FEATURE
9November 19, 2009
Top 10 classic
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reads that never age by HADLEY JOLLEY Staff Reporter Thanksgiving break makes for a good chance to get cozy with a blanket and a good book, instead of the usual required reading for class. Here, The Pioneer presents a recommended book list for those students for whom reading for pleasure is a such a distant memory they can’t think of what to read. The focus of this list is on books that make provocative, intriguing points, but are still entertaining to read. Enjoy! “Good Omens” by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman It’s the end times: The armies of Good and Evil emerge to watch over the Antichrist and prepare for the final battle, sea monsters emerge, the four horsemen of the apocalypse—war, famine, death and . . . pollution—ride again. It’s up to a pair of drinking buddies, who happen to be an angel and a demon who have become a bit too fond of Earth and humankind to stop it. Luckily for them, the Antichrist isn’t who they think he is . . . or what they expect. This excellent comedy takes on fate, prophecy, human nature and the issues of modern existence while remaining hysterically funny. “Poisonwood Bible” by Barbara Kingsolver Nathan Price drags his wife and four daughters to Africa to be a missionary and save souls. Nothing goes as planned—the supplies the family brought turn out to be useless, very few people join the church and the hardships he forces on the rest of his family in pursuit of his dream breaks it apart: His wife leaves him and takes their children on a malaria-wracked journey out of the Congo. However, their experience in the Congo continues to shape the lives of all the characters. Inspired by Joseph Conrad’s “Heart of Darkness,” this long novel deeply explores both the Congo and the characters it touches. “Parable of the Sower” by Octavia E. Butler When pyromaniac psychopaths torch Lauren Olamina’s home and kill her family, she has to set out across the dystopian United States to find safety. Along the way, she joins forces with other people who are trying to find a home in this rough world and with them develops her new community and a new religion, Earthseed, focused on the continuation of life among the stars. Octavia E. Butler tackles religion, sexism, racism and heights of both horror and grace. The
story continues to haunt years after it’s read. “Chronicle of a Death Foretold” by Gabriel Garcia Marquez Most mysteries answer the question, “Who dun it?” This novella asks, “Why dun it?” Two brothers in a small town kill Santiago Nasar because they believe he deflowered their sister, whose husband rejected her on their wedding night. The entire town, including the mayor, knew of their plans, but nobody effectively stopped them. Told in a quasi-journalistic tone 20 years after the murder, the narrator attempts to find out why Nasar died, raising questions of the roles of honor and sexuality and the meaning of guilt.
society. Un f o r t u nately, his society is threatened by outside forces—specifically Christian missionaries—who destabilize his world, in particular by peeling one of his sons from his Igbo society. The plot moves toward an end reminiscent of Greek tragedies. Achebe does a beautiful job of presenting Okonkwo’s rich, complex, changing world.
“Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed” by Jared Diamond In the follow-up to “Guns, Germs and Steel,” Diamond analyzes the environmental threats that can lead to a society’s collapse and what people can do to either stop the collapse or allow it to happen. His cases involve Easter Island, which collapsed, and Japan, which did not. The last section of the books deals with the environmental threats facing the globe today and ways to deal with them without collapsing. His theories are fascinating and offer food for thought to any environmentalist.
“Dr. Tatiana’s Sex Advice to All Creation” by Olivia Judson When should you attempt to eat your partner? Is it always best to be a manly man? What does it cost to make a sperm, anyway? Dr. Tatiana, an advice columnist for the rest of creation, answers questions from confused animals, explaining the what and sometimes the why of relations with a humorous bent. The sheer variety of behavior chronicled should invite contemplation—and laughter.
“Waiting for the Galactic Bus” by Parke Godwin Two lay-about alien brothers from an advanced race, Barion and Coyul, get left behind on Earth when their friends leave without them as a prank. Not knowing when they’ll get back home, Barion decides to enhance the intelligence of a particular ape species, which back home would not be considered a good candidate. Coyul, seeing what his brother did, decides to add his own efforts to the project. Over the years, human power creates a religion, and two afterlives, surrounding the two brothers, who still periodically attempt to help. When a American couple threatens to have a child who could be worse than Hitler, Barion and Coyul decide to step in to prevent the marriage; meanwhile, the other aliens are finally coming back for the brothers. Hysterically funny, this novel takes on the root of human suffering, the problems with dogmatism and the power of humanity. “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe Okonkwo has it good: Wealth, three wives, beloved children and status in his
“Me Talk Pretty One Day” by David Sedaris In this collection of personal essays, Sedaris tackles such everyday topics as speech therapy, musical lessons and French grammar, and points out exactly how ridiculous they are. In one story, he recounts the time his sister Amy came home in half a fat suit to irritate their fat-phobic father; in another, he discusses his difficulties in playing a guitar—which were not helped by his teacher’s suggestion that he think of it as a woman. “The Atrocity Archives” by Charles Stross There are . . . things just past the borders of our world, and if we call to them—with, say, advanced mathematics—they’ll come out. Fortunately, the governments of the world have it under control. Bob Howard works for a secret department of the British government, battling Lovecraftian horrors and obstructionist bureaucracy. Stross’s world is genuinely scary: It’s clear that the humans are outgunned and continually fighting against time. At the same, we haven’t lost yet. Its an alternatively scary, alternatively funny adventure story that makes a fun use of an afternoon.
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Students share holiday traditions by HELEN JENNE Staff Reporter Every year, my family puts a Jewish star on top of our Christmas tree. I think it’s the only way that, as Jews, we can justify celebrating Christmas. And it looks awesome. Also, once we got yarmulkes (traditional Jewish hats) in our stockings. Jonas Myers, first-year When my mom and my uncles were little, they would get very distracted waiting for Santa to come. In order to keep them busy, my grandma decided to have beef fondue for dinner on Christmas Eve. Because it involves cooking your own food, it kept them from tearing the house down. Now, on the night before Christmas, my whole family goes to my Grandma’s for fondue. Robyn Metcalfe, first-year Decorating and placing presents under the traditional Hanukkah bush, which is similar to a Christmas tree but different in several subtle ways . . . (it’s shorter and rounder). Cory Rand, first-year Dancing ‘round the Festivus pole. Nick Cross, first-year
We always have pumpkin soup served out of an actual hollowed out pumpkin before Thanksgiving dinner. Allison Armstrong, senior My mom has these Martha Stuart butter molds so all of our Thanksgiving butter is in the shape of acorns or leaves. We are only allowed to eat that butter during the meal. Claire Ostwald, first-year My family likes to go for hikes on Thanksgiving. It’s a good way to get out of the house, enjoy the fall air and work off the food we just ate. Dena Wessel, first-year One of my favorite holiday traditions is making eggrolls with my family at Christmas. Everyone sits together and rolls them and then we all help my dad fry them up in a wok and then eat them with miso soup. Isabella Lowery, first-year Every year around Christmas my family and I go into downtown Seattle to shop and ride the merry-go-round and it’s probably one of my favorite days of the year! Mollee Huisinga, first-year
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Staying in Walla Walla for turkey day? Top 5 things to do:
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Thanksgiving dinner with George Bridges
Each year President Bridges hosts a Thanksgiving dinner for students staying in Walla Walla over the holiday break. Come to Baker Faculty Center at 5 p.m. on Nov. 26 for your favorite holiday treats, a chance to mingle with the president and an opportunity to meet other students staying on campus.
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Be the first to witness snowfall in Walla Walla
The ten-day weather forecast predicts highs in the mid-thirties next week, with a fair chance of snow. It may be your lucky day if you are the first to witness campus under a white blanket of untainted snow—it won’t stay that way for long. Be sure to bring a camera and brag to your friends!
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Run the Turkey Trot
Don’t head off to dinner with George Bridges just yet—before packing on the pie and stuffing, attend this fun 5k race downtown. Starting on 1st and Main Street at 8:30 a.m. on Nov. 26, this Thanksgiving-themed 5k run and 1 mile walk is a fundraiser for the Blue Mountain Chapter of the American Red Cross. Registration is $15 on race day.
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Attend “The Miracle Worker” at the Little Theatre of Walla Walla
Take a break from the Whitman scene and attend a play at the volunteerbased Little Theatre of Walla Walla. Performed at 8 p.m. on Nov. 20-21 and 27-29, “The Miracle Worker” is a biographical play based on the life of Helen Keller. The Little Theatre of Walla Walla is located at 1130 Sumach St.
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Sleep, relax and catch up on some of our recommended movies and books!
Take advantage of the painfully silent dorms (and really, the rest of campus too)—they won’t stay that way for long. Sleep in until noon, spend a lazy day in bed and check out a book or movie or two. Penrose remains open over break, allowing you access to all your literary and cinematic desires.