Find Blogs

Zen and the Art of Faking It
blog by MOTHERREADER listed in categories: Book Planet

Maybe it was time to pretend something completely different. I didn’t actually hear the beat of a different drummer, but maybe I could pretend to be unique.

Be unique? It was so crazy it just might work. But what was unique about me? I was poor. I was Chinese. I was adopted. I had a screwed-up family. I feared bugs, especially spiders. None of those attributes necessarily jumped up and screamed, “LOOK! I’M A STAR!” I tried to come up with some amazing talent I might possess, but because of the whole change-interests-every-year thing, I only had a collection of semi-lame half-talents. And neither “You should see me almost play violin!” nor “Check out my stunning ability to juggle two objects” sounded like the slogan of a successful middle school maverick.

— Zen and the Art of Faking It, by Jordan Sonnenblick

When San Lee moves to a new school, he always adjusts his personality to fit in. It’s something his dad taught him. This time his knowledge of Buddhism — having studied it at his last school — makes the students at Harrisonville Middle School think that he’s some sort of Zen master. It even makes him kinda, sorta popular. And he likes it. But eventually the truth has got to come out. Doesn’t it?

I loved the writing, which features great mental images and funny lines that kept me laughing all the way through the book. I loved that San’s an adopted child, but not conflicted about it. I loved that the book felt so fresh and real. Honestly, I could turn around and read the whole book again if I had the time.

But unfortunately, I don’t have the time. I’ve got some serious — serious — cleaning to do. Apparently when your living room carpet is no longer clearly visible, you have to do something about it. And closing your eyes and wishing really hard doesn’t count.

Posted in May, 2008