By: PAIGE FOSTER
Staff Writer
For those looking for book recommendations, here is a short review of the books I have read in the past couple of weeks.
The Firekeeper’s Daughter by Angeline Boulley ★★★☆☆
Angeline Boulley’s YA novel follows a Native American girl, Daunis, as she copes with family tragedy and becomes a confidential informant in a federal investigation pertaining to drug manufacturing within her Native community.
After reading the first three chapters of this book, I was well aware that it would not end up being one of my favorites. I nonetheless stuck it out for all 496 pages, and therefore I can justifiably say that – despite my best efforts to appreciate this very highly-acclaimed book – it is overrated. I can recognize the aspects of the novel which have garnered such praise. The multiple plots are intricate and interesting, the characters round and unique, and Boulley’s knowledge of and love for Native American culture is wonderfully evident on every page. However, the rich content within Firekeeper’s Daughter is not enough to save it from the pitfalls of the writing itself.
My biggest qualm is with the romance subplot. Not only is it wildly convenient to the point of absurdity, but it is also so sparse that the relationship is not fully developed in the mind of the reader and thus it lends little significance to the storyline or either character. Additionally, Boulley places such emphasis on combating racial stereotypes, but the romantic aspect of the novel is rife with platitudes in such abundance that the whole thing feels like a disjointed string of every cliche phrase ever conceived. She did not eliminate stereotypes from her writing, she moved them to a different portion of the novel. Also, the multiple plotlines Boulley establishes do not find satisfying conclusions, and the protagonist’s self-sabotaging we just can’t be together attitude is endlessly frustrating.
Overall, I did somewhat enjoy reading this book. It deals well with the subjects of family, aging, and loyalty, but ultimately the poorly constructed romantic aspect of the novel, the unnecessary drama the protagonist adds to every situation, and the lack of a meaningful resolution significantly lowers my opinion of the piece as a whole.
Normal People by Sally Rooney ★★★★★
Normal People, most simply, is a fictional novel following the relationship of two high school acquaintances as they ascend to adulthood. Less simply, it is a poignant reflection on loss, distance, shame, lust, transformation, and – most importantly – the kind and quality of love formed between two very messy people.
Rooney’s writing reads like a stream of consciousness, but upon closer inspection, it is apparent that the relaxed, fluid-structure is much more strategic than one might initially perceive. She intentionally makes the dialogue between characters sparse, allowing the readers to appreciate the significance of what is said in the silence because of the ample insight she provides into the mind of each character via lengthy commentary on every page. Because of this, each character is wonderfully complex, and she masters the dichotomy between the static and the dynamic aspects of their personalities. I could ramble all day about the striking significance Rooney can imbue in the sticky feeling of a leather car seat in summer, or the drone of a football game, or any number of significantly insignificant moments which take her writing to such a level that her books should be prized as modern classics.
Though Rooney’s writing is undeniably brilliant, readers sensitive to topics like domestic abuse, suicidal tendencies, and sexual abuse should be advised. This book is probably within the top five most graphic books I’ve ever read, and thus I would not recommend it for anyone under 16. Despite its jarring nature, I adore Sally Rooney and Normal People. It has a permanent spot on my shelf.
Single. Dating. Engaged. Married by Ben Stuart ★★★★☆
Stuart’s nonfiction book explores applications of Christian theology within the relational contexts of singleness, dating, engagement, and marriage. The book is divided into four sections corresponding with the four basic stages. Each section contains ample introduction and commentary as well as a “case study” found within Scripture.
Few teenagers read marriage or parenting manuals. Even fewer read them while single. And perhaps the fewest number read them single and without any intention to date in the near future. That being said, my personal strategy is to read all of the informational literature I can about marriage and parenting before I even consider getting married or being a parent because that way I’ll have a firm knowledge base from which to make those choices. That being said, my perspective is probably somewhat biased because of my lack of attachment in those areas and should be taken with a grain of salt.
Stuart’s choice to divide the book into four sections highlighted the equal significance of each season and also offered a clear and organized structure with which the reader could separate concepts within their mind. I also appreciated his heavy reliance on Scripture, which allowed him the opportunity to obviously submit to God’s Word in the eyes of his reader and ultimately lent him credibility and relatability as a writer. The meat of his ideas concerning sacrifice, initiation, selflessness, beauty, affection, and service were all reasonably theologically sound – though I’d debate him on some of the ideas presented in the chapter of the book succinctly titled “Sex”.