Roadside Americans: the rise and fall of hitchhiking in a changing nation by Jack Reid
In Roadside Americans Jack Reid looks at hitchhiking and how it reflected the American culture at the time and how it changed over the years. He starts in the 1920's around the time of the Great Depression and follows the trend through the late 1980's when it mostly died off. Interestingly at some times, especially during WWII, hitchhiking was actually encouraged by the government as a way to share resources during wartime shortages and rationing. But, at other times the government pushed the view of hitchhiking and dangerous or lazy. While it was an interesting book, it was pretty repetitive both within chapters and overall. I did like that pictures were included. I also found it odd that the author repeatedly calls hippies "freaks" which was never a term I ever heard associated with 1960's counter-culture/hippies/whatever and it seemed odd that it was used so much. Overall, it could have been shorter, but did have some interesting information about how hitchhiking reflected on our overall American culture.
Some quotes I liked:
"Ultimately, these critiques suggest that within the increasingly modern 1920's, many Americans perceived the growing popularity of hitchhiking as an unsettling symptom of broader cultural changes that were threatening traditional understandings of morality and virtue." (p. 35)
"...the federal government appealed to Americans' sense of sacrifice and put forth a propaganda campaign urging motorists to [carpool and conserve gas and tires]...Asserting the grave nature of this issue, one poster warned careless motorists, 'When you ride alone, you ride with Hitler!'" [picture of the ad included] (p. 75)
"Although the country experienced a dramatic increase in economic security during the 1950s and 1960s, pockets of the country remained in poverty...In Hazard, Kentucky, for example, the local police force was too underfunded to afford police cruisers and at times even uniforms for officers. In fact, as the sheriff explained, 'It wasn't unusual to see a deputy sheriff hitchhike a ride to answer a complaint.' Although this example is extreme, low-income Americans throughout the country similarly relied on hitchhiking to hold down a job." (p. 177)
"On her five-thousand-mile hitchhiking trip in 1964, eighteen-year-old Jo Freeman, for instance, 'calculated that roughly 90 percent' of her rides were with middle-aged, single males, and despite her conservative dress about 90 percent of these men made sexual passes at her of varying directness." (p. 180)
[After a rash of newspaper stories about serial killers targeting hitchhikers - especially women]
"For many in the media and society more generally, the message was clear: hitchhiking, especially for women, was too dangerous and needed to be stamped out...Although these concerns for the safety of women on the road were obviously warranted to a degree, this fear and propaganda was also, in part, a response to larger anxieties regarding the breakdown of traditional values and patriarchal authority. Rather than decry the sexual aggressiveness and criminality of some male motorists, critics of the counterculture and women's liberation used these crimes as fodder to argue that women did not belong on the road and should instead conform to traditional notions of femininity for their own safety and protection." (p. 225)
"High-profile crimes as well as a close association with the hippie lifestyle and the women's liberation movement led hitchhiking to become more controversial than ever. Indeed, private citizens, municipal governments, and law enforcement agencies sought to regulate the practice as part of broader efforts to protect the nation's traditional values and the lives of young people, especially women. Remarkably, though, these systematic efforts did little to stem the popularity of hitchhiking." (p. 235)
"By the late 1970s, the youth culture had in many respects changed...most young people still absorbed a conventional worldview - one that embraced the comforts and pleasures of the modern consumer marketplace. In this context, going to the mall with friends or, better yet, owning a fancy car carried far more hip cachet than hitchhiking." (p. 243-44)
"According to the Network of Runaway Youth Services in Washington, D.C., the number of individuals under eighteen on the road skyrocketed during the early 1980s, jumping from 500,000 in 1974 to 2 million in 1981. This spike was likely fueled by economic dislocations that translated to high unemployment and funding cuts for social services - such as programs placing youths in foster homes - as well as to declining funding for Aid to Families with Dependent Children. Faced with difficult circumstances, some youths took to the road." (p. 250)
"Still, as a CNN report noted in April 2018, ride-sharing apps do not always equate to safety for users. More than a hundred Uber drivers (known so far) were accused of sexual assault or abuse between 2015 and 2018 - and in many of those incidents, drivers were charged with raping intoxicated women who pass out in the vehicle. In response, Uber and Lyft began more rigorous criminal background checks on drivers. Still, as of 2019, critics argue that the companies have not gone far enough in addressing issues of sexual harassment, and this sentiment has inspired many to turn against ride-sharing. Ride-sharing apps nevertheless generally offer a safer experience than the sheer randomness of hitchhiking." (p. 279)
On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson (re-read)
Original review in 2008:
I was VERY impressed with this book! I was already a fan of Andrew Peterson's music, so I knew that he was very creative and this book definitely exceeded my expectations. The story follows the Igiby family who live in Glipwood. Glipwood has been held captive by Gnag the Nameless and his lizard-like Fangs of Dang. The Igiby children, Janner, Tink and Leeli, have never known life with true freedom. Their mother and grandfather have known true freedom and when the opportunity comes their family must fight for their lives and rescue the Jewels of Anniera. This is a wonderfully well-written fantasy and adventure novel. Andrew Peterson has created a new fantasy world that leaves you wanting more at the end of this first novel. I would highly recommend this one and I can't wait for the sequel!
On re-reading:
On the surface the storyline of this book might seem a little out-there and odd, but Peterson's writing really draws you in. It's a classic story of good vs. evil and you are pulling hard for the Igiby's to win. You want to keep reading to see what happens next and even though I had read this one before there was still a lot I didn't remember. I'm even more impressed with Andrew Peterson's creativity and writing skills.
A quote I liked:
"Oh, yes, the people of Skree were quite free, as long as they were in their homes by midnight. And as long as they bore no weapons, and they didn't complain when their fellow Skreeans were occasionally taken away across the sea, never to be seen again. But other than the cruel Fangs and the constant threat of death and torture, there wasn't much to fear in Skree." (p. 3-4)
North! Or Be Eaten by Andrew Peterson (re-read)
Original review from 2009:
North! is the sequel to On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness and is full of even more adventure, daring and surprise. The Igiby family must leave Glipwood and try to get to the far north to the Ice Praries where a resistance army is waiting to fight Gnag and the Fangs. But, on the way Janner and Tink get separated not only from their family, but also from each other. Each boy ends up in a horrific situation that they must try to escape from in order to reunite with their family. The story is very fast-paced and the ending definitely leaves you wanting more. I'm hoping Andrew Peterson is working on a third book in this series!
Update to re-reading:
I honestly only remembered one part of this book - it was like reading a brand new book. It is literally almost non-stop action, fighting, and danger. I will say that I give Andrew Peterson even more credit with the level of evil detail in some of the things revealed about the Fangs and their work on Skree. And there is very much a surprise that is revealed about their grandpa Podo and his past as well. Definitely leaves you with a cliff hanger ending, but this time I've got the next two books already so I will start book 3 and see what happens to the Igiby/Wingfeather family next.
A quote I liked:
[Oskar] "Reteep raised his eyes to Podo's. 'I tell you, old friend, I'd rather be stuck here in a Strander burrow than blowing smoke rings in Glipwood, where the Fangs spit and howl and kill our spirits. At least we're here because we choose to be. We're here out of bravery and not cowardice.'" (p. 133)
The Monster in the Hollows by Andrew Peterson
The Wingfeather family barely escapes Skree and is sailing to Green Hollows seeking refuge. But, when they arrive at Green Hollows they don't get quite the reception they are hoping for - mainly because of Kalmar who's been turned into a half wolf half boy and looks very much like a Grey Fang. Eventually they are granted asylum, and it seems like their days of constant running and fighting and hiding are over. But, then farm animals start going missing and a new menace comes to town and everyone suspects Kalmar. And when the family is betrayed (yet AGAIN) by an old family friend it looks like the end - until an unlikely hero returns for one final act of bravery. The book definitely ends on (yet another) cliffhanger and I can't wait to see how this story finally ends in book 4!
A quote I liked:
[Sara Cobbler who was inspired by Janner to lead a rebellion at the Fork Factory] "She had asked herself a thousand times during the shift if she was a fool, and a thousand times she answered herself, yes, she was a fool, but she would rather die a fool than live a half-life in a hopeless, helpless fog. And she was willing to risk the danger to the children who trusted her. She wanted them to know it was better to fight and lose than to sink away into nothingness under the Overseer's evil grin." (p. 257)
The Warden and the Wolf King by Andrew Peterson
In the final book of the Wingfeather Saga the Wingfeather family and the Green Hollows people are preparing to battle Gnag and his army of Fangs - hopefully for the final time. But, as the winter moves closer to spring, Gnag surprises the Hollowsfolk with an attack - and a new Bat Fang that attacks from the air. This sparks the first of several epic battles between good and evil. At the time of this first battle, Kalmar realizes that he must go try to stop Gnag himself. Kalmar is struggling to contain the Fang parts of himself and knows the only way to stop it is to destroy Gnag or die trying. Of course, Janner, being the Throne Warden, goes with his brother despite his fears of what lies ahead for them. Along their path toward Gnag, Janner and Kalmar encounter several surprising allies who come to their aid when they need it the most. Ultimately, Gnag is defeated, but at a high cost. Then, King Kalmar decides to reach out to the remaining Fangs and the cloven to try to help them return to the humans they once were, but will his idea work?
I will say I'm continually blown away in reading this series at Andrew Peterson's creativity and imagination. The details of each type of creature is really amazing and how all the various storylines come together at the end is impressive. I will say I found the end kind of odd, but it does leave a door open for either another book or just hope that it's not the end for Janner. I really loved how the relationship between Janner and Kalmar grew throughout this book. And while this is a long book at 519 pages, it is so action packed that I flew through it in a few days. Overall, a wonderful, unique series that I would highly recommend.
Canning and Preserving by Adams Media
This is a great book for the beginner preserver. The first chapter covers canning and preserving fundamentals and gives a lot of really good tips. Then there are chapters on canning, freezing, drying, and pickling. Then the next several chapters are recipes organized by type like condiments, broths, soups, and stews, vegetables, fruit, etc. Each recipe tells you how long this item will store and how it can best be preserved (whether canning is needed or if it can be frozen, etc.). There are several ideas that would make great gifts too. Overall, this little book is FULL of very helpful information and I would definitely recommend this one.
We Need to Hang Out: a memoir of making friends by Billy Baker
When Billy Baker's editor gives him an assignment to write about how middle-aged men don't have close friends, at first he questions whether his editor thinks he's a loser with no friends. Then he starts to think about it and realizes maybe he is a loser with no friends - damn. This starts his quest to research friendship and loneliness and how it's becoming increasingly harder in our society today to make and keep close friends. Most people have friends along the way - childhood friends, high school group, college roommates or buddies, but then once you're in the "real world" of work and family it can be challenging to maintain any real friendships. The surgeon general has declared loneliness as one of the nation's "greatest pathologies" - worse than smoking, obesity, or heart disease in increasing a person's risk for premature death. So, Baker has some motivation for reconnecting with old friends and making some new ones. This book chronicles his friendship journey and several of his (successful and unsuccessful) ideas for connecting on a more regular basis. His focus is on male friendships, but I think his ideas and story is beneficial to anyone. As I've gotten older I've found it MUCH harder to make new friends and get together regularly with the friends I do have. Baker is a great writer and I laughed out loud at lot while reading this book. It definitely inspired me to work on my friendships more as well.
Some quotes I liked:
"Friends were what we did after the 'important' stuff was done, and that shit is never done." (p. 18)
"My own personal experience with social media feels fairly typical. If I were to chart my emotions over time, it would show an early spike - 'I've reconnected with so many friends! This is the best thing ever!' - and then a slow and steady decline toward 'This is the dumpster fire that's going to swallow society!'" (p. 108)
"Overthinking shit is my favorite recreational drug." (p. 161)
"But everything has changed in the internet era. It's the 'before and after' moment in the story of humanity. It's the connector and disconnector. And I fear that for every second that passes between when I write these sentences and when they're read, the quainter these concerns will sound. Each time something new moves online and stops happening face-to-face, we deplete the world's supply of social capital. That's the scientific term for the value we derive from positive connections between people, and it may be the most important asset in the ecosystem." (p. 195)
Home Ec for Everyone: practical life skills in 118 projects by Sharon & David Bowers
This is a unique book that attempts to boil down what you might learn in a typical home economics class into 118 projects. The book is divided into 5 categories - cooking, sewing, laundry, domestic arts, and life skills. I did take home ec in high school and really only remember covering cooking and sewing, but the other areas covered in this book are helpful. I think this is more geared toward a young adult or someone moving out on their own for the first time, but I still felt like it had good information in all the areas covered. Things like "how to spring clean" in the domestic arts section are helpful for anyone. Overall, I liked it and felt like even someone well into "adulting" could find something new or helpful in here.
The Women of the Bible Speak by Shannon Bream
I thought this sounded like an interesting book, but when I got the book and saw the "Fox New Books" label I almost didn't read it. But, I figured I would give it a try. Shannon Bream is a Fox News anchor and chief legal correspondent, but nowhere does she give any theological or Biblical background. Not that you have to be a Bible scholar to write a book, but there didn't seem to be any deep theological work or research here. If you grew up in church you likely know all the stories in this book and in my opinion there wasn't much else given other than pairing up women from the Bible with similar stories/situations. Christianity has sadly often used the Bible to subjugate women, so this could be a good resource for a new Believer to show just how valued women are by God and how Jesus really challenged the patriarchal norm of His day in how He treated women. But, for me there was no new information or insight with this book.
I did like a couple quotes though:
"Again and again, the Bible presents us with the struggle over infertility...For women of the Bible, fertility meant more than just the love of a child. It meant more than just a way for a woman to gain security and status in the world. Fertility was often viewed as divine favor itself. Some believed that to bear a child was to wear a mark of God's love, and to be barren was therefore a mark of God's displeasure. But it's important to note that from the moment God creates Eve, she is a person of value because she is created in His very image. In our Heavenly Father's eyes, we as women are treasured and honored wholly and apart from the gift of motherhood." (p. 17)
"To us, Mary's studying at Jesus's feet might seem a natural and even touching picture. But to a first-century Jew, this would have been a deeply shocking image. Mary was doing three unconventional things: she was engaging in formal biblical learning; she was in close and intimate physical proximity to a rabbi; and she was seated in a group of men. All these were taboo in her culture. By welcoming her to sit there, Jesus was violating every cultural norm that governed how women should behave, especially in their relationship to learning and to men." (p. 155)
The Well-Gardened Mind: the restorative power of nature by Sue Stuart-Smith
Sue Stuart-Smith is a psychiatrist, but is married to a well-known garden designer and together they have created their own garden called the Barn Garden. In this book she explores the many ways that nature and gardening in particular can help our minds and overall well-being. She explores everything from how gardening can help with PTSD, behavior problems in schoolchildren, to how it can help manage stress in the everyday person's life. I'm a big believer already in the importance of being outside in nature and growing your own food, but I was surprised at how much research there is about how drastically gardening can help people with various issues or illnesses. Some parts of the book are a little clinical and I guess because she's a psychiatrist there were a LOT of Freud references and examples, but overall it's a pretty easy to read book with a lot of fascinating information. For instance, I had never heard about the trench gardens that were created during the trench warfare of WWI - apparently both sides did it and it really helped the soldiers cope with the war. If you are a gardener this is a must-read because there is really a lot of great information to scientifically show why it's good for you to be in the garden.
Some quotes I liked:
[About a horticulture program at Riker's Island prison run by the Horticultural Society of New York]
"One of the most innovative aspects of the GreenHouse project is that it offers internships with the Hort's Green Team in the community after release. Ex-offenders work on hundreds of different garden and park spaces around the city, contributing to the greening of the city and creating links within the community...Finding legitimate employment after serving time inside can be extremely difficult. There is a vulnerable transition period to get through, and repeat offending in those who leave Rikers is high. More than 65 percent of ex-prisoners are back inside within three years of release, but the re-offending rate for those who attend the Hort's program is only 10 to 15 percent....Although violent outbreaks occur incessantly inside the jails, there has never been an outbreak of violence within the garden itself." (p. 53-54)
"Decades of research on laboratory rats (whose neural circuitry is similar to ours) have shown that when they are raised in what neuroscientists call enriched environments they are healthier, more resilient to stress, and better at learning than rats that have not been...An enriched environment cage typically contains a wheel, a ball, a tunnel, a ladder, and a small pool - the rat equivalent of a playground...Kelly Lambert, professor of behavioral neuroscience at the University of Richmond in Virginia, decided to include a third type of cage - one that contained soil and plant material, including sticks, stumps, and a hollowed-out log, in place of the plastic and metal toys...For generations back, none of these laboratory-bred rats had been anywhere near nature, and you might have expected them to prefer their toys to sticks and dirt. But surrounded by the little bit of nature in their cages, they were the most excited and active lab rats the research team had ever seen. They were playing and digging and clearly enjoying themselves. More than that, they were connecting and interacting with one another in a much more sociable way." (p. 104-5)
"By generativity, Erikson meant taking a perspective that stretches beyond our own life. There is an overlap with creativity, but it is also about the skills and knowledge we pass on to the next generation and things that will live on after us, that give us a way to keep looking forward...One of the most striking findings was that men and women who developed ways of being generative in their fifties were three times more likely to be thriving at eighty. This finding surprised the researchers, who had expected to find economic factors playing a significant role in the quality of life of the elderly, but the correlation was not that strong." (p. 219-20)
"Looking out of a window at a neglected and overgrown patch that has previously been a source of pride can be worse than having no garden at all - a painful reminder of not being able to cope. Garden sharing schemes can offer a solution to this predicament. The Edinburgh Garden Partners program in Scotland, for example, matches people who are keen to grow food but lack access to a plot of land with people who need help with a garden that they can no longer manage." (p. 222)
