Stanyan Street & Other Sorrows by Rod McKuen

My grandmother had a box of books, none of which initially interested me, that have been sitting on the bottom of my bookshelf.  Shamefully, I'll admit that I was looking for the shortest book I could find, when I stumbled across Stanyan Street.  The inside of the dust jacket said that the author, Rod McKuen, was one of the best contemporary song writers of the current time.  A list of fifteen records were all outlined on the back flap of the book.  I then noticed my great grandmother's signature and date on the first page - Peg Phelps 1967.  Intrigued, I decided to start reading.

Before I give my opinion on his collection, I have to say that I'm not the biggest fan of poetry as a genre.  I probably appreciate it more than the average person, but I certainly do not go out of my way to read it.  I find that most poets feel the need to play up an aesthetic doused in melancholy, angst, and futile relationships.  Mr. McKuen followed that trend.  What may come across as sensitive and introspective to some just seems despondent and woe-is-me personally.  He starts out the book diving straight into his father-son abandonment issues.  Then seems to point out multiple times that he won't even give a romantic relationships a real chance because he knows they will eventually fail.  It reminds me a little of "The Catcher in the Rye."  Some people can read that book and feel empathetic and relate to Holden, while other readers just want him to get over his attitude and grow up.  In the same vein, I just wanted Rod McKuen to get over his depressive drama and realize there is more to life.  As a positive, I think his poetry stands the test of time.  I think that a lot of poetry lovers would still appreciate his work today.  I don't think there is anything wrong with his style of writing, the expressiveness, or his skill level.  I just think he needs to cheer up and get over himself a little!

My great grandmother had bookmarked a poem called "Spring Song", but that one was still a little too depressing for me.  The one that seemed to peak my interest was called "Camera."  I've copied it down below for you all to read.  I hope you enjoy!

I stand just so.

Your camera winks me into permanence

acne scars

               tired eyes

wrinkles on my forehead

more naked than I have ever been

               (especially to one

               I love so very much).

I used to be afraid to look completely real

the sun was just my friend sometimes

when brown from sea and sky made things all right --

always afraid to be anything but young

and envying beauty

               even on the face of strangers

Is this what growing up means

the reality of lighting over public mirrors?

Or is my confidence in love so great

that I worry not

to let you see me at my worst?

Life of Pi by Yann Martel

I struggled to find a book for May.  As you can see, I'm cutting it a little close to the end of the month.  I picked up a lot of books, read a few chapters, and couldn't find an interest in anything.  A friend of mine actually gifted me this book about a year ago, and it has been sitting on my bookshelf patiently waiting.  I picked it up and thought to myself, "What could possibly be so interesting about being stranded on a boat in the middle of the ocean for days with a tiger..."  It was obvious that he would survive -- I mean what a weird book it would be if he wrote it and then died at the end -- so what grand adventure would take 300 pages?  Knowing my deadline was close, and that it was a successful movie, I figured it had enough plot to keep me occupied.

Part One of the book introduces you to Piscine Molitor Patel.  Piscine grows up in Pondicherry, a city in India, and his parents own a zoo.  Piscine is teased for his name during his school years, so he takes on the nickname of "Pi."  We learn history about his family's zoo, animal psychology, and read anecdotes of specific animals.  We also learn about his journey for spirituality.  Pi is raised with Hinduism (although his family is more indifferent to religion), but he decides to further include the faith practices of Christianity and Islam.  His family and pastors don't fully understand his pious desires, but it is hard to punish a child who is spending their afternoons praying instead of getting into trouble.  At the close of Part One, we learn that Pi's family is selling the zoo and moving to Canada.

Part Two takes place almost entirely on the Pacific Ocean.  It starts on the Tsimtsum, which is the boat taking his family to Canada, until the boat inexplicably fails and sinks.  Pi finds himself on a lifeboat with an injured zebra, an orangutan, and a hyena.  As the three animals begin to fight for dominance, he realizes that a tiger from their zoo is also on board the lifeboat.  The tiger's name is Richard Parker.  Eventually, Pi and Richard Parker are alone on the lifeboat together.  Pi spends the rest of Part Two talking about his struggles for survival.  Trying to find fresh water, trying to find food for himself and Richard Parker, and surviving his living arrangements with a full-grown tiger.  Pi attempts to use his zoo experience and background to assert himself as the alpha animal presence.

I won't ruin Part Three for you, but obviously we find out the resolution of the story here.  There is a pretty big twist at the end of the book.  I had to go back and re-read the "reveal" a few times to fully comprehend what I was seeing.  It took me a day or two to really determine if I liked the ending or not.  But I think it is a really beautiful resolution to the story.

This review covers a lot of the surface material in the book.  However, the power of the book itself is the subtle journey it takes you on.  Not only are you reading Pi's narrative, but in the back of your mind you begin to wonder how you would have coped with his trials and suffering.  He makes the 277 days at sea seem almost peaceful, if that is even possible.  The compassion and respect Pi and Richard Parker have for one another is truly remarkable as it becomes imperative to their survival to tame one another.  The Life of Pi will make you question your own resolve, consider the strength of your spirituality, and it will make you grateful for the comforts you have around you in every day life.