Letters to my grandchildren - Tony Benn
In this book, the prolific diarist and general all round legend takes time to reflect on his past and consider the world that we live in, its past present and most importantly its future. The content of the book is addressed to his 10 grandchildren, and its written in a style quite different to his diaries. The book is broken down into 'letters' focusing on different issues, setting out Benn's thoughts, experiences, hopes and concerns about people the world and society locally, nationally and internationally. His great sense of fighting injustice and continuing the search for fairness and equality permeates every letter. So many of the the letters touch on issues which could make for fairly depressing reading (for example there are sections on nuclear weapons, the economy, war...) but this was balanced by his optimism and the reflections he makes on just how much positive change has also happened in his lifetime - the sections on the human family, race, feminism and the communications revolution were particularly relevant to me, reminding me how much better things are for a young Asian woman in today's Great Britain.
The book was a poignant reminder that change takes time and that "there is no final victory nor final defeat". But more then that, the book is a reminder that because of some of the actions of his generation, the future of the human race is in our hands. It's a challenge to our generation, and Benn, in his own unique and remarkable way, is passing the mantle on to us - in his words:
"...our fate will be determined collectively and it is for your generation work out what that fate will be"
NB - I'm really pleased I'll be going to see Tony Benn at the National tomorrow talking about this book, so I'll update after that in a separate post.
Tortilla Flat - John Steinbeck
I picked this penguin classic up in a second hand bookshop, and as I haven't read much Steinbeck, I thought I'd give it a go. Set in 1930's America, this novel tells the tale of Daniel and his friends, living in the hills above Monteray in California. The paisanos are poor men, rich in friendship (sort of) and the novel tells of their lives after the war, returning home to wine, women and japes. The story didn't initially grip me, but it was intriguing enough to compel me to read on and I'm glad I did, because although you can probably guess it will all end in tears you get to really like Danny and his friends Pilon, Pablo, Jesus Maria and the Pirate. On the surface it seems that they hang out and convince themselves they are doing the 'right' thing and the 'good' thing, when the aim is generally to somehow get wine and have a good time, with no care or value to their friendship - but when it comes to it they generally do the right thing - when it comes to stealing the Pirates money for example, or sharing wine even when they really don't want to. An enjoyable read.
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4 comments:
Interesting! I can't wait to hear your report regards what Tony Benn says at the National.
im not sure about Steinbeck, i teach Of Mice and Men and it fees like it has been on the curriculum for years, parents at parents evening often exclaim they did that novel when they were at school- and sometimes its the only novel they have ever read!
i liked OMAM on my initial reading but having gone over the 'American dream,' symbolism, and key quotes a million times i have begun to dislike it.
i have begun to see elements of Steinbeck's criticism of the American Dream everywhere; that everyone tries to adhere to it and everyone should-but ultimately you WILL fail, but you have to keep trying nonetheless-vicious circle in my opinion! George and Lennie had a dream, The dream and then they failed but the end is one where there is still hope for George even though Lennie is dead..cyclical. im becoming pessimistic, is this what it means to have goals and aspire to be the best you can be? Have Americans got it right?
im seeing this in everything around me that is American; American Idol, other American novels and plays, other American tv shows flicked on snoop doggs 'fatherhood' the other day and felt the same thing and had to get annoyed and carried on flicking. Currently teaching Tennessee Williams A Streetcar Named Desire to year 12, love it but beginning to notice this theme tainting it all and getting in the way thus making me annoyed.
I better read Of Mice And Men, it even has it's own acronym?! "Welcome to Hollywood, everyones got a dream, what's your dream....?" It is THE American way and I have not even read the book, yet.
I haven't read OMAM or a streetcar names desire - I'd like to though. I understand what you (Roopa) say about the American dream - that also resonates with the great gatsby doesn't it?
On the point about books being on the curriculum for years so that multiple generations read the same novels at school - that's a toughy. I guess there are some novels which do stand the test of time and are 'classics' that should be taught, but I agree its important to also teach modern fiction so that young people experience the joy of picking up a new book and exploring different authors. And also so that reading isn't always linked inexplicably to boring books and stories which reflect nothing of the modern world around us. I think its like music in a way - you can enjoy what you know yet you can (and should) also benefit so much from being open to whats new and emerging.
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