A Day No Pigs Would Die

 A Day No Pigs Would Die by Robert Newton Peck

2005 edition (copyright 1972)

Weight: 3.2 oz

Method of Disposal: Recycling (because it is in such poor shape)

(spoiler alert)

I brought this book with me to Mexico because it was in such rough shape that I figured I could just recycle it after having read it on the plane.  The cover was missing and pages were torn.  I'd had this mangled copy awhile, and it is possible I was scared to read it, loving animals as I do.  It had a great title though, and it did call to me.

I will tell you that I read half of it on the way to Mexico and was not overly impressed but understood it was a young adult book from a certain time.  It had all the lessons on being a man, responsibility, hard work, modesty that I am accustomed to in the young reader classics.  I couldn't give a damn about being anyone learning to be a man, but the characters were admirable in their grit and determination.  

I read the other half on the way home and did not handle it well--the main character's pig and friend was slaughtered due to being infertile and the family being poor.  I completely fell apart and then his dad died, and there was no coming back.  I was just flying over the ocean, bawling, and embarrassing Harriet who could not get away from me, despite her headphones being on loud and her leaning out into the aisle.  The tears were coming down my face and collecting on the ridge of my mask, my nose was running, which is bad for several reasons.  One, it is uncomfortable, inside a mask. Two, no one wants to be blowing their nose on an airplane now that we live in COVID world full-time all the time.  

I was also relieved to have an outlet for my stupid emotions and a distraction from real life.  We had just flown a dog named Scrappy home to his mama who had been deported over two years ago and had been in an ICE detention center in Ocilla, GA before that.  The things that people do to other people are appalling and discouraging, and I know that is an understatement.  Yet, some people are so strong and determined.  They still see the good and the value, and they are grateful for it, instead of just angry.  Somehow.  Scrappy's mom is one amazing lady, and we could  were so glad to be reunited.  You could see it right away.  We flew in, spent one night, and flew out.  It was a lot packed into one small trip and a long time coming.  My mother had fostered that dog all these years, waiting for this moment she would not end up being able to be a part of.  There was the unpredictability of ICE and Homeland Security and then the truly unexpected Covid-19 pandemic.  One thing I know for sure, there are people out there that are far stronger than I have ever dreamed of being and Scrappy's mom is one of those people.  The United States is missing a good one, and it was a decision our country made and poorly executed.

The Line Becomes a River

The Line Becomes a River: Dispatches from the Border by Francisco Cantú

2018
Weight: 9.6 oz
Method of Disposal: Giving to a Friend

I found this book on display at Little Shop of Stories in Decatur, GA.  For Better or for worse, I always justify buying a new book or two when I am around an independent bookstore.  There are just so few bookstores left, and I love them!  I made this trip to Little Shop to buy a gift for both my mom and dad.  If you have not seen Cicada by Shaun Tan you should check it out.  I thought it would be the perfect small gift for a retirement party.  Tok tok tok.

This book was amazing.  It was terrible, and it was hard to read, but the author is open and speaks with such sincerity and emotion that it is impossible to look away.  It is a book that is "easy" to read in that I was hooked on every word but also challenging because of the darkness and desperation that will permeate you to your core.  It was emotional and important.  Cantú ensures that you will see the humanity of those crossing the border and those working for the United States Border Patrol, but you will also see people who do terrible things and you will read about deep suffering. 

It is important that you read The Line Becomes a River right now and do not wait because people are dying every day, dreams are being dismantled every day, and the natures of people are changing with each death, drug bust, deportation, detainment.  Our countries (the US and Mexico) are changing and the violence is increasing.  No matter what you believe, this cannot be the way forward.  This is not how we treat our neighbors or how we should be treating our own citizens.  One thing that will come through clearly is that this is a complicated and deep-rooted issue but, for me, it really made me think about who I want to be and what I want to do with my life.  It is challenging to go on each day, acting like there is not a major problem in this country and that our stance on immigration is actively obliterating people's lives.  Of course, it is easy for me to say all of this and not offer a solution.  I understand that, and I hate it.  I wish I knew what we needed to do.  I wish Francisco Cantú knew what to do but, just because we do not have all the answers, does not mean we should not search for them.  It does not mean we cannot be better.