WobblyKateÕs Favorites:
Left-Leaning Fiction and Poetry
The Dispossessed, by Ursula K. LeGuin
An absorbing novel by one of PortlandÕs finest explores two disparate worlds—one an anarchic utopian society and the other a place of capitalism, crime and war, not unlike our own Earth. LeGuinÕs characters are beautifully written and her worlds are heartbreakingly believable. Science Fiction winner of the Nebula Award.
The Left Hand of Darkness, by Ursula K. LeGuin
Another page-turner. This book delves into the concept of gender. The novel is set on a planet whose inhabitants are neither male nor female. A Òtypically genderedÓ outside observer is sent from another planet as an ambassador. This book is a startling revelation about how deeply ingrained gender roles are in our society. Science Fiction winner of the Hugo and Nebula awards.
Shadows of the Pomegranate Tree, by Tariq Ali
This is the story of the fall of Granada as told through the eyes of a Muslim family living in Andalusia. Engaging history and breathtaking prose. This is the first book of AliÕs ÒIslam Quintet,Ó and winner of the archbishop San Clemente del Instituto Rosalia de Castro Prize for Best Foreign-Language Fiction.
The Stone Woman, by Tariq Ali
The third book in AliÕs Òquintet,Ó The Stone Woman takes place during the decline of the Ottoman Empire and is told from the point of view of a young mother of Muslim and Jewish descent. Tariq AliÕs ÒIslam QuintetÓ gives westerners a much-needed peek into Islamic culture and history.
Freedom or Death, by Nikos Kazantzakis
The story of the rebellion of Greek Christians against their Turkish conquerors on the island of Crete. Kazantzakis, as always, is passionate, irreverent and humorous in his writing.
Freedom Road, by Howard Fast
The story of Gideon Jackson, an illiterate ex-slave who gets elected by his peers to serve in the Constitutional Convention of South Carolina. Freedom Road chronicles the success of JacksonÕs integrated, democratic farm community of blacks and poor whites and the reaction of fear and retribution brought down on them by the rich. This book shows the power that literacy and the concept of democracy have on the human mind. Gideon Jackson is one of the most captivating and intense characters in American Literature.
The ImmigrantÕs Saga, by Howard Fast
This saga follows the lives of the LaVette family of San Francisco from poor to rich and back again. The series contains six novels: The Immigrants, Second Generation, The Establishment, The Legacy, The ImmigrantÕs Daughter and An Independent Woman. The saga starts with the birth of Tom LaVette and follows him and his descendents through numerous wars and military occupations, the Civil Rights Movement, the WomenÕs Liberation Movement and every other major event that affected the US from the 1890s to the 1980s. Brilliant, Epic and worth the time invested.
What Work Is, by Philip Levine
My favorite book of poetry. LevineÕs understanding of work and its affect on a person runs deep. I imagine that even as a poet, Philip Levine is no stranger to a dayÕs labor.