Hi Everyone,
You know there are times when I get a feeling to do something and I just go with it. Like when I buy something and find out penguins, Spider Man, or a certain flower is someone’s favourite. Then there are times when I blurt something. It could be minutes or weeks later when someone will tell me that what I said was going on in their life. There are also times when whatever I have said has a deeper meaning. And then there are times when I also decide to revisit a book. This is what I mean.
I have no idea what was going on in my life when I bought, The Ordinary White Boy, by Brock Clarke. And I can’t remember when I read it the first time either. At that time in my life, I wasn’t recording the dates and times I began and finished reading books on the first signature page. I did record the dates and times the second time I read it though. I also wrote, “First read this book years before; rereading now for blog. This book is why I am still single!” So yes, I knew exactly what was going on in my life then.
In my opinion, The Ordinary White Boy, focuses on the relationship we have with ourselves. Like why we are the way we are and aren’t. I guess I needed a reminder of sorts. I wasn’t the only who benefited from my reading, The Ordinary White Boy, by Brock Clarke. My daughter did too. Sometimes she needs to be reminded of her accomplishments and the countless hardships that she decided to make to get her to where she is today.
Let’s face it, the word hardship does not sound like a lot of fun. The word itself sounds hard, tough. A lot of people don’t like to do things that are hard, tough. A lot of people would rather do what is easy or nothing. Doing nothing is easier than doing what is easy. Unfortunately a lot of people would rather do nothing than do what is easy. Doing nothing, for a long period of time, will get you nowhere. And make you extraordinarily ordinary. Doing what is easy will make you ordinary. Doing things that are hard, tough, things that few people would consider, will (eventually) make you extraordinary!
Since I have always given my daughter examples, I mentioned a little hamlet in Hungary that we are both residents of. I reminded her of the extraordinary, ordinary and extraordinarily ordinary people who live and have lived there. (What I forgot to mention was the clear divided between them.) “Remember that day you went to church and you met…? You were really impressed. And I told you, ‘People have to be born somewhere.’ When he was born, there must have been about 200 people who lived there.” (When my daughter and I became residents the population was less than 700 people.)
If anyone thinks that little hamlet is filled with hicks, think again. Almost everyone who lives there are hard core business people. When someone told me their business consistently ran between 95-97% capacity I was impressed. That takes more than a little business sense. Sure some businesses are small but others aren’t. And there are some people who have more than one business. If they have to reinvent themselves or diversify, even if it is temporarily, they do. That hamlet has some great stories about wars, the depression, the revolution and survival. I could write about the people in that hamlet without having to spin, twist too much. Think Peyton Place but replace (some) sex with family business and sibling rivalry. (Keep in mind, I have yet to read, Peyton Place or watch the TV show. I am only going on what I have briefly read online. Both are on my radar.)
At the end of our conversation, I told her about, The Ordinary White Boy, and how it related to life. How every decision a person makes will either keep them extraordinarily ordinary, ordinary or (eventually) make them extraordinary. At the beginning of our conversation I told her, “You know I am getting soft on you! I can’t believe the last time I saw you, I told you, ‘It’s something for you to strive for’. Who was that? Usually I quote Gene Simmons mother.”
I would highly recommend, The Ordinary White Boy, by Brock Clarke. Every time I read it, it has been a page- turner. Who knows, you, too, may even read it more than once. Here are some short reviews for anyone who needs convincing of how great this book is.
“This is a funny, engaging and slyly brainy page-turner of a novel about race, love, small towns, and violence. What a winning debut!” –Mark Winegardner, author of Crooked River Burning
“Brock Clarke’s very fine novel is indeed about an ordinary white boy, who navigates with a wavering moral compass, aimed in the direction of model citizenry one moment, brawling drunk the next, with detours across the sad terrain of filial obligation and the dangerous minefield of commitment phobia. This is a smart, honest, funny, winning book. Extraordinarily, really. –Antonya Nelson, author of Nobody’s Girl
“Brock Clarke treats small-town controversy with wit and sympathy, and along the way he unravels conventional measures of self worth. A confident, fierce and hilarious novel with great emotional richness.”—Joanna Scott, author of Arrogance and Make Believe
You know, The Ordinary White Boy, may make you or someone you know, step-up to become the person they were meant to be. And really, who wants to be extraordinarily ordinary or even ordinary when you can be extraordinary?
Thank you for reading, A. Rebel’s Rant! ;D
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