Butcher's Broom by Neil M. Gunn

 

Butcher's Broom

by

Neil M. Gunn

On my flight home from Arizona late Sunday night, I finished the kindle book, Butcher's Broom by Neil M. Gunn.  It was written in the 1920's and is a Scottish Classic.  I would not call it an easy read because the writing style was very different than what I am accustomed to, but it was worth every effort I put forth to read it.  Since there are plans in the works for me to  visit  Scotland next spring I am reading and studying up on the area.  Butcher's Broom is a historical novel set during the Highland Clearances which took place in the late 1700s.  During the clearances the homes of the Scottish Highland people were burnt down and the people were turned out homeless.  They either relocated to remote  coastal areas of Scotland  or were sold into slavery in the  British Colonies.   The reason that the aristocrats did this was to allow the highland areas to be transformed into pastures for sheep with roads and bridges and other improvements.  They felt the land was not being utilized as well as it should be.  Many people in the new industrialized areas of Great Britain were going hungry and the mutton from the sheep would feed them.  These aristocrats felt like the lifestyle of the Scottish Highlanders was not a lifestyle that was worth preserving.  While Gunn describes this point of view in his book it is clear that he felt like the life style of the Scottish Highlander should have been respected and that the removal was completed in an extremely cruel manner.  The author explains the political reality of the social system at that time and the role the church played to support the clearances.  I really liked the book and will definitely struggle though more work from this author.  Please click on the book title and author's name above to follow the links to more information and enjoy the videos that follow. 

A Thousand Splendid Suns by Khaled Hosseini

 A Thousand Splendid Suns

by

Khaled Hosseini

A book I  listened to in 2007,  entitled "A Thousand Splendid Suns" and written by Khaled Hosseini has come back to mind due to recent current events.  It is a fiction novel with factual historical events in its pages.  I believe their has been talk of a Netflix movie based on the book  but I am not aware if has been made yet.   The story is set in the country of Afghanistan and spans a time frame from the late 1970s to the early 2000s.  When I listened to it, I found myself comparing what was going on in my life during the events of the characters lives in the story at the various points in time.  Therefore part of the reason I liked the book is that I am about the right age to compare the two societies for the point in history the story takes place.  Two women's lives (Mariam and Lailia) are followed from their childhoods and they find their existence weaved together as they marry the same man.  Living in the same household they become very good friends.  The husband is abusive to them and after a foiled attempted to flee the marriage the abuse becomes even more intense.  Unable to obtain a change of environment, things finally escalate to the point where the husband is in the process of choking Lailia to death.  As she slips from consciousness Mariam  obtained the shovel from the shed and in one fell swoop kills the husband.  This is the turning point of the story.  Prior to that point everything had been going from bad to worse for these two women but when they  grasp control and initiated change their life was transformed.  Even though it was through execution, Mariam was freed of her bondage, and Lailia and the children went on to find happiness.  Certainly I am not an advocate for women to murder their husbands.  Two of my ex husbands are still living as is the man I am now married to.  One ex husband died of cancer. Although  I have been accused by some of having a lack of commitment, others have applauded my courage to make changes in my life.  In moving from the concrete to the figurative, to me, the shovel represents standing up and taking charge of ones situation.  Clearly one does not have to be constantly physically assaulted, whether it be a relationship with a spouse or family member or a job situation, for a person to be in a situation where they need to make an environmental change.  Other times standing up for ones self and remaining in a situation is the best way for a person to handle things.   Each person has to evaluate for themself. But sometimes it is necessary to “ grab a "shovel" and take control of the situation for one's self.  Whether an entire country or a personal situation, each must take control and initiate a solution to their situation themselves.   Please click on the book title and author's name above to follow links to more information and enjoy the video that follows.  It is a song that makes a point.   I hope they play it in the Middle East over and over. 

Heart: A History by Sandeep Jauhar

 

Heart: A History

by

Sandeep Jauhar

On my way home from a client visit this pm I finished up listening to the audio book rendition of Heart: A History by Sandeep Jauhar.   I enjoy medical history in general and this book did not disappoint me.   Although some of the history was early history much of our history making progress in care of our hearts has taken place in the last 75 years.  Therefore a great of the history covered in the book was pretty recent events.   It was very interesting to hear about the pioneers in this field.  Especially the men who risked their own health in the early to mid 1900s.  The author includes his own personal experience in his book as he is a cardiologist with a family history of heart disease.  He is able to explain complicated anatomy and physiology in easy to understand language.  So if the reader is interested in learning more about the heart this book is a great place to start.  Please click on the book title and author's name above to follow the links to more information.  And enjoy the video that follows.