Reading for Me

Anyone who has ever asked me to name my favorite book has gotten the same answer since the summer before leaving for Pepperdine. That’s when I fell in love with To Kill a Mockingbird. I always lamented the fact that Harper Lee had only written one book. My passion for the classic novel was passed on to Jacquelyn when we shared the book many years later. Imagine our excitement when the announcement was made that a new novel by Harper Lee would be released. Go Set a Watchman was an immediate choice for the Reading with Jacqs project.

I had mixed emotions while reading Go Set a Watchman. Perhaps I was being influenced by the plethora of reviews that have appeared in the media. Perhaps I was saddened to witness beloved characters grappling with issues of racism and prejudice that didn’t conform to my expectations based on my initial encounter with them in To Kill a Mockingbird. By the time I finished Watchman, my views had changed — and for that, I am very thankful. Many have proclaimed that the aged Atticus Finch is a racist. I am not so certain about that. Instead, I see a man who is struggling to deal with changes occurring around him as he tries to balance his personal beliefs with the supposed reality he currently sees. He is a man torn.

Jean Louise is a woman of deep conviction. She is certain of her beliefs and feels things deeply. Her passion is at times explosive. Her personal struggle is one that pits the acceptance of Northern society against the traditions and heritage of her Southern roots. Scout is a woman desperately trying to hold on to her innocent memories of childhood while coming to terms with the imperfections of those she has idolized since her earliest days.

Go Set a Watchman is not Harper Lee’s best writing; that title will forever be reserved for Mockingbird. While the current novel lacks her earlier polish, powerful passages still find their way into the text and root deep into our souls. I intentionally did not mark passages in my first reading of Watchman; I wanted to allow Lee’s story to consume me without analyzing the material. However, a few sentences struck me with their beauty and power. Here is one of my favorites:

“Prejudice, a dirty word, and faith, a clean one, have something in common: they both begin where reason ends.” (Go Set a Watchman, p. 270)

Go Set a Watchman is not without fault. It needed an editor’s hand to polish it to its full potential. Despite its problems, this novel is truly a diamond in the rough that will be treasured for years to come.

National bestseller White Teeth was the first novel by author Zadie Smith. First published in 2000, the book is a mixture of humor, wit, and in-depth examination of the human condition. I thoroughly enjoyed the book and plan to re-read it again in the future.

White Teeth opens with a gripping scene in which Samad is attempting to commit suicide when his plans are foiled by a well-meaning shop keeper. Samad is a practicing Hindu who lives in England along with his best friend, Archie. The two had served together in World War II (although they had seen little fighting). Their common experiences linked them for life. Now living in London, Samad finds himself struggling to pass on the traditions of his Indian heritage to his children. The father fears that his sons have been negatively influenced by the Western way of life and have become too English. In order to halt the effect of modern society on his children in his personal struggle against modern progress, Samad makes a decision that will forever impact the lives of his entire family. The novel traces the effects of that single decision upon the family and all they encounter.

White Teeth beautifully explores the inevitability of change in modern society. Advancements are made in science while fanatical religious groups seek to halt the progress. Younger generations find fault with the ideologies of their parents. The old desperately struggle to maintain the familiarity and tradition of the past. In each of these struggles, everyone thinks their ideals are correct and should not be opposed. Conflict arises, events are set in motion that cannot be halted, and the generational and ideological chasms deepen. Smith forces the 21st century reader to face his own biases and consider the impact they are having on their family and society as a whole. White Teeth is a tremendous read that I think will quickly become a modern classic.