Let me start by saying that I’m not NEARLY naive enough to believe that history can be represented 100% objectively. Most of what we know about our ancient, and even notsoancient, past has come to us through a series of scholars and researchers and archeologists who have taken “clues” and drawn enough reasonable conclusions to present us with a picture of what might have been. Heck, even primary sources like diaries and letters (and these days video media) are bound to be skewed by a human perception in some way. So it’s not that I’m looking for blinding white truth. But dangit, I resent out-and-out fiction when it comes to historical events, especially in the name of making a good novel or profitable movie.
I just finished watching The Last King of Scotland–a brutal portrait of conditions in Uganda under Idi Amin in the 70’s.I’m embarrassed to admit I knew very little about the man, and while I knew that a Hollywood production (and the original novel) was not going to be the most reliable source of information, I at least expected the the characters that were instrumental to the events in the film to be reasonable representations of real people.
I know, I know. I didn’t read enough about the movie or the actual events before I saw it, but how many of us do extensive research about a subject that we’re going to see in a movie? And the fact that the main character, through whose eyes we come to know the man Amin, never really existed? How about more responsibility in depicting historical events? Can you really tell me there was no other way to effectively tell this story than to make up a person who was never there? In his defense, Giles Foden, the author of the book, did claim to base the Garrigan character on a British aide to Amin. I haven’t read the book, so I can’t comment on that version of the story, but in an article I read, it claimed that this aide had participated more vigorously in Amin’s security forces, and alternately been imprisoned and tortured in Amin’s prisons. Was there some kind of political correctness being catered to here? I don’t know–I can only speculate.
Don’t get me wrong… I’m a huge history buff, and I do love historical fiction. But blending that fact and fiction is a delicate matter in my opinion. Presenting something as truth, especially depicting a significant historical event, requires much more attention to detail and accuracy in my opinion, than simply telling a fictional story about fictional characters in an historical setting. Oh my lord, I could go on and on about this. And I probably will later. I have to go now–I’m starving.
Speaking of Ted Dekker, I spent some time on his website earlier today, which I subsequently added to my blogroll. He’s got some interesting insights and observations about present-day Christian culture (a term with which he takes issue, interestingly enough, insofar as “Christian” is used as a label to differentiate certain aspects of our lives from the “secular”), as well as a follower of Christ’s role in it.
For a taste, check out his blog entry “Get Naked and Save the World.” This guy reads my mind.
I love to read. But as books go, I’m a bit random. I tend not to have much patience for books that don’t punch me in the face, and out of the 13 books I’ve started this summer (NOT an exaggeration), I’ll probably only finish one. That tends to be my literary “books begun: books finished” ratio. In fact, I could probably count the number of face-punchers I’ve read in my life on one hand.
Fatherland by Robert Harris (multiple bloody noses from this one… gets better each time I read it)
Waking the Dead by John Eldredge (perhaps the only non-fiction book I’ve finished of my own volition in my life. I love non-fiction, but after 3 days of one topic, I’m interested in something else… there is just TOO much to learn out there!)
Black/Red/White trilogy by Ted Dekker
Bride of Sforza by Miranda Seymour (which launched me into an historical fiction frenzy in college that continues 10 years later)
Birth of Venus by Sarah Dunant
So there’s my one hand.
Here’s the thing though–finding these books is a random, frustrating process for me. In the case of John, Ted, Miranda, and Robert, I made it through a few of their other books, and found some enjoyable, others not so much. No more socks in the gut though. Sarah wound up being a dead end–Venus was an aberration in a series of frothy, poppy mysteries (BIG disappointment).
Okay, a 6th finger–
The Love Letters by Madeleine L’Engle. Again, I enjoyed a few of L’Engle’s other books, but walked away rather untouched.
So I’ve come to view it as an act of God (literally, not in the homeowner’s insurance sense of the word) when I come across something that I am compelled to read in every waking moment, when I can’t wait to get home so I can curl up in bed and dive back in. I guess it’s a good thing, though–without the droughts, I’d probably never leave the house.
So it’s been over a month since I posted last.
Projects started: 12
Projects followed through to completion: 1. Almost.
Projects I need to start: 63.
Being a home/pet/car owner has really infringed upon my daily routine! I’m starting to plan for my new position in the coming school year (after 10 years as a classroom teacher, I’m moving to the library/computer lab. Maybe I’ll get to teach something besides test prep now!), designing the school webpage, writing a grant to start an outdoor classroom, putting together a final project for a children’s lit class, and starting a new 3-day intensive class (9-5 for 3 Saturdays!) tomorrow. Add to that laundry, dishes, my cat’s unfortunate reaction to frontline (the flea treatment, not the pbs show), helping dad unpack (which hasn’t quite started yet), trying to get the car in for an oil change. I’ve also developed an addiction to Arrested Development dvds (thanks, brother) and Murphy’s Law episodes (my region 2 dvd player serves me well). And OH YES, since I cancelled my dishnetwork service in favor of cable, it falls to me to climb up on the roof (vertigo be damned) and disconnect the LMNB or whatever it is from the dish to pack up and drop off for ups. Seriously. I’m going to try again today, for the third time this week. And when I’m lying on the patio with my limbs positioned at awkwardly precarious angles, I will use my one good finger to dial 911 on the cell phone which I have miraculously not landed on in the fall. When I regain consciousness, dishnetwork better be ready for me. I’m coming at them like a spider monkey.
