RaeAnna Rekemeyer – Page 53

Putney

August 26, 2018 RaeAnna

Read Yes
Length 384
Quick Review A novel that will stay with you as it explores the intricacies of sexual assault from several points of view.

I’m not going to review this book like I normally would. In my teen and adult years, I was raped. For me, this book struck some nerves hitting close to home because there were several similarities between my story and this one. I will be doing two reviews as an unbiased reviewer and a personal review.

Unbiased
Putney by Sofka Zinovieff is an incredibly interesting look into the psyches and motivations behind predators, victims, and observers in cases of sexual abuse. Dividing the book into three perspectives brings the reader into the complexities of these situations because they are never cut-and-dry.

Ralph is a young, up-and-coming composer in London in the mid-1970’s when he enters the Greenslay and meets the seven year old daughter, Daphne. He is immediately taken by her, but not in a pedophile way. He loves her. Beginning a secret friendship with her, it evolves over time until one day, when she’s thirteen: a young woman. Daphne is now a grown woman with a twelve year old daughter when she returns to London. She reconnects with her childhood friend, Jane. Daphne had been through a marriage, drugs, loss, and more in her time away, but her life is better, and she begins reflecting on her love affair with Ralph. Jane is sickened by her friend’s remembrances, and pushes Daphne to see what obviously happened in the past. The three embark on personal journeys of discovery, healing, and more on their own and together.

Zinovieff does a remarkable job writing a compelling story from all sides. Although, I don’t really like any of the characters, they are rounded, complex, and interesting. Ralph, though a disgusting old pedophile, is presented as captivating character, which makes the story far more realistic. Daphne is a mess with a whole bunch of inner turmoil. Honestly, I hated Jane from the get-go, but her character fulfills a needed role within the plot.

The writing is wonderful. It feels like an accessible Lolita, which I enjoyed very much. The book utilizes British spelling instead of American, which matches the content nicely. Putney is difficult to put down once you start reading.

Personal
I don’t have any problem reading books about rape. It’s not a trigger for me. I spent too much of my life having it be a part of my norm, and – in a fucked up way – reading about it is incredibly cathartic.

So much of Putney irritated me. Ralph is an asshole. I very much appreciated his misogynistic, arrogant, egotistical ways. I wish all rapists were so dislikable. Jane pissed me off the more I knew of her story. For as much as she researches sexual abuse, she handles it all wrong. She is the exact opposite of what Daphne needs; she puts her own needs ahead of the “victims.” Daphne was not exactly my favorite, but I could understand her journey.

There were a lot of really well done things about the novel. Although, I found a lot of the parts including the police completely idealistic. I don’t know anyone who has ever involved the police to have had such an easy and non traumatic experience. The healing journey was ridiculously easy in comparison to reality.

I appreciated the ending, but I didn’t love it. The ending isn’t happy, but it’s much happier and wraps up nicely. It kind of feels like Zinovieff wraps it all up with a nice bow to make an uncomfortable topic palatable.

Memorable Quotes
“I wasn’t some Humbert Humbert obsessed with nymphets.”
“Now the trauma was not only hers.”

Title: Putney
Author: Sofka Zinovieff
Publisher: Harper
Copyright: 2018
ISBN: 9780062847577

Books

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah

August 20, 2018June 23, 2019 RaeAnna

Read Yes
Length 304
Quick Review Trevor Noah turns heartbreaking personal history into hilarity with his witty insights into people, society, and basic human nature.

Born a Crime by Trevor Noah | Skirt | Shirt

Trevor Noah is most widely known as the host of The Daily Show. His first book and memoir Born a Crime is truly a testament to all he has accomplished and overcome in such a short period of time.

Noah was born and raised in South Africa in the midst of apartheid. Born a Crime isn’t a cutesy title, nor is it a play on words. Trevor Noah was literally born a crime in his country. At the time it was illegal for a white person and a black person to have sex. He was the embodiment of his parents’ crime. A black mother and a white father. His life was in limbo in a way. Never belonging to one or the other, but always trying to get through.

He was raised almost exclusively by his mother. She seems like the kind of woman anyone would want for a mother-in law. Noah describes a strong woman. The type of woman who survives and even thrives in horrible situations. A woman of faith. A woman who wanted the best life possible for herself and her family. She earned an education and became a secretary in a time in a country it was all but unheard of for a black woman. Noah may be writing a memoir, but Born a Crime feels like a thank you letter to his mom.

South African apartheid was awful. I haven’t done a whole lot of research into it beyond the bare minimum because it makes me nauseous, which is exactly what it should do. Reading Noah’s memoir reinforced these opinions of mine, but he presents his story in a much more palatable way because he’s funny. Like myself, he has a dark and matter-of-fact sense of humor. Reading Born a Crime almost feels uncomfortable because of the jokes he makes.

Noah has an intense insight into how people function in society, which comes from being on the outside his entire life. He wasn’t included in any group because he wasn’t white; he wasn’t black; he was colored, but didn’t belong there either, so he observed.

Born a Crime is separated into three parts, which are basically about his childhood, adolescence, and young adulthood. Each chapter begins or ends with a one or two page bold section giving historical, familial, or cultural context to what he just said or is about to say. He has an incredibly no-nonsense way of writing. When things can be funny, he lets them be. When things are sad, depressing, horrific, he lets them be. He is honest about South Africa. He is honest about his feelings and opinions. He is honest about himself. There’s a transparency to his writing, which is rough to read, but much needed when it comes to stories of abuse, racism, and more. It’s hard not to hear his voice as you read it

One thing I had no idea about in South Africa is the fact Hitler is a common-ish name there. I definitely had a tiny giggle fest when I read the story about the time Noah accidentally brought Hitler to a Jewish party. Fun fact: Noah also accidentally burned down a house when he was a little kid.

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Memorable Quotes
“I eventually decided black people needed more time with Jesus because we suffered more.”
“… language, even more than color, defines who you are to people.”
“A dog is a great thing for a kid to have. It’s like a bicycle but with emotions.”
“That was my mom. Don’t fight the system. Mock the system.”

Title: Born a Crime
Author: Trevor Noah
Publisher: John Murray Publishers
Copyright: 2016
ISBN: 9781473635302

Travel, Travel Guides

Travel Guide: Steamboat Springs

August 19, 2018 RaeAnna

View of the valley on the hike to Fish Creek Falls.

Steamboat Springs has grown immensely popular in the last twenty years as a tourist town for the outdoorsy adventurers. The summer it hosts bikers, hikers, and watersports. The winter snows bring the skiers and snowboarders out to play. Steamboat Springs is home to 88 Olympians and counting, so you’re guaranteed winter sports galore.

If you don’t want to read all of my posts about Steamboat Springs, Colorado, (although, you should; I’m a great writer writing about great places) here’s a quick look at all of the places you need to go! I’m linking all my posts, so feel free to click and read on.

Hanging out on a ski lift outside my grandparents’ condo.

OUTDOORS
Mount Werner
Mount Werner is the mountain in Steamboat. In the summer it is a hub of bikers and hikers. In the winter, strap on your skis or snowboard and head up the mountain. You can ride the gondola up, but I highly suggest embracing your adventurer and hiking up the mountain. It’s beautiful. If you can, the peak is where the best views in town can be seen.
Fish Creek Falls
Fish Creek Falls has become an iconic destination. It’s $5 to park, and then off you go! There are several trails of varying difficulty. There are two different falls. The first is less than half a mile down hill from the parking lot. It is absolutely gorgeous. Between mid-morning and mid-afternoon, it is pretty busy. It clears out after 6:00. If you’re up for a long and sometimes tricky hike uphill, there’s a pretty bridge over the water. Further up, you’ll find the second falls, which are amazing. Few people venture this far. Passed that is Long Lake. It is definitely worth a trip to any of the sites and trails.
Tubing
Due to weather conditions, I wasn’t able to go tubing. The river conditions were not suitable the entire time I was there, unfortunately. There are several shops along the Yampa River in downtown Steamboat. The price is $20 for tube rentals and includes a shuttle ride back to the shop at the end of your trip.
Alpine Slide
I have done this in the past, and it is so much fun! I wasn’t able to do it during my last trip because of construction. It’s closed this summer, but next summer have at it. It’s like a summertime luge on wheels. Not the cheapest activity, but you could spend way more on other things. It starts at $12, but the more rides you buy the better the deal.

SHOPPING
Downtown Steamboat is as close to idyllic as I have ever seen. When people think of Colorado, this is what comes to mind. A cozy downtown filled with lots of little shops of all shapes and sizes nestled into the valley of mountains. No matter where you look, you’ll find mountains as far as the eye can see.
Ruby Jane Boutique
Ruby Jane is a cute store filled with clothes, jewelry, accessories, and more. I bought a purse I have been using constantly. Instagram @rubyjane.valleygirlboutique
Fringe Boutique
The exterior is blue with white trim. I would have gone broke buying everything I loved in this store. I got a few presents for friends, necklaces, and quippy cards. Instagram @fringeboutiquesteamboat
Steamboat Art Company
My go to for cute, funny, and unique art in Steamboat. Instagram @steamboatartco
Off the Beaten Path
This bookstore is adorable. I love that there menu items are named after famous books and iconic characters. They have a great section. I settled in to get some work done a few times on vacation. Instagram @steamboat_books

FOOD
Bésame
I fell in love with this new restaurant. It is an unexpected flavor bomb in the middle of Americana. Latin food in small town Colorado. It’s pretty amazing! Instagram @besamesteamboat
Lyon’s Corner Drug & Soda Fountain
I have loved this place my whole life. A traditional drug store with a traditional soda fountain. Grab an ice cream and a phosphate. Heaven!
The Shack
It’s an institution in my family. Open in the morning to mid-afternoon, it’s a diner with a lodge flare. Once on the outside patio when I was young, there was a tiny bat napping, and it was the highlight of that trip.
Salt + Lime
Great Mexican food and a fun, modern decor. I love the rooftop seating with views of downtown and mountains. The tacos are amazing, and they have a mocktail menu! Instagram @saltandlimesteamboat

Experiences, Travel

Iowa State Fair 2018

August 18, 2018September 8, 2019 RaeAnna

I grew up going to the Iowa State Fair. It’s a tradition. When I moved out of state, it was difficult to make it back in August. I actually missed four fairs. Fortunately for me, my mom broke her ankle skydiving, and I had an excuse to hang out in Iowa for a month. She managed to wheel herself around the fairgrounds, and I got to be a kid again.

If you’ve never heard of the Iowa State Fair, I feel bad for you. It is actually really well known. It’s listed in a lot of “must see in America” lists or what have you. I can’t describe to you how much fun it is.

The state fair always happens in the middle of August at the Iowa State Fair grounds in Des Moines, Iowa. This year it is from August 9 – August 20.

This year was the first time I went on opening day. It was a Thursday and very hot. It may not be the most pleasant conditions, but it means the fair isn’t jam packed, which I greatly appreciate. There are several air conditioned buildings, so when you need some relief you can have it.

Ever since I was a little girl, my favorite thing to visit at the fair has always been the barns. I love seeing all the animals. Horses, cows, goats, sheep, pigs, all the animals. They’re usually there for shows and competitions. There are usually baby animals there with their mamas. There used to be an area where you could pet the calves, and they would suck on my fingers. Fun fact: cows don’t have upper teeth. Now there is a whole building for baby animals. Chicks hatch. Baby ducks swim in a tiny pond. Pregnant cows, does (goats) and sows (pigs) give birth to calves, kids, and piglets on site throughout the duration of the fair. They’re so cute!!! I would love to have goats someday.

The 4H building is very cool. Kids from all over the state enter their projects in competitions ranging from sewing to photography to cooking to woodwork and more. It’s really impressive, and the kids come up with some really ingenious ideas. Pioneer Hall, The Varied Industries Building, Agriculture Building, and Exhibition Center are other can’t misses.

Butter was a movie made in 2011 starring Jennifer Garner, Olivia Wilde, and others. It is about carving butter in Iowa. Surprise, this is a real thing. The Butter Cow is a must see for most fair goers. What is it? It’s a cow carved out of butter. No joke. There are several other butter sculptures featured at the state fair in the Agriculture Building, but if butter art isn’t your speed, there are tons of flowers to look at.

The fair has a giant slide, which I have done every year, and it never gets old. There are tons of fair rides. Lots of stages for entertainment. The grandstand was redone this past year. Every night of the fair, a band or singer is featured.

Food. Fair food is its own kind of strange. At the Iowa State Fair, you can find literally anything on a stick. No longer is the corn dog king of stick foods. No. You can find cheesecake on a stick, salad on a stick, mac-and-cheese on a stick, butter on a stick, and so much more. I always get a pork tenderloin because it’s Iowa and I love them. I also have to get a funnel cake. Funnel cakes are disgusting, and it is important to just embrace the diabetes when eating it. I also always need to have fresh squeezed lemonade in hand. It’s the best at the fair.

Anyways, this is a basic rundown of the state fair. If you’re in Iowa, you need to go. If you’re not in Iowa, you should plan a trip to enjoy it.

Iowa State Fair
E. 30th Street & E. University Avenue
Des Moines, IA 50317
Instagram: @iowastatefair

Experiences, Travel

Hot Air Balloon Rodeo

August 17, 2018September 8, 2019 RaeAnna

I was very sad because I thought I had missed the Hot Air Balloon Rodeo. With the help of Google, I did a little researching to find out I had, in fact, not missed it because it was being held on both Saturday and Sunday. I guarantee you this is one of two reasons I will get excited about getting up at 4:30 in the morning. Hot air balloons or travel. In this case, I was getting up for both, technically.

I set my alarm for 4:30 on a Sunday morning. Somehow, I managed to get out of bed, put my hair in a messy bun, throw clothes on my body, wake up my Partner-in-Crime, and convince him to get out of bed. I did it. We, in various degrees of sleepy-grumpiness, found our way down the mountain to the shuttle. Everyone was shuttled to the launch site on Steamboat Springs’ buses. They were all very lovely and almost too chipper for a Sunday morning at the butt-crack of dawn. It was a five-ish minute bus ride to the lake, where the hot air balloons would be launched.

I can’t really describe how amazing the view was. At the bottom of a mountain is the lake. On one side of the lake, all the balloons and vendor tents were set up. It was cold. Well, not cold. It was chilly for a mid-July morning. I was in jeans and flannel. I found coffee and donuts because I needed sustenance and something to keep my hands warm. The grass was wet. My feet were a bit numb after a whole thirty seconds.

We trudged around to the far side of the lake. It was less crowded, and I could watch the balloons from a distance. The lake was so perfectly still. The sky, clouds, mountains, and balloons reflected off the lake’s surface. It was absolutely amazing. I took so many pictures. Well over a thousand. I can’t really describe how amazing it truly is.

The Hot Air Balloon Rodeo is an annual tradition in Steamboat. People come from all over to participate and watch the spectacle. The hot air balloons launch between 6:00 and 9:00 in the morning. If you get there early, you can chat with the captains, pilots, I don’t know what they’re called. One of the local organizations sets up a stand with donuts, coffee, and breakfast burritos. When the balloons launch, they try to dip their baskets into the water. It’s fun and, I’m sure, harder than it looks. Unfortunately, it creates ripples in the water causing the reflections to be less crisp. Oh well. There are tons and tons of balloons of all colors and sizes. There’s a “tiny” balloon, and the pilot(?) doesn’t even have a basket; he just straps himself into a chair dangling from the balloon. I love the colorful ones. Remax had a balloon present. There were even some balloons with murals including clowns, creepy, and a western motif.

I love balloons. As a little girl visiting my grandparents’ condo in Colorado, the balloons would come over the mountains sometimes. They were incredible. I have always, always loved them. I get giddy about balloons. This was an absolute wonderful experience. I would love to keep going back for it.

Books, Fiction

Crazy Rich Asians – Book and Movie

August 16, 2018May 16, 2019 RaeAnna

Read Yes
Movie Watch!
Length 527
Quick Review Rachel Chu is completely unprepared to enter her boyfriend’s world of money, drama, and family. Although it comes across as a rom-commy love store, it’s more of a satire.

Recreating the cover of Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan.

I picked up Crazy Rich Asians and its sisters right before the movie came out because I like supporting POC, especially when they’re represented in the media. I power read my way through Crazy Rich Asians in a day, so I could write and publish this the day after seeing the movie, which I saw last night.

Honestly, Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan is an interesting read. As an American with no depth in Singaporean high-society or any level of Singaporean society, a lot of the satire and poorly veiled pseudonyms were lost on me without digging a little. From the beginning, Kwan has a quirky and funny writing style. The family tree is footnoted with hilarious tidbits.

Rachel Chu is a Chinese-American living in New York as an economics professor at NYU. Her boyfriend Nick Young, a NYU history professor, is the heir apparent to a millions-upon-millions fortune in Singapore, all unbeknownst to Rachel. They take a summer trip to his hometown for his best friend’s wedding, where she is thrown into the viper pit without warning. Ensues is a level of opulence that makes The Great Gatsby look like peanuts, (although, there are a lot of similar elements between the two stories), mystery, privacy, and so much drama you can’t even imagine.

Kwan does a really good job from the very first chapter in setting up the story to demonstrate the ability the Young’s, T’sien’s, and Shang’s have at getting their way because of their money. Kwan does a much better job at crafting intriguing and well-rounded male characters. For the most part, the female characters fall flat. They lack the emotional range a real woman would have in any situation let alone one similar to that of these characters. The female characters become tropes. There is a lot of mystery and drama, which helped make the novel interesting.

I did enjoy the way Kwan wrote the book. The writing style is fun and quirky with really quippy dialogue. The narrative structure really helped the novel. Had it been told from one or two perspectives, it would have been a lot less effective, and the problems with the characters would have shown through much more. The chapters were told from the perspectives of several characters of different genders, families, and backgrounds; this was great for showing several perspectives, story lines, and mystery. The narration was in the third person, but Kwan gave insight into the character’s psyche through italicizing their inner dialogues. There were also flash back moments to fill in about their personal history or adding to the family’s.

Movie
I saw the movie last night. I really, really enjoyed it. I love that it was an all Asian cast. The acting was great. Constance Wu took the character of Rachel – who fell flat in the book – and turned her into a believable, funny, and interesting character to watch and empathize with. The rest of the cast was equally thrilling to watch. Awkwafina was brilliant.

I loved the men in this movie. Asian men are quite literally the least romantically sought after ethnic group in America because they have constantly been feminized and more. It’s a big issue. A complicated issue. We need to start recognizing Asian men as complex fascinating men just like their counter parts. I have never understood this stereotype. I love Asian guys; I have dated Asian guys; I wish they were seen as the sexy beings they truly are. Like Ali Wong says, they’re frickin’ dolphins with no body hair. What’s not to like??? This movie has HOT Asian dudes in it. Hopefully, it’s a step towards having Asian leading men (and ladies). If we’re only going to let beautiful people on screen, can I, at least, look at beautiful people of different colors.

The movie fixed the things I didn’t like in the novel but cut out the things I did like about the book. Unfortunately. I understand why. You can’t fit that kind of family drama into 120 minutes. I did not love the flat characters in the book, but the movie fixed that. I didn’t think Kevin Kwan really understood how bitchy and subversive women can be when they’re torturing other women, but the movie got it! Cut it short but got it. The movie had to reduce about 80% of the drama and mystery that made the book interesting to read, but I forgive them. The movie can stand on its own without it. The movie also gets rid of a bunch of the profanity and crudeness out of the book. It would have very much been rated R if they kept it. I did enjoy reading those bits, though. Hilarious. Debauchery comes in every culture.

Overall, the movie is fabulous. Go watch it. This weekend! Show up for POC!!! We need to support them, so we can continue to have diverse representation in media. When POC win, we all win.

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Memorable Quotes
“NEVER, EVER wear green chiffon unless you want to look like bok choy that got gang-raped.”

Title: Crazy Rich Asians
Author: Kevin Kwan
Publisher: Anchor Books
Copyright: 2013
ISBN: 9780345803788

Title: Born a Crime Author: Trevor Noah Publisher: John Murray Publishers Copyright: 2016 ISBN: 9781473635302

Title: Born a Crime
Author: Trevor Noah
Publisher: John Murray Publishers
Copyright: 2016
ISBN: 9781473635302