Giant
By: Edna Ferber
A book about Texas. Hmmm...no, Adam, I am not taking a Texas History class. Kelli gave me this book. She had to read it for one of her classes. She told me that she wanted to know if the opinions and attitudes that are so stereotypically Texas are protrayed accurately in this story. Well, yes...yes they are. There is an arrogance that Texans have about this state that I really do not understand. The mantra, "Everything is bigger in Texas" rings through loud and clear in the attitudes and close-mindedness of the characters in this novel. And, Kelli, I think that is what drives me batty about this place the most. According to the people who have lived here forever, there is no better place. In this story, Texas, okay, a big ranch in Texas, consumes and destroys so many beautiful things and people and realtionships. There is something just not right about how everyone is treated.
The story: Leslie Lynnton, of the Virginia Lynntons, is the daughter of Dr. Horace Lynnton and the middle of three sisters who are pursued by many a suitor. Jordan "Bick" Benedict is from Texas and his family owns The Reata Ranch. He has come to the Lynnton home on business--to buy a horse. He leaves with much more than a horse, as Leslie decides that she will marry him and become a Texas wife. She joins him in Texas where she learns the hard way many of the Texas customs and expectations for their women. Her place is decided for her the minute she agrees to marry Bick--whom she always calls Jordan. She fights against it in her own ways and allows it to run her life in others. The ranch is Jordan's life, and they must balance family and tradition with work and tradition.
Kelli and I had a rather rousing text message converstion about it which I have decided to include here. Ah-hem!
J: What theme did you get from it?
K: Change. Bick is so afraid of it with oil and Leslie, while Leslie is theh complete opposite and understands that it's necessary. Basically, I wrote a paper on it.
J: I see tha, but the one that jumped out at me was racism.
K: That too, but that fits into Leslie's changing world.
J: Kind of, but you can argue that she changes to fit Bick's world.
K: That was part of my arguement. She understands that it is necessary whether good or bad.
J: Necessary to keep peace in her marriage?
K: Yes, and because it's like she is in a whole new world and has to learn the customs.
J: That's crap. Why is it always the woman who has to change? Why can't there be a compromise? Why can't Bick meet her in the middle?
K: He does in ways! It is just more dificult for him because he's not used to change while Leslie is.
J: He only does because Luz is dead. He agrees to move into the Main House. That's it. Otherwise I always see him trying to hold her down and tame her.
K: But look at the end, where he finally sees her as the rebellious woman he married and he falls in love all over again. It's like he plays that part because he feels he has to.
J: You mean after she calls him Bick?
K: Yes.
J: Hmm. He only does out of the fear of losing her.
K: Their true love is there even through their differences and arguements.
J: They love each other, that much is obvious.
K: So ultimately that is what keeps them working thoguth their differences and why Leslie changes to this new lifestyle.
J: Yet, by making the choice to marry him, she kind of left with no choice.
K: Exactly, someting that she understands, but Bick does not fully. It takes him awhile.
J: I don't think he ever really gets it.
K: Not fully, no, but he has his moments.
I am still upset that she gave up so much of herself and who she wanted to be in order to conform. I guess we all do it though, don't we?
Here is my confession: I am a hopeful romantic, and I was intrigued a few years ago when Texas Mom gave me a Nora Roberts book to read. It was the first of the "Born In" books, Born in Fire. There are three, and I read the first two after she gave them to me, so when I stumbled across this one in the library the other day, I snatched it up. I figured I owed it to Nora to finished her trilogy. I liked it just as much as I liked the other two. Each story is about a different sister in a mixed up and sad little family. Don't worry, they all find love and there is always a happy ending. This is probably why I like them so much. That, and the setting is gorgeous! The stories primarily take place in Ireland, and Roberts does an amazing job at describing the setting in such a way as to paint a magical picture for her readers. Since I have never been anywhere, I count on that in the authors I read. If you are worried that there is too much sex in these books, don't. There is sex, but not too much. There is a real story, I promise! 
