Pippi Goes on Board

Pippi Goes on Board by Astrid Lindgren, translated by Susan Beard

Pippi continues her wackiness in the second book in Pippi Longstocking series. She is prone to telling exotic yarns. However, she will catch herself and then spin it to the truth, only to make an even more elaborate story. However, many of the seemingly elaborate tales seem to have some truth. She has plenty of gold coins and little regard for money. She goes shopping with her friends and buys candy and toys for all the children in town. She uses strength to throw bullies around and get them to stop their cruel activities. She takes her friends to an island to be "shipwrecked". Am empty bottle is important so they can write a message. They write one, but nobody rescues them, so they go home. Her dad appears near the end. He is the king of an island and comes back. Pippi is at the point of going with him, but at the last minute she decides to stay in town. Her dad throws her a new bag of gold coins before she leaves. The book straddles the realm between real and imaginary with things just believable enough.

Zorba the Greek

Zorba the Greek by Nikos Kazantzakis translated by Carl Wildman?

The book is narrated by George Guidall who is one of my least favorite narrators. Part of the problem is that many of the books he has narrator are on the "boring" side and his voice is associated with the boredom. Just hearing his voice makes the book go down a notch.

As for the book, it feels very Greek. Zorba comes across as an outgoing boisterous Greek man. Things happen. They do crazy stuff. There is talk of women as a sort of idolized object. This book was referenced in another book from the middle east. Maybe that is not the best reason to pick a book.

Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and the Strawberries

Flicka, Ricka, Dicka and the Strawberries by Maj Lindman (Author, Illustrator)

The triplets want to go on a picnic. Their mom offers to pay them for strawberries, so they go out to gather them as part of their picnic. However, they go too far and get lost. They stop at a cabin where the impoverished family happily helps them. After returning, they make jam with mom and try to decide what to do with the money. They decide that would like to spend the money on things for the family. They buy some gifts and bring things (including jam) to the family. They then play with the kids and enjoy their time with their new friends. the book has a nice message that flows well. It shows a very open friendly time of the past.

All the King's Men

All the King's Men provides a historical fiction account of the life of Louisiana governor Huey Long. But it doesn't. The character was very much inspired by Long. However, the novel takes great pains to not tie the events to any real event. The location is southern and could very well be Louisiana, but it is never called out. The character goes to "state" college. They go to the capital. It could theoretically take place anywhere.

The book is narrated by Jack Burden, a journalist and historian who worked as an assistant to "boss" Willie Stark. The narrative wanders back and forth in time, covering Stark's life and rise to power along with the important events in the life of Burden.

Stark came from a small town. He was an idealist who never intended to be involved in politics. He was upset about the shady dealings in the city. We was spoke out against the corrupt backroom deals that allowed a school to be constructed by a crony friend of the political leaders. While it didn't have any immediate impact, people remembered what he said when the shoddy construction failed, leading to the deaths of students. This helped him rise in power. The state powers that be used him as a pawn to divide the ticket for governor. He bumbled along through his campaign until he found out what was up. Then he unleashed passion to destroy those that were using him and rose to power.

Burden was from another small town and had been working for a newspaper when he got to know Stark. He had studied history in the state university and had been in love with the daughter of the previous governor, but things never worked out. 

Stark was a populist that later let his idealism morph into a crony populism. He did not favor corruption in deals, but worked hard to make sure nobody got in the way of what he wanted. He would calmly intimidate those that would dare cross him. Then he would dig up appropriate dirt to hold against them. Burden's history skills would be used to help find this dirt. Stark saw everyone as having both good and evil. Good could only arise out of evil. 

Many people died (often by their own hand) after learning that their dirty laundry was exposed. Burden played a key part in this (even realizing after the fact that he had contributed to his father's suicide.) Burden also details his historical research into some records he found of a family that was loaded with drama of an affair, murder and cover up.

The novel does not easily demarcate the "good" and the "bad".  Absolute power appeared to corrupt "boss" Stark. He was not afraid to use this power to hurt people in order to achieve what he saw as a long term good. He was not alone. Even the most impeachable characters had times when they fell to the "bad" side. Living through a complex world is a challenge. If we "cancel" everyone that has done anything bad, we would be left with just those that can really hide it well.

Man's Search For Meaning

The first half of this book describes Frankl's experiences in a concentration camp, while the second half goes into more detail on "logotherapy". At the opening, he states some reluctance to write about concentration camps - those that have been there already know what it was like, while those that have not will never be able to comprehend. His account focuses on the mental decisions that are made. The underlying philosophy is that we may not be able to control are circumstances; however, we can control how we experience them. We should not expect overwhelming optimism in the face of adversity; however, we can still try to maintain our humanity and not give in to utter despair.

His account seems somewhat detached. he comes across almost as an impartial observer who happens to make wise decisions and overcome the challenges of the camp. (Perhaps this is part of the philosophy of not dwelling on the bad.) He casually admits it is was a lucky decision that allowed him to survive the camp at all. He also tells the story of one inmate who expected "liberation" at the end of March - and promptly died then.

The sections on logotherapy covers more basis of his psycotherapy philosophy. Part of it involves a search for "meaning" in life. In some cases it can be to simply get work, acknowledge what good is being done, or other simple things. He also discusses overcoming self-appearing fears (such as fear of sweating) by encourage the fear. And similarly, fighting failure to realize 'intentional' pleasures by fighting them. Together it seems to be "optimistic determinism." Suffering that can be avoided should be avoided. However, that which cannot be avoided should be taken as is and used to seek out greater advantage.