Chain Reading

Scandalon, 2009, Susan Elaine Jenkins

REVERENTLY--A SCANDALOUSLY GOOD BOOK

This new publication provided an extraordinarily dear—and very entertaining!—unique reading experience. Scandalon will occupy a distinct place in the hearts of readers who have a natural affection for a “people adventure”; for how an extreme contrast in societies highlights our essential values; for how a powerful individual can twist truth to victimize and the inexpressible pain for the victim. From a hundred sparkling ‘videos’ the reader will taste the food, smell the streets, markets (and people!) while feeling present among the residents of Tianjin neighborhoods. The reader is a passenger in an excursion among the people of China.

For this reader, in a special tone, all the forgoing was set in the very shelter of God. Reading the story of Susan Elaine Jenkins was to experience the subdued, ineffable, whispered Word of the Almighty. Provisioning my soul, I read it as slowly as I could to preserve each morsel of spiritual nutrition.

Count me a member in Susan’s new readership club, captivated by her memoir, Scandalon. Susan writes with a tender charm that draws the reader into her story in such a way as to encourage the reflection of each reader about the events and decisions of their own lives. Attitudes toward individual personalities, modern social changes and one’s own spiritual maturation all become a background for honest reflection. The device that is used, a double journal, encourages the reader to proceed at an introspective pace to savor what is personally experienced—along with the astringent of betrayal; the shock of hidden events in an ideal suburban community--throughout the reading. It drew this reader into a devotional reflection, with deepest emotion, to review personal relationships. Throughout, the narrative of Scandalon would confirm efforts taken to experience life on the higher plane. It was moving and filled with affirmation.

It makes you love the author, and encourages you to love yourself. This is an account that, like a mirror, provides for the reader a self-reflection, along with incomparable encouragements as directly from God. Some readers will deeply experience the recovery theme. Others, reading the scandal as a ‘shocker’, may focus on the contrast of societies. Either way, to read Scandalon is to experience a refreshing, endearing personal narrative of overcoming hardship from mixed messages and disappointment. As for the chapters set in China, an education awaits. The typical westerner does not apprehend the Cultural Revolution of Chairman Mao and the events around Tiananmen Square of 1989. The author shares how—through stories told by her many new friends—how she gradually gained a personal dismay for the monstrosity that resulted from the Great Helmsman’s Great Leap Forward. Revealed, is how he encouraged a generation of youthful Red Guards to “be violent”; and the impact of re-education on the people of an ancient culture. This is also story of social recovery by a staggeringly industrious and resilient people. China. “Where the government is trying to convince the people to smile more, to look happier,” as explained to Susan by her businessman, scientist friend, Ouyang.

This anecdotal narrative of “Long-Nosed Ghostie” (‘Ms. Jenkins’ while in the USA) reads as a drama in the California journal, and a charming set of interactions presented in the China journal—all beautifully crafted by a natural story-teller. The language flows with delightful snapshots, enlivening for the reader many characters that seem like real people. (They are! Meow Meow. Delicious fish—in toilet. AIEEE!) This sometimes poignant memoir, coursing through a contrast of cultures, contains encouragement to learn from the ironies in our everyday relationships.

Susan Elaine Jenkins indirectly encourages that the reader cherish the quality of our everyday interactions. Or, to go to teach school in China!