One for the Books: Palin-tology
No doubt about it; Sarah Palin is a star. In politically incorrect terms, the former governor of Alaska and 2008 Republican nominee for vice president of the United States is the "It" girl of our time. People can't get enough of her. Her autobiography, "Going Rogue: An American Life," has just been published, and in it she is, by turns, friendly, funny, smart, partisan and defensive.
She begins by describing how she grew up in a supportive home, with faith as the cornerstone of the family, with books all around her, and with her father the teacher conducting lessons around the dinner table as well as teaching her how to survive in the outdoors. (I felt she was a bit flippant about killing animals: hunting for food is one thing; making a joke of it is another.) She writes of being a beauty queen, of working her way through the University of Idaho, of meeting the love of her life, Todd Palin, of their five children (one of her tales of childbirth is hysterical) and one grandson, and of her two miscarriages, after which she "became a lot more attuned to other people's pain." She talks about being a maverick, a political outsider and an administrator working to improve Alaska.
She comes across as a likable person who would be fun to talk to. Like many of us, she adores "the comforting chaos of family life," feels a patriot's love for her country, supports our men and women in the military, likes sports, loves God and listens to country music. I like that she doesn't claim to be perfect. (When informed that their youngest baby would be born with Down syndrome, she asked, "Why us?" but Todd asked, "Why not us?") And I like that she can think for herself; for example, she believes in both creationism and microevolution.
Part of her book is devoted to political policy, including the policies of her mentor, Ronald Reagan (whom she often quotes at length), and her reasons for calling herself a "Commonsense Conservative." She says "the Republican Party today -- the supposedly conservative party ... gambled away the progress of the Reagan years." And she chastises both parties over the current economic mess. But she is also partisan and has no tolerance for those who don't think her way. In chapter five, she blasts Democrats as unethical, ruthless, tricky, failed, weak, "hare-brained" radical purveyors of "personal destruction." She blames pretty much everything on the "liberal mentality," "liberal media" and the ever-popular "liberal elite." She calls her own ideas "sensible" and "logical," but who doesn't think their own ideas are common sense? And then she gets snarky: "We consider ourselves more liberated than some women's rights groups would have us believe we are"; Alaskans "are extremely independent, no community organizers necessary"; "In those days ACLU activists had not yet convinced young people that they were supposed to feel offended by other people's free exercise of religion."
She is defensive through much of the book, answering her critics and blaming most of the mistakes of the 2008 campaign on the GOP campaign staff, though she still respects her running mate, Sen. John McCain. She discusses the "ridiculous wardrobe story"; daughter Bristol's pregnancy; how the McCain campaign staff kept her and her family "all bottled up" ("My family was made to look like a herd of hillbillies who had come to the big city and started living high on the hog"); and why she quit as governor. She writes about "Saturday Night Live," David Letterman's bad joke and the disastrous Katie Couric interview. She claims that Couric's editing was biased and "that CBS had sought out the bad moments, and systematically sliced out material that would accurately convey (Palin's) message." Well, as a news writer myself, I can tell you that there's always going to be someone who complains that the reporter left out the important stuff just to make them look bad. I do agree that Couric's "badgering," asking the same question 12 times, is just wrong. But I've seen reporters on all the TV networks do this, and she isn't the only victim of it.
In chapter six, "The Way Forward," she writes like a person running for president. And it's well written. Look out for 2012. Unless she gets a TV talk show and learns to like being the new Oprah, make no mistake: She's gonna run.
Two new releases look at the former governor from the other side of the political spectrum. "Going Rouge: Sarah Palin -- An American Nightmare" is a compilation of essays edited by Richard Kim and Betsy Reed, senior editors at The Nation magazine. It is only available online at www.ORBooks.com. And for a truly absurd parody, "Going Rouge: The Sarah Palin Rogue Coloring & Activity Book" by satirist Micheal Stinson and political cartoonist Julie Sigwart is a 48-page coloring book with puzzles, word games and mazes. (Note the spelling in these titles: "rouge," not "rogue.")
For books honoring Palin's idol, Ronald Reagan, there are many titles available in any bookstore or library. Here's a recent one: "The Tao of Reagan: Common Sense from an Uncommon Man" by Daniel Agatino is really a gift book, with one inspirational quote by the former president on each page. Topics include America, the economy, God, pop culture and more. The book begins with excerpts from former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher's 2004 eulogy for the late president. Most of the Reagan quotes chosen are partisan, but others are universal or show his sense of humor: "I did turn 75 today -- but remember, that's only 24 Celsius."
But for a book that looks at his administration with a critical eye, there's "Tear Down This Myth: How the Reagan Legacy Has Distorted Our Politics and Haunts Our Future" by Will Bunch. Bunch asserts that since Reagan's presidency, many have distorted his image and his record to fit their need for an icon. Bunch says Reagan's popularity while he was in office was merely average; in fact, most Americans thought the nation was on the wrong track at the end of his second term. Bunch examines the realities about the end of the Cold War, whether Reagan really "fixed" the economy, and how the current financial crisis finds its roots in his deregulation policies.
Copyright © 2009 by Mary Louise Ruehr.
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BOOK NOTES, One for the Books Extra Online Exclusives:
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Check out my new blog on books, inspiration, fun and thought-provoking goodies! It’s called “Shine A Light!”
http://blogs.dixcdn.com/shine_a_light/
If you lose that link, go to www.recordpub.com. Click “Blogs” in the blue bar at the top of the page, and find “Shine A Light.”
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LOCAL BOOK CLUBS:
The Kent Free Library’s book discussion group meets at 6:45 p.m. on the third Tuesday of every month in the second floor meeting room at the library.
November’s choice is “Moby-Dick” by Herman Melville. Previous books discussed include “The Great Gatsby,” “A Christmas Carol” and “Anna Karenina.” Members come from Kent, Stow and Rootstown, and everyone is welcome. The discussion is led by librarian Kristin Pool. Any question should be directed to her at 330-673-4414.
The Book Discussion Group at the Randolph Library meets the first Monday of the month, except August, at 6:30 p.m. in the Randolph Senior Center. The group is open to everyone, and new members are always welcome. The library will stock copies of the books each month. Call the library at 330-325-7003.
Pierce-Streetsboro Library’s Book Discussion Group meets regularly on the second Monday of each month at 6:45 p.m. in the library’s meeting room. New members are always welcome to attend and participate in the discussion. The library is located at 8990 Kirby Lane in Streetsboro, next to the administrative offices of the Streetsboro City Schools. For more information, call the library at 330-626-4458.
The Book Discussion Group at the Mogadore Branch of the Akron-Summit County Library, 144 S. Cleveland Ave., 330-628-9228, meets at 6:30 p.m. Wednesdays to discuss books.
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The Friends of the Aurora Memorial Library will be having their Winter Book Sale from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Dec. 4 and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Dec. 5.
A special preview sale for Aurora Friends of the Library members only will take place from 5 to 7 p.m. Dec. 3. Memberships will be available for purchase at the door.
The sale will take place on the lower level of the Aurora Memorial Library, 115 E. Pioneer Trail. For more information, call 330-562-6502.
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from Shelf Awareness: New Titles Out November 24:
Pirate Latitudes: A Novel by Michael Crichton
American Sketches: Great Leaders, Creative Thinkers, and Heroes of a Hurricane by Walter Isaacson
The Imperial Cruise: A Secret History of Empire and War by James Bradley
Warriors: Omen of the Stars #1: The Fourth Apprentice by Erin Hunter
First Lord's Fury by Jim Butcher
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New Titles Out December 1:
U Is for Undertow by Sue Grafton
YOU: Having a Baby: The Owner's Manual to a Happy and Healthy Pregnancy by Michael F. Roizen and Mehmet C. Oz
Cleaving: A Story of Marriage, Meat, and Obsession by Julie Powell
Comeback 2.0: Up Close and Personal by Lance Armstrong
Stones into Schools: Promoting Peace with Books, Not Bombs, in Afghanistan and Pakistan by Greg Mortenson
The Paris Vendetta: A Novel by Steve Berry
Trial by Fire by J.A. Jance
Liberating Atlantis by Harry Turtledove
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The best-seller lists were unavailable Friday morning. I’ll keep looking for them, and when they pop up, I’ll add them here. Sorry. -- M.L.
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For a list of authors who are making the media rounds, visiting talk shows, and/or talking about their books, go to: http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4717060
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Palin’s memoirs triggers a boomlet of other books
By MARK KENNEDY Associated Press Writer
NEW YORK (AP) — Sarah Palin may fashion herself as a go-it-alone maverick, but her book is producing a crowd.
By the time the former governor’s memoir — “Going Rogue: An American Life” — officially hits book stores on Tuesday — there’ll be a legion of titles waiting to cash in, from unauthorized biographies to critical essays to a tongue-in-cheek coloring book.
That doesn’t even include the picture book “Terminatrix: The Sarah Palin Chronicles” — which superimposes her head on paintings and famous photos — and a boomlet of self-published books, including one that weirdly takes Henrik Ibsen’s play “Hedda Gabler” and merely substitutes Gabler for Palin and George Tesman for Todd Palin.
This much is clear: Palin, whose wardrobe got her in trouble during the presidential campaign, has apparently sparked others to ride her memoir’s coattails, whether to assault, defend or just giggle.
“There is something about her which is very hard not to be drawn into,” says Colin Robinson, co-publisher at OR Books, which is putting out a collection of essays pulled together by two senior editors at The Nation magazine. “It might be a sort of adoration. Or it might be that one is appalled. But you can’t stop watching.”
Robinson’s book doesn’t exactly hide its disdain for the former vice presidential candidate, who is pictured on the cover in front of a stormy sky. It’s called “Going Rouge: Sarah Palin, An American Nightmare.”
“Sarah Palin isn’t going away. That’s clear,” Robinson says. “She’s going to be an important force for some time to come in American politics and we think she’s a dangerous force. So we wanted to take the fight up against her.”
Other serious studies out this month include “Sarah From Alaska: The Sudden Rise and Brutal Education of a New Conservative Superstar” by Scott Conroy and Shushannah Walshe, and “The Persecution of Sarah Palin: How the Elite Media Tried to Bring Down a Rising Star,” by Matthew Continetti, an associate editor at The Weekly Standard.
Other authors are going simply for laughs, such as “Going Rouge: The Sarah Palin Rogue Coloring and Activity Book” by Julie Sigwart and Micheal Stinson, which is filled with political cartoons drawn in the style of a coloring book. Readers can do a word search for Palin’s potential vice presidential picks — can you find “Rush Limbaugh” and “Tina Fey”? — or tackle a puzzle maze of oil pipelines.
“As a satirical vehicle, a coloring book is perfect,” says Stinson. “Both the right and the left can enjoy this book. Unlike The Nation, which just has a bunch of words, we have pictures.”
One of the more bizarre offerings is “Sarah Palin’s Secret Diary,” by Joey Green, a former contributing editor to the National Lampoon, who has previously written books skewering Monica Lewinsky and George W. Bush.
In his bogus diary, Green mockingly reveals that Palin had the hots for Joe the Plumber and that Levi Johnston was Tasered until he agreed to marry Palin’s pregnant daughter Bristol.
“She’s so comedic and she’s kind of unaware of how funny she is, which makes it even funnier,” says Green. “She’s predictably unpredictable — I think that’s what makes her so fascinating.”
None of these books have a realistic chance of outselling Palin’s official book, which has a first printing of 1.5 million copies and the muscle of HarperCollins behind it. “Going Rouge,” for example, is published “by two guys working out of a cafe,” Robinson concedes.
Still, the authors have high hopes. Green, who forged Palin’s diary, was tickled to find his book being packaged with Palin’s official memoir on Amazon.com for about $19.
“What a great gift,” he says. “Then you don’t offend anybody.”
On the Net: Coloring book: http://www.goingrouge.net
Essays: http://www.orbooks.com
“Secret Diary” http://www.lunaticpress.com
Official memoir: http://www.harpercollins.com
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Winning author tells story of civil rights pioneer
By CLARKE CANFIELD, Associated Press Writer
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Maine author Phillip Hoose said winning a National Book Award for his chronicle of a young civil rights pioneer was all the more moving because she took the stage with him when he accepted the honor.
Hoose won the young people’s literature award for “Claudette Colvin: Twice Toward Justice” at the 60th annual National Book Awards, held Wednesday night in New York.
He based his book on the true story of Claudette Colvin, who as a 15-year-old schoolgirl was dragged off a bus in Montgomery, Ala., for refusing to give up her seat to a white woman. She made her stand against racism and prejudice months before a similar incident made Rosa Parks a national symbol for the civil rights struggle of the 1950s, which led to landmark court decisions and new legislation to right the wrongs.
A few minutes before the winner was announced, Hoose asked the 70-year-old Colvin, who had joined him at the ceremony, if she would accept the award with him if he won.
“When she stood, there was sort of an audible gasp. There was a wave that went through the room when people realized she was with me, that that person in history was there in that room,” Hoose said in a telephone interview Thursday from New York.
For the book, Hoose told the story of Colvin’s bold act March 2, 1955, when she was physically removed from the bus, handcuffed and taken to jail for refusing to give up her seat.
Partly told in Colvin’s voice, the book relates the indignity the teenage girl felt when she had to heed the bus driver’s orders on a trip she routinely took to and from school every day. She was charged with violating segregation laws, disorderly conduct and assault. Two charges were later dropped, but she had to pay a small fine for an assault conviction, for fighting back against the officers who dragged her off the bus.
The following year, Colvin was one of four black female plaintiffs in a lawsuit challenging the constitutionality of segregated public transportation. A federal court ruled in their favor, and the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the decision.
Still, Colvin’s saga has been little more than a footnote to history while Parks, the nine black students who desegregated Little Rock Central High School, Martin Luther King Jr. and others went on to become celebrated symbols of bravery and dignity in their campaign for civil rights.
In accepting the award, Hoose thanked Colvin for sharing her story with him and future generations.
Hoose, 62, has written nine books and was a finalist for a prestigious National Book Award in 2001 for “We Were There, Too! Young People in U.S. History.”
“Having experienced both, I can tell you that winning sure feels better than losing,” he said.
The Portland resident also has written about the elusive, and possibly extinct, ivory-billed woodpecker and about Don Larsen’s perfect game in the 1956 World Series. He is working on a new book, and won’t divulge the details other than to say it’s about a bird.
On the Net: Phillip Hoose www.philliphoose.com
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Here are links to other recent One for the Books columns. More links are available on my blog at http://blogs.dixcdn.com/shine_a_light/one-for-the-books/
Treats for Dog Lovers -- http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4709611
Current Best-Sellers -- http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4694861
Picture Books for Ages 4 to 8 -- http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4684752
All About Food -- http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4675462
Doctorow, Atwood, Pynchon -- http://www.recordpub.com/news/article/4665676
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“One for the Books” appears the second and fourth Fridays of the month in the Record-Courier. Extra columns may appear on occasion, especially preceding Christmas and Hanukkah.