And I thought my family was screwed up...

I just finished 'Aloft' by Chang-Rae Lee. I am certainly not the biggest fan of this tale, but some of the messages really spoke to me. Jerry Battle, an almost 60 year old widower and father of two, buys a small airplane because "From up here, a half mile above the Earth, everything looks perfect to me." This is quite the foreboding statement, as Jerry is about to have his clean existence shaken up. And we all know that this is how life works. Whenever the waters seem smooth sailing, a higher power jumps in to prove that when we plan, g-d laughs. And as with Jerry Battle's journey, it is only when we emerge through these challenging times that we are able to better appreciate the sweetness of the calm after the storm. This book touches on a little bit of everything that as humans makes us hurt and brings us joy...such as love, friendship, aging, illness, pride, work and romance. Jerry's awkward but powerful honesty when it comes to his relationships is at once relatable and hilarious. Some of the story is mildly far fetched but the characters are colorful and raw; creating a diverse and enjoyable palate. I must admit that I also enjoyed the vivid descriptions of various Long Island spots; as a native Long Islander. Perhaps not four stars, but certainly an enjoyable read. Up next...'The Magus'...

The Book Thief Stole My Heart...

The Book Thief is set in Germany during the time of World War II. I have read many books about this time period and this war, but this perspective gave the subject matter a breath of fresh air. The story is told from the point of view of death ("Death"), who plays the intense dual role of narrator and ruler. Death, through an unusual but beautiful style of narration, communicates the story of the book thief, Liesel Meminger. At the beginning of the story, Liesel and her brother are shipped off (via train) to a foster home by their mother [when she stolen away to a concentration camp]. Her brother dies on this journey and that event sets the stage for the display of courage, anger, and sadness the reader sees from Liesel throughout this story. In fact, it is at her brother's burial that Liesel steals her first book, "The Gravedigger's Handbook". This action is painfully symbolic as Liesel is tragically illiterate. The events following her brother's early death shape Liesel's life; weaving a tapestry of pain and disappointment; with intermittent moments of bittersweet joy.

Amongst the colorful characters in this story were Liesel's foster parents, Hans and Rosa Hubermann, her best friend, Rudy Steiner, and Max, a 24 year old Jewish man that the Hubermann family helps to hide. I fell in love with nearly all of the main characters. They were admirable and worthy of disgust (with the exception of Max), they were stunning in their frailty, and lovable for their faulted honesty. Hans, Liesel's father, is in the simplest verbiage, a hero. He is far from perfect, but his reluctance to accept and then disseminate anti-semitism throughout the book made my heart ache. His love of Liesel is fierce and most evident when he teaches her to read, with the greatest of patience. Liesel's love of reading, of words, of books is something that resonated soundly within me.* Rosa, Liesel's mother, is difficult and impossible, but her resolute strength (beneath a leather exterior) tugged at my insides as I waded through this tale.

Rudy and Max are the other two prominent men in Liesel's life. Rudy is an outspoken, mischievous neighborhood boy who wants nothing more than to kiss Liesel, and Max is a tortured, hunted soul, who craves her understanding, compassion and affection. Each of these men need Liesel, and she, in return, needs them. Rudy allows her to explore the world, while Max cultivates the desire within her to know, to understand, to feel.

I do not wish to give the ending, nor the grander details of this book away, for fear of ruining the experience for anyone who is interested in reading it. While the writing style is unusual and might present an obstacle to those who read it...I implore anyone, everyone, to trudge on. The splendor of this book unfurls with every page that passes. It is a beautiful, tragic story. I felt awoken after flipping the last page; alive with millions of questions and a sort of phantom pain, for what was. Given the world we live in, the reading of this story is necessary. It explains how hatred grows and spreads; how it trickles into our homes, families, minds and hearts. It describes how ignorant loathing breeds fear and how that fear leads to unimaginable behavior. I see it everywhere in our world.

At the end of the book Death says "I am haunted by humans." I tend to agree.

*This fictional character gave me a solid appreciation for my library down the street and the bookstore around the corner; both in which I can roam freely.