UPEP Reading Group II: Rereading The Past

Thanks for following along thus far! We finished our first reading group. The 3 readers who showed up every week had so much to say about each novel. I loved our discussions. They are eager to advertise this group to fellow inmates and recruit some more readers for our next group.

When it came time to decide what the next batch of books we shall read, we took a vote. There were 5 themed groups of books and we decided on a group titled "Rereading the Past." This group is centered around 8 novels novels that are retelling and reinterpreting old stories, texts, and archetypes. We will discuss these more contemporary texts in relation to their older source material. Dissecting editorial and structural choices made by each author. We will talk about the intent of each novel and how it helps us revisit these old and ancient stories through a new lens. What parts of these stories make them adaptable to new audiences throughout the years? Why do writers keep revisiting these tales? And what can we learn from multiple retellings of the same story. These are a few of the questions that will help guide our conversations.
Here is a list of the books we will read:

Book 1: Foe by J.M Coetzee (inspired by Robinson Crusoe) 1986
Book 2: The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller (inspired by Homer's Illiad) 2011
Book 3: East of Eden by John Steinbeck (inspired by Genesis and Cain & Abel) 1952
Book 4: The Penelopiad by Margaret Atwood (inspired by Penelope) 2005
Book 5: Till We Have Faces by C.S. Lewis (inspired by Cupid & Psyche) 1956
Book 6: Home Fire by Kamila Shamsie (inspired by Antigone) 2017
Book 7: American Gods by Neil Gaiman (inspired by ancient and modern myth) 2001
Book 8: The Keep by Jennifer Egan (inspired by Gothic literature) 2006

I hope you enjoy following along. Feel free to share your own thoughts on these novels, and if you have suggestions for other books that would pair well, please share those as well!

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.

Thanks! And keep reading.

Dystopian Fiction - Book 8: "On Such A Full Sea" by Change-rae Lee

We've reached the end of our first reading group. And our final book is On Such a Full Sea by Chang-rae Lee. It was somewhat difficult to find a novel to pair with Animal Farm, but dystopia is a broad enough genre that I hope we made it work.

Right as we sat down, one enthusiastic reader said, "This book is like a peony: it opens up just a little bit each day. And then it blossoms." He loved it, said the Lee led him through the novel in soft waves, and he was gently brought into the world of the novel. Two of the readers really loved the style (one of them didn't care for it too much). 

We all seemed to like the "We" narrator(s). A collective narrator has a calming and welcoming effect on the reader, at least with this group. It almost made it like a mythology of sorts--that Fan is this hero whose story has been told again and again over time.

One confounding thing is that Fan isn't exactly a hero, at least in the way we traditionally think of heroes. She doesn't change much throughout the novel and is usually acted upon. She doesn't have a lot of agency throughout the novel. She is taken advantage of as soon as she leaves B-Mor by almost every character she encounters. So what makes her exceptional? One reader she is just a mythologized runaway.

One reader, the one who didn't like it that much, pointed out some SOLID connections to "Animal Farm." He noted how the "we" narrators are akin to the collective animals on the farm. They are somewhat unsettled. And they have limited information (at least the later generations do). They are left to fill in the gaps and focus on the present, as the reasons for their current disposition are distant and foggy.

It was a great conclusion to this reading group. We covered a lot of territory and had some very vibrant discussions. Can't wait for the next one. 

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Lee, his work, and anything else related in the comments!

Here is a link to an info sheet provided to the readers. It has a brief biography of Chang-rae Lee, as well as some information on On Such a Full sea. I also try to provide some supplemental reading materials in the form of papers, essays, and Q&As. Here is a link to an essay from 2017 by Christopher T. Fan. You can also buy the book we read on Amazon, IndieBound, and Audible.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.

Stay tuned for our next reading group. It's called "Rereading the Past," and we're really excited about it.

Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

Dystopian Fiction - Book 7: "Animal Farm" by George Orwell

The readers said they read Animal Farm in two days; it was short and enjoyable. And we loved talking about it. We didn't pause for a second.

They immediately related the novel to the situations in prison. They all have different experiences having traveled to different prisons and facilities. They talked about how different it is when the guards are "in charge" as opposed to when the inmates are "in charge." They much prefer to guards being in charge. When the officers had no power is when they were most scared. We had a new reader (just for the day), and he related it to some works by Ayn Rand--the kind of "support-the-cause/revolution" type of feeling in her writing.

We also talked about so many different political worlds, both past and present. Everything from WWII to Revolutionary War to the current US administration. In "Animal Farm," facts and news are distorted, leaders change their own rules and rhetoric. Readjustments are made to the rations. We were all in awe of the way Orwell's ideas fit so nicely on top of so many different contexts and histories.

We talked about socialism and capitalism, and in this text and perhaps in reality as well, how they both lead to the people at the top getting fat and taking advantage of those below them. Both of these routes lead to corruption. They lead the lower-class to the same place, just with slightly different autonomies. 

The role of hope came out in our discussions, which was surprising. One reader talked about how much people can endure if they have hope. They can endure lots of conflict and suffering if they have hope and something to look forward to. This is also the same way with fear. The animals are afraid of Mr. Jones. And in what ways do political figures use fear to manipulate the bodies they govern? All of these ideologies have different ideals and "utopias" they are striving for--it's just the getting there that's the problem.

This was one of the more robust conversations we've had. We went all over the map, talking about the book and how its ideas correlate to our world and the world of the past. We all marveled at Orwell's accomplishment with this novel and how true it rings to this day. 

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Orwell, his work, and anything else related in the comments!

Here is a link to an info sheet provided to the readers. It has a brief biography of George Orwell, as well as some information on Animal Farm.  You can also buy the book we read on Amazon, IndieBound, and Audible.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

Detective Fiction - Book 6: "Devil in a Blue Dress" by Walter Mosley

With everyone loving The Big Sleep last week, I was curious to see what they thought of Mosley's detective novel. I had never read it myself, so I didn't have any preconceived notions regarding the novel.

Well, we had quite the range of reactions. Personally, I thought it was okay. One read really did not enjoy it, and the other two had positive feelings. Our conversation began with the language, like it did with The Big Sleep. The readers did not feel as grounded in the 1940s as they expected to be. The language was a bit more modern, which led them to drift around in their mind in regards to when and where this story took place. Granted, Chandler actually published The Big Sleep in 1939 as opposed to Devil being published 61 years later. Additionally, the readers felt many of the characters fell flat; they were entirely one-dimensional, making it hard to invest in them or their motives or feelings. One reader in particular had a hard time with Daphne and why everyone in the novel was so interested in her. "She was so flat and we really don't know a lot about her."

One reader suggested the novel would've been better had it not been a detective novel. The scenery is cool and the era is cool. But the investigative wandering detracted from all of that. The readers commended a sense of realism in the novel, especially in depictions of bar scenes as well as race relations. The relationship between rich white men and Easy Rawlins felt complex and real to the readers. Easy has a way of expressing a sense of internalized racism; he realizes that he is accepted as a man to some, but attributes his mistreatment to his skin color, while Mosley hints that it could be due to his socio-economic status. This leads to an existential crisis of sorts for Easy. Where does he fit in? Who are his friends? What do people want from him?

Speaking of Easy...is he a hero in the story? In many of the scenes, he just so happens to be there and is more of a pawn or a passive actor. He is being saved by others. He feels like he is being manipulated by someone else, which he kind of is! He's a gum shoe, for sure, but he doesn't seem to make a lot of things happen all by himself.

Every once in a while, the author would throw in a "zoot suit" or some kind of cultural marker to remind the reader when the book is taking place. It feels forced.

We compared Devil to The Big Sleep. Both have a man hired to find a woman. Both have a simple crime that becomes more complicated as the novel goes on. And both novels have a cast of characters introduced at different points and the readers has to make sense of who they are and their level of importance. It's just that, according to this reading group, Raymond Chandler pulls it off to a greater degree.

Next week, we venture into dystopian fiction with a book most people read in high school--Animal Farm by George Orwell. So tune in next week!

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Mosley, his work, and anything else related in the comments!

Here is a link to an info sheet provided to the readers. It has a brief biography of Walter Mosley as well as some information on Devil in a Blue Dress. I also try to provide some supplemental reading materials in the form of papers, essays, and Q&As. Here is a link to an essay from 2001 by Marilyn C. Wesley on power and knowledge in Devil in a Blue Dress. You can also buy the book we read on Amazon, IndieBound, and Audible.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

Detective Fiction - Book 5: "The Big Sleep" by Raymond Chandler

My heart is very full after this meeting. The readers LOVED Chandler's masterwork of detective fiction The Big Sleep. We had an enthusiastic conversation around it. The first thing the readers gushed about what the language (of course). Not only is the dialogue top-notch, but Chandler has some rather poetic moments, like when he describes the ocean or even something like death (spoiler, the Big Sleep = death). The first bit of our discussion was just bouncing around from page-to-page, reading passages we had underlined and found memorable. To put it simply, it was a lot of fun. As we got talking more about the novel, we wondered about Marlowe's past. With his alcoholism, what burdens from his past are plaguing him? The readers also commented on the balancing act he performs: he doesn't open up emotionally when others are around. There are a few moments when he's alone and lashes out, but aside from that he is constantly masking his feelings, whether it is with alcohol or his quips. He is quite defensive of himself and his role.

One connection that I hadn't thought of, but one of the readers pointed out, is the detective's name, Marlowe. The first book we read was Heart of Darkness, and the main character's name in that is Marlow. We had to discuss what similarities they might have. Both characters dive deep into a corrupted world, they become a part of it, so to speak. Chandler says Marlowe is a "part of the nastiness" at the end of the novel.

There is a web of characters that somehow make the novel somewhat lifelike. Marlowe's original mission is complicated by the people he meets and the roads he goes down. The readers related that to their own lives. People come and go, and sometimes our attention is taken by them for a brief moment. Chandler is not so concerned with plot, but more with characters and atmosphere. And that's great, we all agreed. We weren't too concerned with the novel getting resolved in a neat little now because, he, that's what happens in real life. For example, we don't find out who killed the chauffeur, and we don't really know what Ms. Regan has over Eddie mars, two things that are unsolved as the novel ends. But they are not fundamental to enjoying the novel or getting caught up in the story and the characters.

Chandler telegraphs his code of ethics of detectives at the end of the novel. In Chandler's eyes, the detective is a man of principle and does what he is supposed to do. In a way, Chandler laid the groundwork for generations of detective fiction that follow. Marlowe's stoicism, attitude towards females, and even his attitude towards homosexuals all go towards building up an ethos for a literary detective. In closing out the discussion, we talked about Marlowe as a "knight" of sorts. Did he rescue some damsels? Is he heroic? You'll have to decide for yourself when you read it.

Next week, we're reading 1990's The Devil in a Blue Dress, an updated take on the detective novel that is sure to give us a peek at a different side of things.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Chandler, his work, and anything else related in the comments!

Here is a link to an info sheet provided to the readers. It has a brief biography of Raymond Chandler, as well as some information on The Big Sleep. I also try to provide some supplemental reading materials in the form of papers, essays, and Q&As. Here is a link to an essay from 2003 by Megan Abbott (a great crime writer in her own right) on masculinity with Philip Marlowe. You can also buy the book we read on Amazon, IndieBound, and Audible.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

Survival Fiction - Book 4: "The Martian" by Andy Weir

Fresh of the heels of Robinson Crusoe, we dove right into Andy Weir's bestselling novel The Martian. So we'll dive right in on this post.

Off the bat, we talked about how relatable Mark Watney is as a character (not his specific circumstances). His approach to problem-solving (sitting down and thinking through things) is something we have all done. The readers really gravitated (no pun intended) towards his approach, his humor, and his determination. These all helped make him more human.

The next turn we took was a deep discussion about a situation that occurs approximately halfway through the novel. And that's the relationship between China's space program and NASA. The readers were interested in what China would actually do if they were faced with the choice of sacrificing their own space exploration to help possibly rescue a stranded American on Mars. How would the media cover this event? The more bureaucratic elements of the missions were of great interest to our group. And this led into a conversation about the value of a single human life, and the opportunity and costs associated with rescuing Mark Watney. Did they invest in his rescue to simply save his life? Were they thinking of his potential once he gets back to Earth?

When comparing The Martian to Robinson Crusoe, it's evident that science in The Martian supplants the role that religion plays in Crusoe. In a way, they both explain God's role in saving these stranded men. Granted, Watney never says he prays or things about God--he relies solely on science. A believer might say God uses science to make the universe work. And both use science to varying degrees in order to survive. As closing note, we talked about how Crusoe and Watney both cultivate their temporary homes, and the micro-economies that comes as a result. Watney only had potatoes, where Crusoe had more options.

Mark Watney is his own hero. And what is essential to his character in this novel is his humor. He's a fun character, the readers enjoy spending time with him, which makes the novel just that much more readable. He's not overtly cynical or pessimistic. His self-reliance and "Macgyver-ness" make him appealing.

It was a pretty straight forward conversation, we didn't get too deep in the weeds of the novel, but took it at face value, more or less. Tune in next week where we read one of my personal favorite novels The Big Sleep.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Weir, his work, and anything else related in the comments!

Here is a link to an info sheet provided to the readers. It has a brief biography of Andy Weir, as well as some information on The Martian. I also try to provide some supplemental reading materials in the form of papers, essays, and Q&As. Here is a link to an essay from 2017 by Thomas Strychacz on potato farming in The Martian. You can also buy the book we read on Amazon, IndieBound, and Audible.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot

Survival Fiction - Book 3: "Robinson Crusoe" by Daniel Defoe

 I did not plan on our first three novels correlating the way they did, but we discovered that Heart of Darkness, The Drowned World and Robinson Crusoe all talk to each other in certain ways. The readers noted the treatment of the "savage" in Crusoe and how the island natives are viewed and treated as lesser, more like commodities. They also noted how Crusoe had a sense of mastery and ownership over the island, perhaps a similar (but less innocent) feeling Kurtz had over his territory. in Heart of Darkness. There are also some heavy imperialistic overtones in the novel that resonated with anyone familiar with Heart or similar words.

I usually let our conversation snowball naturally, but I had a question of which I was curious to hear their answer to."Why has this novel remained so popular over the last 300 years?" It is arguably the first novel, at least in the western world. It's inspired it's own genre of fiction (Robinsonade). One reader linked it to those "desert island" questions we hear. "What would your five movies/books/albums/etc. on a desert island?' Robinson Crusoe looks at what life might be like on a desert island. The notion of being stranded on an island is a questions people enjoy wrestling with. We all live to imagine ourselves as these inspired, crafty survivors. Another reader suggested this novel is the inspiration for the reality television show "Survivor." But above the desert island aspects of the novel, they were struck by the sense of adventure and ingenuity in the novel. What Crusoe experiences is something nobody else will experience. Being based in a realistic world allows for readers to be transported and imagine what it was like. One reader thought at length what he would do were he in Crusoe's shoes, especially in regards to building boats and caves and cultivating a farm. He would set his book down and think about what he might do.

In the last part of our discussion, the readers related the novel to their own situation of being in prison.Crusoe had to "scavenge" for social interaction. Crusoe could not be picky with Friday and quarrel over differences in lifestyle, worldviews, or opinions. They found common ground. The readers could relate to this. They are in a hyper-controlled/restricted environment and have to make the best of what's in front of them. They have very little they can control. The simplicity and minimalism of Crusoe's island boils things down to what's important and essential. Crusoe didn't have to worry about politics or social structures or things of that nature. Many of the religious dogmas and doctrines that bog the modern world don't matter. It's only his relationship to God, to Friday, and his self-reliance. We started to touch on the ideas of rebirth and repentance but alas, we ran out of time! 

Next week, we are reading a novel that falls in the Robinsonade tradition: The Martian. We're swapping out a desert island for the red hellscape of Mars.

Please feel free to share your thoughts on Defoe, his work, and anything else related in the comments!

Here is a link to an info sheet provided to the readers. It has a brief biography of Daniel Defoe, as well as some information on Robinson Crusoe. I also try to provide some supplemental reading materials in the form of papers, essays, and Q&As. Here is an essay from 2012 by Geert Vandermeersche & Ronald Soetaert on landscape, culture, and education in Robinson Crusoe. You can also buy the book we read on Amazon, IndieBound, and Audible.

If you'd like to learn more about the UPEP, please click here.
If you'd like to contribute to the UPEP general fund, click here.
If you'd like to buy some supplies for classrooms at the Utah State Prison, check out this Amazon wishlist.
And if you'd like to buy a book for the book drive, check out the wishlist here.


Thanks! And keep reading.

-Elliot