South of Broad

What an amazing book. I have to say, I think Pat Conroy is one of the greatest writers of our time. He writes with emotion, wit, grace, style, and charm. In his latest book, South of Broad, he introduces us to an unlikely group of friends brought together by the narrator, Leopold Bloom King (how's that for a great literary name?). The novel covers their lives over the course of 20+ years, from high school in 1969 through Hurrican Hugo in 1990. And through it all is Charleston, obviously a city Conroy loves and knows well.

This book touched me in so many ways. I was by turns amused, enchanted, disgusted, and shocked. I often felt like I was right there with Leo, Sheba, Trevor, Ike, Betty, Niles, Starla, Molly, Fraser, and Chad, and like I knew them. I think one of Conroy's greatest gifts as a writer is his ability to write about damaged people, in some cases seriously damaged people, who survive, and even thrive. That is what I take away from South of Broad - that you can have a lot of horrible things happen in your life, but they don't have to make you into a horrible person. You CAN rise above what life does to you. And that is a pretty powerful lesson.

Snow Days...

So, in case you've missed the news, the DC area is under 2 feet of snow, with another foot or so headed our way tonight. The library has been closed since Friday. The books that I've checked out were due Sunday, but that's not a big deal, they are forgiving all fines until Feb. 16th. What's a problem is that I have NO NEW BOOKS to read!! I had two reserve books that had come in, but I was supposed to pick them up over the weekend. Will they still be there when the library reopens? Will the library ever reopen?

Luckily during this Snowmageddon I've had a cross stitch project to work on, but that's almost finished (and there is only so much time you can spend stitching before your eyes protest). I'm trying not to bake because I don't want to eat what I bake, and I can't take what I bake to work since the office isn't open.

You know what, I think I am going to visit an old friend. Will it be Hemingway or Fitzgerald? Stay tuned....

Delilah

Okay, so I admit to knowing nothing about Delilah except that she betrayed Samson by cutting off his hair. Boy, I didn't know the half of it! This fictionalized account by India Edghill takes us inside the world of ancient Canaan and makes Samson and Delilah into real, imperfect, passionate people.

I really didn't even know the Bible story of Samson - didn't know that he was a Hebrew who was chosen to lead his people against the Philistines (who are actually very well-mannered and rich people, not like today's definition). I didn't know that Delilah was a priestess in a Philistine temple (okay, the author may have made that up). Anyway, I think Edghill does a nice job of weaving the Biblical with the made-up and giving us a really interesting story of love, betrayal, power, violence -- all the best features of a story.

It's a great read, although my guess is that it strays VERY widely from what Biblical and Torah scholars have learned. But don't let that stop you from reading a really good novel.