September 12, 2019 WE ARE THE WORLD

 9/11. Elvis' death. Pearl Harbor. Assassination of JFK. Apollo 11 landing on the moon. The Beatles first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show. Titanic sinking. Bombing of Hiroshima. Michael Jackson's death. Lennon Assassination. Sandy Hook. Columbine. Princess Diana's death. MLK assassination. Can you remember where you were when any of these events shook the world? I can remember exactly five. It's funny how these and many other events become a part of us. I thought about this yesterday because it was 9/11. It's hard to believe that it's been 18 years. AND yes--I remember exactly what I was doing when the first plane hit-- as do most other Americans of a certain age. What's really mind blowing is that most of my students don't really know much about it. It's just another day in infamy to them. Violence and wickedness are commonplace in the world they live in.  Every other day there is a mass shooting of some sort. Innocent people die and we are helpless to stop it. The world has definitely NOT become a better place since 9/11. So disheartening. UGH. That's why I read books--the great escape. And what better way to escape then in Rebecca Makkai's kooky novel The Borrower. 
Lucy Hull, the main character of this outlandish novel, is a 26 year old children's librarian in Hannibal, Missouri. One of her most dedicated  patrons is 10 year old Ian Drake. Ian is a precocious, insightful, avid reader whose reading list is limited because his mother is an extreme religious fundamentalist. Because she feels sorry for him,  Lucy helps Ian hide and borrow the books he wants to read. Lucy's concern for Ian grows after she meets his strange mother and learns that Ian has to attend anti-gay classes at his church. One morning when she gets to work, Lucy finds Ian camped out in the library. He has run away from home. Although she should bring him home, Lucy finds herself torn and the next thing she knows they are on a road trip together. This quirky book is about two "odd balls" who essentially kidnap each other and end up finding themselves. This clever novel with interesting characters and many hidden literary references only add to the fun. It's about 350 pages or a 4 mile run that will keep you guessing and shaking your head.