The Inexplicable Logic of my Life by Benjamin Alire Sáenz (Book Review)

Hi all, I haven’t been blogging for a few months – life has a tendency to get mad at times but I haven’t stopped reading books or binging on Netflix so over the next few weeks I hope to get back on track and catch up on some book reviews.

The Inexplicable Logic of my Life is an amazing book written by Benjamin Alire Sáenz who also brought us Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe which I will be blogged about later in the month. This is Book 5 in my 52-weeks, 52-books challenge.

Plot Summary:

Seventeen-year-old Sal (Salvatore) lives in El Paso, Texas, with his adoptive father, a gay Mexican-American art professor named Vicente Silva. Vicente assumed responsibility for Sal after his mother died, when Sal was just three years old. (The connections between Sal’s mother and Vicente don’t become clear until late in the book, when Sal finally opens a letter his dying mother wrote and left in Vicente’s care.) Although Sal is white, the adoption secures his place in the heart of a loving Mexican-American family, which is headed by the matriarch Sal comes to know as Mima. 

As his adoptive grandmother, Mima refers to Sal as her “hijito de mi vida,” and the adoration is mutual. The warmth of the Silva family magnetically pulls in two other teen characters. Sal’s best friend, Sam (Samantha), is locked in raging conflict with her mom. Another friend, Fito, suffers the effects of a drug-addicted mother and an absentee dad. In order to survive, Fito must hold down two after-school jobs. (more here)

Alternative Book Covers from Goodreads

My tuppence:

There is a huge amount going on and Sal’s best friend Samantha keeps him grounded, their constant communications by text keeping them in contact – they sometimes even text each other when they are in the same room. Sal is dealing with homophobia, losing his grandmother, growing up and all the other stuff that adolescents go through and he’s not doing very well. He is throwing punches and questioning everything. When Samantha’s mother dies in a car accident she goes to live with Sal and Vicente and then the edition of Fito to the mix is fantastic and reinforces to Sal how lucky he is to have a loving and supportive family.

The book deals amazingly with the exploration of self and identity and it’s something we all go through. During the story the love of Vicente’s life –Marco - makes a reappearance. Vicente, once gave up on the relationship with a man he loved when that man said he didn’t want to be a stepfather. At first Sal isn’t in favour of Marco’s return as he knows how hurt his father was but it enables Sal to see how lonely his father is. Sal realises that as he will be leaving for college his father shouldn’t be alone and deserves another chance at love. But central to the story is how we deal with loss, how Samantha comes to terms with the loss of her mother – even though their relationship was always rocky and how Sal deals with losing his Mima when she is diagnosed with late stage cancer – their relationship couldn’t be more different than Sam and her mothers.

There are some great quotes in this book (find a selection of them here) and this is my fave:

(source Bongbong book blog)

Whilst slow moving the book is well worth a read, the way Sáenz deals with the topic of loss and grief is brilliant and heart wrenching. It just keeps you turning the pages. However, this slow pacing style will turn people off and in comparison to other young adult novels it is certainly aimed at the more experience reader.

Benjamin Alire Sáenz (born 16 August 1954) is an award-winning American poet, novelist and writer of children's books. You can read more about him here

Here is another great blog review about The Inexplicable Logic of my Life.

The verdict, a great read for either adults or advanced young adult readers, I give this book an 8 out of 10 planets.

John The Captain Ryan

A letter to the parish priest (who also happens to be my Godfather)

“Ignoring a son or daughter who has homosexual tendencies is an error of fatherhood or motherhood ... the child should be brought to a psychiatrist.”

Dear Father,

It is with heavy heart and trepidation that I write to you today.  Less than a week after the Pope has visited Ireland.

Nobody writes letters anymore so I though the best way to say what I need to say in a constructive manner and in a medium that you can perhaps ruminate on and digest is actually in that very same medium.

I haven’t seen you since before I got married. I was sad when neither you, your brothers, their wives or children attended my wedding, a celebration of love and family. I can only speak for myself but I can say that I was and am still hurt by the fact that not one person who shares your surname attended my wedding.

For the first 30 years of my life, being a good, honest and devout catholic was a huge part of my life. As I became the person I am today, for my own peace of mind and mental health I had to say goodbye to a huge part of my identity. Losing one’s faith is not an easy thing. I used to love singing in the church choir and did so for over 7 years in Bride Street church. The love and support the church CHOOSES to give to those members of the community that prescribe to its teachings is beautiful and fulfilling. A common argument thrown at me is that being gay is a choice. If you are one of the people that believes this, then I would ask you to slightly change your viewpoint to “God has chosen for this person to be gay”. I need to tell you now, and if you take nothing else from this letter, please believe me when I say this:

The manner in which the Catholic church has turned its back on LGBT people is cruel and hurtful. There is a huge hole in one’s heart without faith.

You are a person of very strong faith, you are very intelligent and well educated. The Catholic church continues to this day to CHOOSE to judge Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender people. You are of a generation that you may not understand some of this. Guess what. That’s ok. I won’t even bring more modern labels into the mix like cis-gender, non-binary or gender fluid. But I would ask that you do not judge us. The last time I checked, God is the only one to judge us.

How would you feel if you woke up in the morning and your faith was wrenched from your mind and heart. How would you feel if everything you believed in all your life was gone. But not by your own choice. By the judgement and choice of others in the Catholic church.

*******

I need you to re-read that previous paragraph.

                      

*******

How do you feel being part of a church that has not only made dreadful mistakes in the past but continues to be cruel and hurtful to LGBT people today. Only last Sunday (26^th August 2018) your Pope and God’s representative on earth said that:

“Ignoring a son or daughter who has homosexual tendencies is an error of fatherhood or motherhood ... the child should be brought to a psychiatrist.”

To continue against all modern science and to still believe that being LGBT is an illness that needs curing is simply wrong. To suggest to a child or their parent that their child is intrinsically disordered and evil is wrong. The only thing evil and wrong is the Catholic church continuing in this vein of thought and teaching. I only hope you don’t believe in the concept of “pray the Gay away” and so called “conversion therapy” which will soon be outlawed in Ireland.

There are many reasons why people are leaving the church in their droves just like Moses led the Isrealites except no sea has had to be parted. It will take the church a long time to recover from the mistakes of the past but it needs to start fixing this wrong and welcome LGBT people and their families to the faith without judgement and condemnation. Ireland has changed over the last 3 years. The Irish Catholic church has two choices. It can decide to open its heart and love to the whole community or it can continue down its current path. If it takes the latter, your followers will be more devout and faithful but will harbour hatred and judgement in their hearts. Eventually the Red Sea will close back in and swallow those left and the Catholic church will be no more.

In my sinful opinion, every priest, including yourself needs to look towards your community. And yes, it is YOUR community. Don’t take that lightly. You can lead your community. You can be responsible to teach love and understanding to all members of your community. You can ensure that no child in YOUR school is ever bullied for being Gay (did you know that 70% of LGBT children say that schools are not a safe place for them).

I hope that you take this opportunity to reflect on the current situation and if you like, I would love the opportunity to discuss it further.

John Cunningham-Ryan

Your Godson.

Release by Patrick Ness (Book Review).

A poignant story of loss and rebirth.

This is another very successful book by Patrick Ness. He writes a story about Adam Thorn, who is the preacher’s disappointing gay second son, constantly told he’s never good enough and always questioned why can’t he be more like his “perfect” older brother currently studying to following in his father’s footsteps.

On the Saturday during which the book’s action takes place, Adam, crossing paths and swords with friends, employers, family and lovers, will experience revelations, attend a farewell party, and reshape his life.

This is intertwined with a story about an otherworldly Queen; who becomes entwined with the soul of a murdered girl, and moves through our reality, seeking answers and revenge, with a naked 7ft faun as her companion. Unfortunately, this part of the story will put off some readers and truth be told it didn’t work for me either. Yes, it’s written very well, switching from one storyline to the other is done well, but, it just doesn’t belong in the story. I would prefer to have two separate books telling both stories (and I would read both no problem).

Adam’s tale, the important one is a story of change, loss and moving on (which is mirrored in the other story). His ex-boyfriend, Enzo, is leaving town. And we all know that first love is hard to get over and there’s always a part of that person in your heart. His older “Perfect” brother gets a girl pregnant (out of wedlock...oh the sin, what will the neighbours say) AND Adam’s boss is a slime-ball who comes on to him and when Adam rebuts the advancement gets fired. Adam’s best friend Angela is leaving town and the World is just falling apart around him.

“Everything was so clear in books and movies. Everyone always knew their reasons. But real life was such a mess”

The book is really well written, (I’d expect nothing else from Patrick Ness) and the acknowledgement that normal life is a mess unlike movies & books makes the ending more poignant. At the end (not to give too much away) Adam starts makes his way out of the maze, and figures out how to be strong and assertive. Again, like the story of the Queen and her release of the murdered girl’s soul, Adam learns to release his anxieties and a new romance starts to blossom. His family life still isn’t resolved but with Adam’s new found strength and finding of himself the reader is left with little doubt that he will be ok.

I give this book an 8 out of 10 planets because the side story should be just taken out.

You can read more about Patrick Ness here and you can find him on facebook.

John The Captain Ryan

Young members of Fianna Fail should be ashamed of their party colleague Senator Jim Walsh.

He hates women

He hates LGBT people

He creates Fake News about himself and rewrites history

NOT IN MY NAME

Who the hell is Senator Jim Walsh and why the likes of him needs to be stopped? This is not Fake News. He has attempted to rewrite history (another FF trait) but has been caught - HERE. He even had the disrespect to change the facts from his office in the Oireachtas! In case he tries it again, here is a little snap shot of the man.

Like a boomerang, S.J.W. comes and goes but we can never get rid of him. He leaves the party and then returns. One thing is crystal clear, whilst the Fianna Fail Party wants to  rewrite the history of the worst financial collapse that Ireland every experienced, at the heart of the party, they are still a bunch of conservative old religious bigots and misogynists.

This must be the reason Fianna Fail keep inviting him back, he represents the real Fianna Fail, and it’s a damning indictment for the younger generation of Fianna Fail members. He is a very vocal member of our electorate, and, at first glance you would think that is what we want in our politicians, but not when your opinions are the following:

He hates Gays - Walsh has repeatedly called for a freedom of conscience amendment to any LGBT equality legislation which would by-pass equality legislation, allowing people a religious exemption in providing goods and services to gay couples. What good is a piece of EQUALITY legislation if it allows exemptions. That’s not equal. Source

"dangerous, vicious elements within the gay ideological movement"

In the midst of the "Pantigate" controversy in 2014 he argued that some proponents of same-sex marriage were "“dangerous, vicious elements within the gay ideological movement”– Source.

"women working outside the home is a major cause of depression in young people"

He hates women and probably thinks they should be baby making machines that stay quiet in the corner. In November 2009, Walsh claimed that women working outside the home is a major cause of depression in young people. Source

Abortion is “dilation and evacuation”

His opinion of abortion is just disgusting, in the Senate said that abortion was a “dilation and evacuation” Source

Female Senator should get "treatment for hemorrhoids"

Showing continued disrespect towards women In December 2015, in abortion-related debate, Walsh told Senator Ivana Bacik she should seek 'treatment for hemorrhoids'.

"IVF treatment should only be "available to married heterosexual couples"

Continuing on his vendetta against any family structure that is not HIS perfect one of a man and woman married with children - he believes that IVF treatment should only be available to married heterosexual couples. Source 

"encouraging gay people ... to believe that full equivalence and sameness are achievable would only cause more harm than good"

He believes that allowing LGBT equality will do them more harm than quote, saying “encouraging gay people and same sex couples to believe that full equivalence and sameness are achievable would only cause more harm than good to them and I would worry about that because of the obvious natural differences which will endure regardless of redefining marriage” Source 

     

In January 2016, he was re-admitted to the Fianna Fáil parliamentary party but has said he will no longer be running. If there is even a whiff of this man running for office again we need to vociferously oppose it. He does not represent us.

The population of his little town in New Ross doesn’t support him either as in the Marriage Equality referendum in May 2015, 74% of his neighbours voted YES – source - I actually have the spreadsheet of every box tally in Wexford if anyone wants it (email me).

"€21 million spent on the 2015 marriage referendum should instead be diverted and used to test homosexuals for HIV"

This was a perfect response from my home town, another reason why I am proud to be from Wexford, especially as he suggested that the "€21 million spent on the 2015 marriage referendum should instead be diverted and used to test homosexuals for HIV". Source 

He even complained in the Senate at not being allowed to refer to gay people as “fairies” Source. And this highlights the problem with a conservative right wing party and the electoral system for Senators. We the people end up with elected members who do not represent their constituents. 

If there is even a whiff of this creature running for office again please do all you can to stop it. Let him know that his type of politics is no longer acceptable in a modern society. He can be contacted as follows:

Phone – 01 618 3763 or Wexford no. 051-421771

Facebook -  https://www.facebook.com/senatorjimwalsh

Twitter - https://twitter.com/SenatorJimWalsh

Email - jim.walsh@oireachtas.ie

Snail Mail - Mountgarrett Castle, New Ross, Co. Wexford

Let's ensure he never runs for election again.

John The Captain Ryan

Kick all Gays out of the Church

Seriously, every single one of them. Yes, all of them.

 

 

Ok, let me explain.

Christmas for most people is all about spending time with family. Yes, we spend too much money on presents, stick up decorations and drink too much but we still travel the length and breadth of the World to see our families.

But it's also about celebrating the birth of Christ. Jaazusss...not him again! Except here's the problem, being part of a Catholic congregation is something we are born into. We don't really have a choice and then it's part of our identity and who we are. I was on a church choir for seven years and really enjoyed it, it was my way to feel part of the weekly celebration.

Then, shock horror,you realise you are gay and you come to terms with the fact you have to leave behind a huge part of your identity. For some people it's something that's really hard to do, but to be true to yourself and be the person you need to be you just have to do it. Some people can “marry” both parts of who they are, but for most it's really hard especially when Popes, Cardinals, Bishops and Priests are ready to preach how wrong and evil you are.

Normally, your parish priest, congregration & community support you in times of trouble & loss but this is one time not only do they refuse to help and support, the church actually make it worse. For someone with a strong faith, losing such a huge part of who you are can leave you feeling more isolated and alone than you already are. And this is made worse if you live in a small rural Irish village. And it gets worse when you have the parents that throw their children out of the family home when they come out. Wow, now that's a Christian thing to do. Just imagine you are 16 years of age, thrown out of your home, nowhere no live and it's Christmas. Thankfully there are places like Outhouse that provide services and organise events for those who have been abandoned by their family and church.  

Nevermind that prick Eamon Martin, the Primate (i.e. Leading monkey of the Catholic church in Ireland) has the audacity to say he feels a “Bereavement”, and that gay marriage “is a defeat for humanity”. Cop on to yourself. If you and your buddies weren't so busy attacking people who just happen to love someone of the same gender you might instead try to help heal the rift.  He should look in his own back yard first...

 

(photo source http://seminary.maynoothcollege.ie) 

Did you see the Seminary in Maynooth is in trouble again – (no, not the trainee priests all on Grindr), check this out - https://www.independent.ie/irish-news/article34930984.ece.

Ironically, the best thing ever might be for your church to throw you out because then you are free to be who you are. Hopefully, the Catholic church is on it's knees (rather than the alter boys). So, where am I going with all of this! It's a long tale of woe for LGBT people in Ireland who were baptised into the Christian faith and then they are cast out just like Lot. 

I'm asking that the church now throws out all gays, including ALL of the gay priests. There are quite a few gay priests in Ireland and if all of them were thrown out, coupled with the all-time lowest figures of boys entering seminary this would finally ring the death knell for the Irish Catholic church.

Fini

John The Captain Ryan