Elisabeth Tova Bailey- The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating

"Humanity is exalted not because we are so far above other living creatures, but because knowing them well elevates the very concept of life."--Edward O. Wilson

A book a dear old lady friend had recommended for me was “The Sound of a Wild Snail Eating”. I was neither taken by the story nor dismissive of it. I do appreciate this memoir/informational book and the personal story of Ms. Bailey the author.  The book is an unusual memoir and is a help to any living with illness.

This is an intimate story about Elisabeth’s hope and living with the possibility of a possibility. Elisabeth is 34 years old when she is stricken by a pathogen while traveling in Europe causing her the illness she beared with for nearly two decades. .

 Elizabeth observes a snail and its biological behaviors while keeping it as companion while she is confined to her bed for a period of time. She has little to no contact with people or the outside world and is literally slowed down to that of a snail holding many similarities to the creature roaming around the terrarium in her bedroom.

A friend who brings it home to her found the snail outside her house in the woods. At first, Elisabeth is annoyed but comes to terms with it. I like the scientific facts in this novel and the quotes opened up at the beginning of each chapter and thought the book was a descent quick read.

Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte- recommended

This book is full of despicable characters, psychotic stories and takes place through many years of Jane Eyre’s life. Definitely a recommendation for the class, a story of “the orphan girl”, and the most complex one I know. The plot is beautiful and deep and there are many stories within and many twists. The book embarks philosophy, wisdom, tragedy, and romance. Jane Eyre is not a boring character, and I personally feel like she is far more interesting than the Pride and Prejudice character of Elizabeth, though quite different to compare the two.

Jane is complex especially for a woman at the time, and Jane of course breaks her boundaries across the board. She outsmarts most people she meets and endures a tremendous amount of abuse throughout her lifetime but has the gentlest spirit.

This book is written as an autobiography, but not in the naked way. It is almost written as a diary as to how personal it can be and the narrator is constantly talking to the reader, reminding us that she is telling us the story directly. There isn’t a specific category this book can go into as it reaches many genres. Perhaps it can be horror, gothic, romantic, mystery, drama, and action. The writing is so precise it can be contemporary though it is written far before our time. We all thought Cinderella had it bad, well Jane had it real bad.

I love the religious aspect of the book as well; Bronte sticks to her spirituality in the novel. The book ends in a spiritual way and a quote from the book along that lines is “We know that God is everywhere; but certainly we feel His presence most when His works are on the grandest scale spread before us; and it is in the unclouded night-sky, where His worlds wheel their silent course, that we read clearest His infinitude, His omnipotence, His omnipresence.”

The Book is literary brilliancy, and I am not exaggerating I promise.

(on a side not the Jane Eyre National Theatre Live production was extraordinary and worked very well with the minimalistic set)

On Writing: A Memoir of the Craft is a memoir by Stephen King

Steven King’s on writing was a surprise for me because I expected it to be an over all dark eerie piece of work but rather it was very joyous and dark at the same time.  His tone seems happy with a little bit of gloom inside but over all happier than I expected. Maybe the gloom exists because he is a crazy old man with a headful amazing stories. I expected this book to be depressing but rather focusing on the depressing memories he gives a positive and funny perspective. We experience a side of him as he shares his personal experiences with failures and just epic life events. He could make this book depressing because I’m sure there were many times of that, but rather it is meaningful.

I feel encouraged when reading his work when it comes to writing. Stephen has a relaxed tone with a great flow in the way he carries out his memoir. This book gives me an idea of his developing artistry and what led to the amazing legacy he is. There are funny moments in the story where I smiled and laughed hard. Steven King is pretty humble for who he and I admire his relationship with Tabby. This book is encouraging in writing in my own style and experimenting with writing in a way I have never done before, and will push you to cultivate your own personal writing if you enjoy writing stories as well.

Asterios Polyp

This comic is brilliant, the main character is Asterios Polyp and this comic is darkly humorous.  Asterios is a genius intellectual 50-year-old man who has a twin brother, or had, that died at birth. The story is told from his dead twin who shadows his life. The text can be psychological and there are different theories that can be brought about.

Besides the beautiful panels, well executed with detail and colored minimally, everyone in the comic talks distinctly. They have a different style of speech and characterization in the drawing. Points come back into the story that you may have thought you have missed making the comic clever.

Though the characters are all interesting and unique Asterios is the most unique. He sees the universe in a different way and we are stepping into his own analysis of the world.

This story is smart, witty, and extremely well thought out. It will make you think and rethink, in even a perhaps philosophical way.  Bravo Mazzucchelli.

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