The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific

So, we're starting a new book. This one didn't get any "hell nos" so we'll just go with it. Hopefully it doesn't suck. With a title like that, it better be good. So, without further ado, here's your new book. Go get it.

p.s. In case you're wondering, I was able to find this at the library, so it can't be too risqué. Damn.

The Sex Lives of Cannibals: Adrift in the Equatorial Pacific by J. Maarten Troost

Complicated

I was watching a Martha Stewart episode today about artisanal cheeses (yeah I know I'm a dork). I'm pretty sure there is nothing better on Earth than cheese. Any kind of cheese. Anytime I see a display of various cheeses it just makes my mouth water. Whoever invented cheese is a genius.

Anyway, the Martha Stewart episode got me to thinking about the cheese making process, especially as it's described in detail in Goat Song. It's no wonder the good stuff costs so much... there's a lot involved. The timing has to be just right, the ingredients have to be just right, the measurements and temperatures have to be just right or else the cheese just won't work. It just seems like there are so many variables that it's a miracle it ever turns out at all. I decided that making cheese would only be fun if it was more of a hobby than a source of income and way of life. It would be way too stressful otherwise... at least for me.

Mainly I just wanted to do a short post because this blog has been neglected for far too long. Oh and one more thing, I learned that chevre is pronounced "chev", or at least that's how Martha said it. I'm glad I finally heard the pronunciation, it was driving me crazy not knowing how to say it. Crazy French people and their crazy French words.

Goat Porn

That's what the author himself called it. It it made me feel better that the lady who was breeding out her male goat said she never got used to all that disgusting stuff. She was even a bit embarrassed in front of these people with all the sexual activity going on. I imagine she would probably be somewhat ok with it when she was there alone, but felt a bit awkward with others around. Kind of like watching one of those inappropriate comedy movies with your parents.

Anyway, I thought this topic deserved its own post because of all the conversation that's sure to come of it. To be truthful, as I was reading all the goat porn last night I wondered if I'd be able to handle all that stuff. As I was reading and pondering, Seth came in. I told him I was reading some more goat porn and he begged me to read some. I read several paragraphs, starting with a more sultry voice but eventually ended up laughing so hard I could barely read. Seth sat on the edge of the bed laughing hysterically the entire time. I guess that's all you can do sometimes. Laugh. Especially if you think there's some chance one day you'd have to deal with these scenarios. I think laughing is the only way you'd ever get through a putrid scene like that.

As disgusting as mating goats would surely be, I think the birthing is the part that would make me think twice about raising goats. Not necessarily because of anything "gross" but mainly because of all that is involved. I'd imagine you'd come to love the goats as you would a family pet. By being there when they are giving birth, you're responsible for their lives. There's a lot that can go wrong and I know I would feel terrible if I wasn't prepared or did something wrong that caused a goat or her kid to die. It sounds like a pretty intense situation. Though, I'm sure once you got used to it, it wouldn't be that big of a deal. Seth says he remembers seeing a farmer help birth a calf. He went right out there, put a chain around the calf's neck as it was coming out, yanked on it until it fell on the ground and was done. Seth and his buddy thought it was the most amazing thing ever, but it was just another day on the ranch to that guy.

I guess it's good that this book is giving me a clearer view of what exactly is involved in raising goats. It's not all fun and cheese making. There's a lot to it.

Dragging

Okay, well, the fact of the matter is that I'm struggling with "Love" a little.

And Heidi, I feel like this is where I should insert a dissertation about how I will always love you and your lesbian lovers and that-- even if I weren't to love one of your lesbian lovers-- it wouldn't make her bad, or unloveable, or unworthy of love, it would just mean that my personality didn't really click with her personality and that our inner vibrations were vibrating on different levels...and..and...you get the idea.

There were things I liked, of course: I liked the setting. I found the writing style engaging and artistic. I just kind of got tired of everybody being so witty and well-mannered and perfectly kind and totally aware of the appropriate thing to say in a situation. I got annoyed with how brave Clare was and how perfect Teo was. I also grew increasingly shocked at the characters' uncanny ability to read each others' expressions. ("In his face I could see confusion, followed by remorse, and then a flash of ambivalence, touched with a drop of irritation and frustration. Then his entire childhood passed through his memory. Then he grew somber and began to speak.")

Now I don't want to spend my time dwelling on the faults of a book that I know you both liked, so I guess the question is...is there just more of the same? They just had Christmas. Does something change drastically enough after Christmas in such a way as to motivate me to finish? Or should I just cut ties and move on to the goat cheese?

HooRAY for KAY!

I've never been in a book club before, and I've been really enjoying this ongoing "conversation" about books. I especially like the surprise of hearing from you guys at random times of day. It's felt to me like a pretty "balanced" conversation, with input from everyone. It feels like we're all joining in the conversation enthusiastically.

Which is perhaps why I haven't noticed... that Kay is heroically getting the conversational ball rolling more times than not! I'm still new to posting--I find it daunting. I don't want to just "blurt" out thoughts, I want to carefully craft them, when I post. My high expectations are probably why I seem to never post anything at all! But, anyway, imperfectly, here I am, trying to express gratitude to Kay for keeping the conversation zesty and fresh!

I'm also grateful and amazed that Rach has time to READ, much less COMMENT! HooRAY to you, too! (I think the Goat Book idea is too sublime for words!)

Scooters. The End.

Goat Song: A Seasonal Life, A Short History of Herding, and the Art of Making Cheese

Looks like we've made a decision on the next book so start looking for your very own copy! This selection was suggested by Rachel and it looks like it'll be a fun book.

Goat Song: A Seasonal Life, A Short History of Herding, and the Art of Making Cheese

by Brad Kessler

The One Thing I Didn't Like

*Don't read this til you've finished the book!

Ok, I'm not saying this to go straight to the flaws... although it looks that way. I'm just going to say that Viviana's story was a little off. Bipolar? Come on. I wonder if the author knows anything about being bipolar. Bipolar symptoms don't just pop up all of a sudden out of nowhere. There's usually gradual signs of it. And her manic state lasted for months which is very unrealistic. They usually last only a couple of days. I don't know. I just think that if the author wanted to use this as the excuse for Viviana leaving, she should have done more research.

I'm not going to say anything else just in case Rachel decides to peek. Well, except that I really really loved this book and it's going amongst my favorites. Great choice Heidi!