates and fellow Muslims, should I be leery of, if any?
The most shocking stories, to me, are the Christians who are tortured and beaten by their own family. Who would torture his own daughter because she became a Christian? Who would poison his own wife because she assisted their Christian child? How about the Christian housekeeper who was beaten by her Muslim boss: "Fatima [a wealthy Muslim woman] called for her two daughters and husband to join her in beating Parveen [their Christian maid]. They accepted her invitation without hesitation." What kind of people live like this? Evil people. These are stories of evil.
Every one of the stories in I Am N falls way, way outside of my experience as an American Christian. I have never been called on to give up home, family, security, wealth, or my life because of my faith, nor do I ever expect to in the United States. These stories remind me that in some parts of the world, following Jesus has a high cost. I pray with the Voice of the Martyrs that Jesus will continue to strengthen Christians under persecution and reward them for their faithfulness.
You can commit to join with The Voice of the Martyrs in prayer for the persecuted church here:
www.i-am-n.com
Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!
Wednesday, March 2, 2016
Clarence Olgibee, by Alan Kessler
Two words come to mind when I try to describe Alan Kessler's Clarence Oligbee. Ambitious, and rambling. It's the story of race and family, spanning from the 1950s into the 1970s and 1980s. Clarence Oligbee, an African-American young man living in Ohio, befriends Todd, a white classmate whose liberal parents have moved from Manhattan into Oligbee's middle-class black neighborhood. As their friendship grows and then falls apart, Kessler explores race in America.
Clarence joins the Navy, and learns that equality is a distant dream. In spite of his high aptitude scores and heroic deeds, he's stuck shining shoes and serving dinner to white officers. He learned that "education, intelligence, even heroism, couldn't life a Negro past where a white man thought he should go." Back in Ohio, Todd fell under the influence of white supremacists with plans to eliminate blacks and Jews from the United States.
Kessler places some interesting insights about race relations during this era in American history. Clarence gets a preview of racial equality at a college football game, where he witnessed "the color and sound of 100,000 people linking their fate, hopes, and dreams to the actions of eleven young men on a field. . . . There were not black or white people . . . only crimson and gray. . . . Clarence had felt close to God, to a world perfect in its equality where effort, not race, mattered." However, a white man sitting nearby destroyed his vision: "Maybe someday you'll play here, too! A big buck running back with a white quarterback for the brains!" It was a reminder that white people "wanted him to play by their rules."
Religion also plays a role in Clarence's story. He learns from his mother that church is not about God, but about community. "There is no divine being listening to the choir sing and the reverend preach. . . . But when we put on Sunday clothes and walk together to church to sit side by side in pews, we are strengthened by a shared spirit." I wonder how common this sentiment is in the black church.
I said Clarence Olgibee is ambitious and rambling. Ambitious, in Kessler's scope. The setting of the story seems to keep growing, as does the impact. Clarence falls in with some interesting characters in the Philippines, giving him a sense of history larger than himself. In Ohio, some businessmen expand their impact on history well beyond what I would have expected, even touching the biggest historical events of the era. All of this is tied together in a rambling style. The personal connections become a bit mind-boggling after a while. I didn't quite need a flow chart to keep track of who was related to whom, but the random connections piled up a bit, some in very important ways.
I enjoyed Clarence Olgibee in spite of Kessler's rambling style. The prose didn't flow all that well throughout, giving it a rough-cut feel. But the characters are memorable, and the arc of the story keeps it very interesting.
Order here: http://www.blackrosewriting.com/historical-fiction/clarence-olgibee
Thanks to Mr. Kessler for the complimentary review copy!
2016 Reading Challenge: A book with at least 400 pages
#vtReadingChallenge
Clarence joins the Navy, and learns that equality is a distant dream. In spite of his high aptitude scores and heroic deeds, he's stuck shining shoes and serving dinner to white officers. He learned that "education, intelligence, even heroism, couldn't life a Negro past where a white man thought he should go." Back in Ohio, Todd fell under the influence of white supremacists with plans to eliminate blacks and Jews from the United States.
Kessler places some interesting insights about race relations during this era in American history. Clarence gets a preview of racial equality at a college football game, where he witnessed "the color and sound of 100,000 people linking their fate, hopes, and dreams to the actions of eleven young men on a field. . . . There were not black or white people . . . only crimson and gray. . . . Clarence had felt close to God, to a world perfect in its equality where effort, not race, mattered." However, a white man sitting nearby destroyed his vision: "Maybe someday you'll play here, too! A big buck running back with a white quarterback for the brains!" It was a reminder that white people "wanted him to play by their rules."
Religion also plays a role in Clarence's story. He learns from his mother that church is not about God, but about community. "There is no divine being listening to the choir sing and the reverend preach. . . . But when we put on Sunday clothes and walk together to church to sit side by side in pews, we are strengthened by a shared spirit." I wonder how common this sentiment is in the black church.
I said Clarence Olgibee is ambitious and rambling. Ambitious, in Kessler's scope. The setting of the story seems to keep growing, as does the impact. Clarence falls in with some interesting characters in the Philippines, giving him a sense of history larger than himself. In Ohio, some businessmen expand their impact on history well beyond what I would have expected, even touching the biggest historical events of the era. All of this is tied together in a rambling style. The personal connections become a bit mind-boggling after a while. I didn't quite need a flow chart to keep track of who was related to whom, but the random connections piled up a bit, some in very important ways.
I enjoyed Clarence Olgibee in spite of Kessler's rambling style. The prose didn't flow all that well throughout, giving it a rough-cut feel. But the characters are memorable, and the arc of the story keeps it very interesting.
Order here: http://www.blackrosewriting.com/historical-fiction/clarence-olgibee
Thanks to Mr. Kessler for the complimentary review copy!
2016 Reading Challenge: A book with at least 400 pages
#vtReadingChallenge
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