The Unlikely Yarn of the Dragon Lady

By: Sharon Mondragón

Libby ebook 26 chapters plus acknowledgements

Published: 2021

Genre: Christian realistic fiction

I so enjoyed our book club book by this author that I got this book. Initially, I wasn't a huge fan. Mrs. Benson seemed to be that stereotypically nasty church lady. Also, I'm not a knitter. However, I'm so glad I read this book! I loved it! I have a third book by her on hold at the library . . . 

I made SO many highlights that I think I will need to skip some of them. Dude. I seriously enjoyed this book!

Chapter 1: "Margaret's stomach clenched. 'You mean knit together in public? You mean talk to strangers about church?'"

This is part of what I meant about stereotyping. It honestly isn't that crazy, though. A lot of Christians like to keep their faith separate from life "out there" in the world . . . which is completely opposite of what Jesus teaches. We are to go and proclaim the Good News.

Chapter 1: "His voice was disconcertingly steady, just like his eyes. 'People aren't coming. They don't know they can find peace and love and hope here. They want those things, but many of them think there's mostly judgment and hypocrisy inside church walls. Sadly, in some cases, they're right. The point is they're not coming to us. We have to go to them.'"

This pastor is talking the truth, but Margaret Benson doesn't want to hear it. 

Chapter 2: "Rosalie, confident that she knew what was best for everybody, tended to steamroll her way through life and the lives of those she loved."

Ouch! Rose was my absolutely favorite character, but I think I'm more like her daughter Rosalie than I'd like to admit. I know a lot of people like Rosalie, thinking they knew best for everyone. God's grace - I need it and I appreciate it!

Chapter 2: "Laura chuckled. 'Believe me. Where there are tests there will always be prayer.'"

In Rose's nursing home, her "friends" are more like irritating acquaintances. I love how she shares about knitting at the mall and they are drawn in by her stories of interacting with people they meet and praying for them. Prayer matters!

Chapter 2: "What upsets me, she thought, is how those people downstairs think there's nothing they can do anymore about the state of the world. I may not be able to live alone now or drive a car - safely, anyway - but I can pray. I can pray and knit those prayers into a shawl."

I love Rose! I love her determination to make the best of her situation and make a difference. I love how the next paragraph delves into her prayers and the way she thinks of others and turns her concerns to the Lord.

Chapter 3: "Fran dug around in her purse for the packet of tissues widows learn to keep handy."

This made me stop. I almost always have tissues handy, but I thought it was a mom thing / allergy sufferer thing. I'm so thankful I'm not a widow!

Chapter 5: "'Or maybe some of them are starting to wonder if there's something to this prayer business,' Rose told her. 'And realizing they need God's help.'"

Rose is constantly acting as a counterpoint to Margaret's negativity. Later in this chapter, she interrupts Margaret when Kineasha asks to learn how to knit. "Rose was getting good at heading Margaret off at the pass." Go, Rose!

Chapter 7: "'Oh, you know we're knitting and not crocheting?' Margaret looked at him over her reading glasses. 'Most people don't.'"

I've never understood the passion that people feel about distinguishing between the two . . . but I guess that's because I neither knit nor crochet!

Chapter 7: "'A lot of knitters call this tinking,' Rose told them. 'Tink is the word knit spelled backward. When we tink, we're undoing the stitches, going backward. Tinking is good for when you do the wrong stitch and need to get back to that point to do it over or when you've dropped a stitch and need to pick it up.'"

I love learning new things! I've never heard this term before. Rose explains it beautifully.

Chapter 12: "'Luck is random. Blessing is from God.' Someone had to correct the man."

Margaret is so self-righteous, rigid, and critical that it's embarrassing to think that some people view ALL Christians like this. She's believable as a character, but so darn dislikeable. . . until the end of the story. She is so awful to Howard, but I like how he and Fran (both widowed) connected and became friends.

Chapter 13: "Mishaps like these made the pageant memorable from year to year."

Oh my! One of the things I love best about the children's Christmas pageant every year is seeing what goes "wrong" - it's usually the best part of the show! Fran is remembering the year that the girl playing Mary sneezed so violently that the baby Jesus doll went flying into the air, "caught handily by a surprised but quick-thinking shepherd." I love how her son Eddy asked about her well-being. He missed his dad and knew that his mom missed him, too.

Chapter 13: "But what if we didn't blow out our candles? Jane wondered. What if we took them out of the church with us, carried them home, carried them wherever we went? In her mind's eye, she saw the lights dispersing, spreading wide throughout the darkened city. She saw them shining on the dashboards of cars, in the windows of homes, flickering pinpoints of light in the darkness."

 

I love the Christmas Eve service when we do the candle thing, but I really love Jane's thoughts about the significance of the moment. Shine for Jesus!

 

Chapter  16: "With a sense of subversive glee, she settled into praying, asking God to help Margaret Benson work through whatever was making her miserable."

This is a good reminder! "Pray for those who persecute you." I'm not persecuted, but I definitely have people I don't like to be around. I need to pray for them! God's got this. Jane remembers how much she valued and needed compassion when her son Kenny went to jail. She wants to treat Margaret with God's love.

Chapter 17: "'I remember those days.' Jane watched Amy and Kineasha disappear from view. 'When I was young and every setback seemed like a disaster.'"

One of the best things about aging is gaining perspective! 

Chapter 17: "'We've attracted people at the mall who need our prayers, need us to be there praying. Some of them have never asked for prayer before in their lives. Being out there among all those people has opened my eyes.'"

Jane is having a conversation with Father Pete about continuing to knit and pray in the mall rather than returning to the Prayer Chapel. It can be hard to move out of our comfort zones / routines, but God's way is always better than our own way!

Chapter 17: "That's what she'd do and not even go to church. Let's see how he likes that! She thought with a lift of her chin."

I loved the confrontation between God and Margaret. I've never actually heard God speak to me, but when I'm truly focused on Him in prayer, He definitely guides my thoughts. Margaret trying to "show" God how upset she was and then having Him "talk" to her was fun to read.

Chapter 18 finally shows us why Margaret is the way she is. Her mom had cancer and Margaret refused to have the hard conversations and accept the severity of her illness. Her mom died when Margaret was only twenty-five years old. That loss affected her entire life and the way she parented her children. "Phrases like stage mother and smother mother drifted back to her on the winds of gossip." I love how the author shows us Margaret's heart in these reminiscences, her knitting, and her personal prayer time with God.

Chapter 19: "She smiled and sent up a silent prayer. Radical knitter here, at your service. Any other surprises?"

Rose is a rock star! The other gals at the nursing home are asking her for help with knitting prayer shawls!

Chapter 20: "How could she keep bad things from happening if she wasn't in charge? She gave herself a mental shake. She was getting off track. She was supposed to be praying for Celeste and her mother."

This author doesn't just have Margaret make a 180. She struggles, realizes, grows, changes. I really, really liked how she wrote this. Wanting to be in control is very relatable. Later in the chapter, ". . . she took solace in the whisper and click of her bamboo needles and the way one stitch followed another, row after orderly row. At least she had control of something."

Chapter 21 has Jane realizing that her unresolved anger toward Kenny is preventing her from healing. "Life is short and fragile, she reflected." Yes! And her cleaning frenzy is likened to a child adding more and more people to "bless you" bedtime prayers to stall going to sleep. This is really well-written!

Chapter 21: "Much as she would like to batter him with words so he might feel even an inkling of the pain he'd caused her, she knew these should not be the last words he ever heard from her. If what she was about to write were truly the last words he might ever have from her, what did she truly want them to be?"

I am too good at procrastinating and thinking there will always be time later to deal with relationships, conversations, etc. I'm trying to be better about appreciating each day and the people in my life, but life IS short and precious.

Chapter 21: "Kenny's childhood was over. No amount of hope or regret would bring it back. She couldn't tink his life back to where it went wrong and then knit it back with no mistakes."

We can't go back in time and change our past! As parents, we make mistakes that impact our children. We can't go back and change that, either.

Chapter 23: "Celeste sat back in her chair. 'I'm amazed. You're a . . . You're a dragon whisperer!'"

I loved that the title seemed to imply Margaret as the dragon from the get-go. But to find that Barbara Wentworth was known by her bookstore employees as the "Dragon lady" was very interesting! The expression "it takes one to know one" came to mind.

Chapter 23: "This seems like a strange way to make things better. But please, whatever you do, make things better." 

Margaret's prayers help her to relax and turn both her knitting and praying over to God. 

Chapter 26: "For a brief moment, she wondered if what she'd been doing there all those years had been praying at all. Compared to what had been going on in her craft room lately, it seemed like she'd been mostly laying down the law inside her own head."

Yes! God got through to Margaret! Perhaps I should examine my prayer life . . . 

I actually did skip some of my highlights . . . I really like this author. I hope she keeps writing!

Chapter

Murder on Milverton Square

By: GB Ralph

Libby audiobook 6 hours

Read by: Philip Battley

Published: 2022 (this version 2024)

Genre: murder mystery

 

From Google Books: "Addison Harper is abruptly summoned to Milverton at the behest of an abrasive lawyer. He plans to be in and out, back to the city lickety-split. Instead, he finds himself charmed by the small town with its delightful and eccentric residents, not to mention the rather easy-on-the-eye Sergeant Jake Murphy.

Despite the rocky start, Addison admits he's had a pleasant day out. That is, until returning to find the prickly old lawyer on the floor, and very much dead. Worse, it looks like murder, and Addison's fingerprints are all over the crime scene."

 

In some ways, this was a delightful murder mystery. There are lots of quirky characters (elderly Mabel was my favorite) and plenty of suspects. That said, Addison was not a protagonist that I connected with very well. He was awkward and kept choking on his food. The romance with Sergeant Murphy seemed a bit of a stretch.

 

The observation that a 3pm Friday meeting to "catch up" and make sure everyone's well-being is good . . . was such a blatant dig at bosses who pull that sort of thing just to check up and make sure people aren't starting their weekend early.

 

It was interesting that it took me a while to figure out that this was set in New Zealand! I mean, there IS a Wellington in England as well . . . I clearly need to study my geography more! 

The story was fine but not one that has me seeking out other titles by this author.

The Strongest Heart

By: Saadia Faruqi

Libby ebook 35 chapters plus epilogue, note from author, etc.

Published: 2025

Genre: YA realistic fiction

Mohammed is an eighth grader whose dad is schizophrenic and mom is working in Greece at a refugee center. He and his dad have relocated from NYC to Texas to live with his aunt and cousin.

Chapter 1: "Problem is, me and good behavior aren't really on speaking terms."

Mo, as he prefers to be called, resents the move and the fact that his mother is so distant. He is less than cordial when meeting his cousin Rayyan.

Chapter 2: "So now one more thing I know about my cousin is that he things Davy Crockett is a folktale worth reading. He needs to be educated about life outside Texas, is what I'm thinking."

Mo loves folktales from Pakistan, India, etc. The book is peppered with these tales (and the author does a beautiful job of connecting them with what is going on in Mo's life). One of my favorite things about this book was the relationship between Mo and Rayyan - very different kids.

Chapter 4: "There's even one from Ghost, by my favorite author, Jason Reynolds: 'You can't run away from who you are, but what you can do is run toward who you want to be.'"

I love Jason Reynolds' writing, too! It was so fun to see this quotation up on his homeroom teacher's wall. Cool that this author is giving props to another current author.

Chapter 9: "Oh, and he was desi. I should have led with that."

I had not seen that word before. I got the gist of it from the context clues, but had to look it up! Mo is referring to his neighbor in NYC, Patel Uncle. Dictionary.com says:

South Asian

adjective

adjective: desi; adjective: deshi

1.

of, from, or characteristic of India, Pakistan, or Bangladesh.

"Priyanka is a true desi girl at heart"

 

There was a LOT of language - usually around food - that was clearly ethnic and that I just understood from context. I imagine this book would really resonate with someone of Pakistani culture.

Chapter 10: "The imam looks satisfied. 'Well, I'll leave you to it, then. The class is two hours long, and you can break it up any way you want. Teaching, artwork, playtime. It's all up to you.'"

 

This was the part of the book I struggled with the most. It's Sunday school at the mosque . . . and you're leaving two eighth graders alone with a room full of preschool and elementary age kids for two hours with no direction, guidance, etc. ?! Just no. It was fun to see how Mo and Rayyan took to this volunteer work, but it was just too unrealistic for me.

 

Chapter 11: "I need some alone time. Two hours with the Energizer Bunny kids has drained me."

Amen, Mo. Little kids are exhausting!

Chapter 14: "Stories are powerful. They transport you to fantasyland."

Those of us who love stories can relate to this!

Chapter 14: ". . . someone save me from my own thoughts."

This was heartbreaking. Mo's fear is that he'll become like his dad and have a child who will hate him and continue the cycle. His coping mechanisms have caused him to hold his anger tightly.

Chapter 14: "Sometimes art is ugly and doesn't make sense." 

I love that Mo took to painting to express his feelings. It was so much better for him than getting into fights!

Chapter 15: " . . . let me tell you the brief version. You don't take your meds, so you start feeling bad. Really bad. Mentally, that is. All sorts of bad thoughts rush into your mind. You drink to get rid of your bad thoughts. But drinking is bad for you, right? It makes you stop thinking clearly. But schizophrenia also stops you from thinking clearly. So you drink more. And more. And more."

Faruqi did a beautiful job portraying Mo's struggle to understand his father's illness while also clearly depicting his legitimate anger and fear. In the author's note, we get a better understanding that a lot of this comes from her personal experience growing up with a similar father.

Chapter 17: "That's the thing with mental health, you know? It's easy to fake that you're doing well."

Again, she hits some hard truths.

Chapter 18: "I'm always alone. Always happy. Or at least, not unhappy. There's a difference. Think about it."

 

Later in the chapter, he talks about people wearing masks and his parents not loving him. There's a lot here that I think tween and teen readers could relate to, even without having the Muslim / Pakistani background.

 

Chapter 20: "When things are daunting, I feel the need to pray."

 

In the next breath, Mo says that God isn't listening. Interesting approach to prayer . . . and beliefs.

 

Chapter 20: "I don't want to be alone anymore. I want someone to help me. Being bad is no fun anymore. I'm ready to try something else."

 

Mo has adopted the persona of a tough "bad" kid. He decides to become Rayyan's protector and helper.

 

Chapter 23: "Let me tell you, lots of parents test their kids in different ways. Sometimes the tests are so difficult the kids fail."

 

 As a teacher, I've encountered many kinds of parents. The ones who set their kids up for failure (with good intentions) are the most heart breaking.

 

 Chapter 24: ". . . the strongest heart is the one that keeps beating."

I love seeing where the title comes from! The biology class body systems, the heart in Mo, etc. It all came together beautifully.

Chapter 24: "Giving water to kids across the world when her own offspring is thirsty for her affection."

Ouch! Poor Mo! I wonder if my kids felt that I was too busy for them twenty years ago . . . you can't go back in time and have a "do over," but at least I was a daily presence in their lives.

Chapter 25: "Life is too much, sometimes."

Again, sometimes I read a line like this and think it's just coming from the author's adult brain. Then I think about my worries and feelings as an eighth grader. Yes, I was still a kid. But I thought about the meaning of life, my identity, my relationships, etc. Kids do feel this way sometimes.

Chapter 26: "Listen, if I'm sounding miserable and pathetic right now, that's because I am. Nobody gets to judge me until they've walked in my shoes."

I definitely could be more compassionate toward people who are in a struggle. I don't want to be judgmental. But I also don't want to be a doormat or an enabler . . . it can be tricky.

Chapter 27: "there's no action in being sad. Nothing you can do to make it better. With anger, you can fight and punch and box and scream until everything is gone. Until not a drop of feeling is left. Until you're numb."

That's an interesting distinction between sadness and anger. I hadn't thought of it that way before.

Chapter 29: "In seventh grade, our technology teacher, Mrs. Crenshaw, taught us about this thing called media literacy, and how to choose good sources. I make sure I click on medical sites only. Hospitals and mental-health facilities."

I love this! As someone who used to teach media literacy (and sees such a need for it today), I love this mention! As Mo is trying to learn more about his dad's illness, he's using responsible research strategies. I also love the way the school librarian is a vital person in students' lives both Mo's and Frankie's. I also love the way that Mo and Frankie transform from enemies to almost friends.

Chapter 35: "Where there's hope, there's life. A positive attitude, hoping for the best, where there's a will, there's a way . . . all that stuff is real. It makes us reach inside ourselves, past the skin and bones, past the anatomy, to the soul."

What a great way to end the book! Well, the epilogue ends it, but this is good. Reading the author's notes and about the author was good, too. I've seen Faruqi's "Yasmin" series and I'm glad Muslim children have a wonderful author / role model. I can't believe I didn't mention his aunt! I loved her (Naila Phupo?) and her nurturing of Mo.

The (Super Secret) Octagon Valley Society

By: Melissa de la Cruz

Libby audiobook 7 hours

Read by: Marni Penning

Published: 2023

Genre: YA mystery, fantasy

Spoilers ahead, so stop now if you don't want the ending "ruined." . . . 

The vocal work is great. The target audience is the tween kids who are heading into or already into sixth grade. I should call it "kid lit" instead of YA, but I haven't been making that distinction in my blog so I'll leave it as is.

This started out with a premise similar to books like the Mysterious Benedict Society and so many others . . . an extraordinary group of sixth graders have tested well enough to be invited to a seminar weekend at Octagon Valley by the "uber famous multimillionaire, genius, recluse Onassander Octagon."

 

The kids are interesting enough - Edwin (small for his age, photographic memory), Julie (quiet, violinist, NYC), Little Kimmy (LA, rapper), Anton (gamer), Dilip (Indian American, surfer), TingTing (Filipino, pushy mom), Harold Postman Jr. VIII (rich brat whose family included the "junior" and the number of which junior . . .), and Maureen (snotty girl from NYC with two dads who have a Tesla model X). 

Then we get Daphne the siren (she's really real), the multiverse, a destroyed reality, life-threatening situations, etc.

Sigh. It just gets worse and worse as it goes on. Turns out the kids are actually aliens with latent powers and they have been recruited to save "impossibilium," a new element that can save the world. One of the "octos" is actually on the side of YAK (an acronym? we don't know). This is clearly book one in a new series. I could easily "sell" this book to young readers with active imaginations, but I personally did not like it.

The Keeper

(A Murphy Shepherd novel)

By: Charles Martin

Dakota County Library hardcover 412 pages plus discussion questions

Published: 2025

Genre: Christian adventure fiction, realistic

This is the fourth book in the series and I think I've read enough of these now. I didn't get it done before book club six days ago. I kind of had to force myself to finish it. Martin is a talented author and there is plenty of action, but it just seemed to be so much of a rehash of the previous books and in need of some concise editing.

Page 2: "Not every prisoner wants to be rescued. Some prefer chains to freedom, darkness to light."

In thinking of Frank and Bones and their final encounter in the previous book, Shepherd recognizes that some people choose their bondage.

Page 35: "The question that had kept me awake all night was simple: What would happen now? In my experience, evil people with power usually want more power, and they are willing to commit whatever evil is needed to get more of it. Evil is the currency. Power the prize."

This reality makes me feel sick. I recognize the truth of it but I prefer to live in the light. I'm 100% okay with not being a powerful person. I'd rather experience the power of God working through my weakness. 

Page 64: "'One day soon, you're going to encounter people in prison. Often the bars that hold them will be of their own making. It's one thing to unlock someone's prison door; it's another thing entirely to loose the chains that bind their heart.'"

Bones' wisdom to Murphy Shepherd in the guise of "priesting."

Page 65: "'You do realize that the human body needs sleep.' He shook his head. 'Overrated.'"

This is the biggest disagreement I have with Bones' character. Sleep is important! And there are lots of Scriptures about God giving us rest. We need sleep for our physical and mental health. Sleep deprivation is NOT a good part of training and teaching.

Page 143: "Proving that love is and always has been the most powerful weapon in this universe or any other."

Yes! Love is powerful. And it makes life worth living.

Page 153 is where I finally just got sick of all the gun and bullet talk. Blah blah blah. This series definitely glorifies love of guns. I wonder if Martin has many male (or female) readers who appreciate this? I am not a gun lover and I got to the point where I skim-read these parts. (I hardly ever skim-read in novels!)

Page 161: "A name establishes a record. Drives a stake in the ground. Shouts across the stratosphere, 'I'm here! I matter! I'm not invisible!'"

I agree. Names are important. That's why I try really hard to learn people's names and use them properly. As a substitute teacher, I've definitely messed up plenty of times!

Page 178: "'Love is an amazing thing. It takes the brokenness, the scars, the pain, the darkness, everything, and makes it all new.'"

I love the emphasis on the importance of love. This is a flashback to Murphy's rescue of Casey. Her story, along with her marriage to Camp, are one of the main story strands in this book.

Page 244: "While my mind couldn't tell, my gut had no doubt."

Murph is reflecting on his conversations with Maynard and his gut feeling that something was very off. Sometimes you really do need to trust your gut!

Page 259: "But one name had not been etched into my back. It had been written deeper. Seared into my soul. Why? Because it was the most important. Because of his name, all the other names mattered; without his, none mattered. I loved and was able to love because he loved me. Period. I could take credit for nothing."

I fully expected him to reference Jesus! Silly me. Of course Murphy was referring to Bones. It took me awhile to realize that Bones is an allegory for Jesus.

Page 293: "I thought how it was easy to love someone who loved you back. But it was much tougher when they were evil."

So true. It's easy to love lovable people. I have a few folks in my life that I struggle to tolerate, much less love . . . I'm so glad God is still working on my heart.

I wasn't shocked by the ending because Martin had left more than enough clues. I actually did a little skim-reading through the wedding ceremony and scene after with Shepherd and Summer. I may or may not read book five in the series when it comes out.

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The Word of Dog: What Our Canine Companions Can Teach Us About Living a Good Life

By: Mark Rowlands

Hennepin County Library hardcover 230 pages plus "further reading"

Published: 2024

Genre: non-fiction, philosophy

The slightly sacrilegious title caught my attention but I love my dog and was curious about this for one of my daughters-in-law. I was on the waiting list for a very long time and need to return it now, but I've only read a fraction of it.

 

He is most definitely a philosophy professor! His references to Sartre, Socrates, etc. are numerous. The stories of his dogs are my favorite part. He clearly loves his dogs.

 

Page 21: "Shadow's  reactivity seems to be fundamentally territorial, but territory, for him, is a moveable feast. His territory is wherever he is."

Yes! This is how Titus is. His territory expands and he protects it vigorously. There was a lot about Shadow that I could relate to . . . 

Page 178: "Why do dogs love life so much more than we do? The answer, I think, is that life is always more precious for a dog than for a human because we have two lives and dogs only have one."

Rowlands goes on to explain that humans have the "inner" and "outer" lives to live simultaneously. I just like how he gets at the amazing exuberance that dogs have for life. They are very "in the moment" creatures.

I haven't decided yet if I'll buy a copy of this for Mari. I think she might like it, but I want to be a thoughtful gift giver. I will return it to the library for the next person on hold!

My Life Stories

by: Phillip Warren Radtke

Storyworth hardcover 355 pages

Published: 2024 (Storyworth)

Genre: memoir

My BFF from childhood on loaned me her dad's Storyworth book. I enjoyed reading it and am even mentioned a few times. (Jenifer and I did spend a LOT of time at one another's houses in the 1970s and 80s.)

In his answer to "Do you prefer summer or winter?" Phil made me laugh. As he was talking about the different seasons and what he liked, the repetition of weeds or no weeds culminated in "I DON'T LIKE WEEDS!!!" 

I liked how much he respected his parents. For years, I struggled to understand who raised him. Hearing "Ma and Pa Waknitz" always made me think Phil's grandparents had raised him. But when his mom died, Phil's dad had sisters who took in his sons. Louie and Martha took Don. Charley and Marie took Dean. At almost two years old, Phil went to August and Emma Waknitz. 

In "What games did you play when you were young?" Phil wrote about the fun he had with his brothers, cousins, and neighbor kids. He ends the section with, "Life was much simpler in those days. You worked hard, you played hard and you listened to Ma and Pa. Mostly Ma :)"

In "How did you figure out how to be a parent?" Phil said "I'm still working on it. :) A lot of it is what you see and experience by example. Being raised by loving and caring people sets the tone of how you learn to live." He has some nice wisdom here.

Reading the section dedicated to Jenifer made tears well up in my eyes. He ended it with, "I like to tell people that I spoiled you for sixteen years and you have been spoiling me ever since."

I enjoyed reading Phil's stories. One thing I noticed that I'm pretty sure happened in my book too was the repetition of certain stories or elements. It's hard to cull those out! I also wish Jenifer had taken me up on my offer to proofread before publishing. There were little spelling and grammar errors that don't detract from the stories, but make this English teacher do a mini cringe. (Things like "dinning" instead of "dining" room . . . ) Ah well. Most people aren't as picky as I am about that. I loved reading Phil's reminiscences and am so glad he wrote them down! I wish I had more of my parents' stories.

When I Looked Back, You Were Gone

By: Cary Waterman

personal paperback, 89 pages

Published: 1992

Genre: poetry

 

I got this book when I was working on my master's degree. It was required for one of my literature classes. Since I'm trying to decrease my possessions and one of my daughters-in-law enjoys poetry, I decided to re-read it and give it to her.

 

Waterman is very talented, but I mostly like poetry when I can read a little at a time, saying lines aloud, and thinking about the meaning. Some of the poems I had marked up with observations. 

 

I like the sentimental ones about parents the best. I love some of her figurative language; the images are evocative.

The Bangalore Detectives Club

By: Harini Nagendra

Libby audiobook 9 hours

Read by: Soneela Nankani

Published: 2022

Genre: Murder mystery, historical fiction

This was another audiobook that was available and a mystery. I enjoyed it, but felt like I was having an intense cultural immersion experience. If this had been a print book, I would have been turning to the glossary! Names of people, food, places, etc. were very, very Indian.

Kaveri has married the handsome young doctor Ramu. Libby describes the book like this:

The first in a charming, joyful cozy crime series set in 1920s Bangalore, featuring sari-wearing detective Kaveri and her husband, Ramu. Perfect for fans of Alexander McCall Smith's The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency.

I'm not sure how much was representative of the era (1920s) or the culture (India), but I had some difficulty with the child bride aspect (as young as 8 years old!?) and the idea that women were property of their fathers, then their husbands. A lot of the cultural aspects were challenging for me . . . but it was very well written. 

The killer was found. Kaveri is very fortunate to have a wonderful, supportive husband. I found it hard to believe that the police would share info with civilians and let them work on the case with him . . .

Murder at Morrington Hall

By: Clara McKenna

(Subtitled "A Stella and Lyndy Mystery Book 1)

Libby audiobook 8 hours

Read by: Sarah Zimmerman

Published: 2019

Genre: Murder mystery, romance, historical fiction

I grabbed this audiobook because it was listed as a mystery and it was available. It's more romance than mystery, in my opinion, but it was enjoyable. Stella finds out that she is to be married to a stranger on a trip to England with her father in 1905. The Earl of Atherly is in financial straits and Stella's father is a wealthy horse breeder. Viscount "Lyndy" Lyndhurst is more interested in the thoroughbreds that Mr. Kendrick has brought from Kentucky than he is (initially) in his bride-to-be.

The vicar is murdered at Morrington Hall and the wedding is on hold until the mystery can be solved. Alice (Lyndy's sister), Miss Westwood, her fiance', her parents, the Atherlys, and many servants both indoors and at the stables make up the possible suspects.

Stella must overcome everyone's bias against Americans. Her dad's rudeness doesn't help! Mr. Kendrick is the worst. This is the first in a series which I may read more or I might not. 

According to Merriam-Webster, the definition of "agister" is: " an officer of the royal forests in England who has the care of livestock." I was guessing it was some sort of horse wrangler when the word was used in the book. I love words!

Leaves of Grass: Poems of Walt Whitman

By: Walt Whitman

Selected by: Lawrence Clark Powell

Woodcuts by John and Clare Romano Ross

Discarded hardcover 158 pages plus a "Whitman Reading List," an Index of Titles, an Index of First Lines, and an "About the Compiler" and "About the Artists"

Published: 1964

Genre: Poetry, American

I have, of course, been familiar with this title and with Walt Whitman for several decades. When I weeded my school library in the late 1990s and removed this title, I kept it with the intention that I would read it and then donate it. Well, over twenty-five years later, I'm finally following through! (I weeded it because it was not an appealing book for middle schoolers. It was a leftover relic of the high school collection.)

The Contents are as follows:

Walt Whitman

America the Beautiful

Earth, Sea, and Sky

I, Walt Whitman

Love Poems

War Poems

Come, Sweet Death

 

This book smells old . . . and I don't mean that in a good way. I don't see evidence of water damage or bugs, but it isn't terribly pleasant in scent. I noticed several places where Whitman wrote "Kanada" or "Manhatta" or other interesting place names. I'm not sure what that was about.

Page 20 (I Saw in Louisiana a Live-Oak Growing): 

"For all that, and though the live-oak glistens there in Louisiana solitary in a wide flat space,

Uttering joyous leaves all its life without a friend a lover near,

I know very well I could not."

 

His vulnerability and admittance that he needs other people . . . I like how he ended this poem.

 

There were four poems that smacked me in the face with memories of college lit classes! Song of Myself (pg. 72),  I Sing the Body Electric (pg. 112), When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd (pg. 130), and O Captain! My Captain! (pg. 139) were all written by Whitman. How did I not remember that?! When I had to study and analyze poetry in college, it kind of ruined my love of poetry. I've been trying to get back to a place where I can read it, savor it, and enjoy it. But seeing each of these titles was so fun! I'd forgotten . . . 

 

Page  103 (When I Read the Book): 

"When I read the book, the biography famous,

And is this then (said I) what the author calls a man's life?

And so will come one when I am dead and gone write my life?

(As if any man really knew aught of my life,

When even I myself I often think know little or nothing of my real life,

Only a few hints, a few diffused faint clews and indirections

I seek for my own use to trace out here.)"

 

This poem made me think about life and death and eternity. And what DOES anyone else really know about us - our thoughts, feelings, struggles. What would Whitman himself think of what is "known" and written about him now? 

 

Page  115 (I Sing the Body Electric): 

"The thin red jellies within you or within me, the bones and the marrow in the bones,

The exquisite realization of health;

O I say these are not the parts and poems of the body only, but of the soul,

O I say now these are the soul!"

Reading this makes me want to find and re-read Ray Bradbury's short story of the same name . . . 

 

The compiler took the liberty of including only the poems (and / or stanzas of poems) that spoke to him most strongly. I liked what he wrote in the introductory chapter. His passion for Whitman's poetry is a big part of the reason I read this entire book. One must really love an author's work to read ALL of it. This selection of poems was interesting, but I've had enough Whitman for a while. It's interesting to me that the poet continued to add and edit to his collection throughout his life and there are many, many different versions of Leaves of Grass available.

Fabergé books

After reading our last book club book and doing a little online research, I decided to request a bunch of books from the library on Fabergé and the eggs.

Fabergé 1846-1920: An International Loan Exhibition assembled on the occasion of the Queen's Silver Jubilee and including objects from the Royal Collection at Sandringham. (Debrett's Peerage Ltd. in association with the Victoria and Albert Museum) Published 1977.

• I love all the photographs! Both photos of the gorgeous works of art and of the history of Fabergé's shop. The color pictures of the creations are far superior to the black and white ones.
  
• Roy Strong (foreword) and A. Kenneth Snowman (introduction) walked a careful line in talking about what makes these pieces special while acknowledging that they were primarily extravagant luxuries for the royal and the rich.
• It was irritating to look at the images and then have to find the paragraph that referenced them. It was a LOT of flipping back and forth to match the info with the image. I didn't bother reading the paragraphs if I didn't have a corresponding picture to look at. (How many times can you read about gold, gems, and techniques?)
• My favorite was the peacock egg, shown on page 37. the paragraph about it was on page 97.

 

 

 

Fabergé's Eggs: The Extraordinary Story of the Masterpieces That Outlived an Empire. (Toby Faber) Published 2008.

• I only read the intro because I have a lot of books to read right now! It was interesting - the author made it sound as though Fabergé wasn't really that big of a deal. But then he talks about how Fabergé products are made with exquisite quality.
• I went to the photos in the middle of the 241 page book (302 pages with acknowledgments, appendices, notes, bibliography, and index).
• The Fabergé Family Tree (Appendix 1) and the Full Listing of the Imperial Eggs (Appendix 2) were interesting. I'm fascinated by how many of the eggs' (or their "surprises") current location is unknown. Rife for treasure hunting indeed!

The Romanov children were not to blame for the tsar's leadership (or lack thereof). They were innocent victims, murdered with their parents in 1918.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fabergé and the Russian Crafts Tradition. (Margaret Kelly Trombly) Published 2017. 

• This one was different in that it examined many different Russian crafts and not just the jeweler's work. It had lovely photos and lots of text that I only skimmed a little. 
• The closeups and details make this worth a look at! These pics are of the "Rose Trellis Egg."
  

 

 

Peter Carl Fabergé: Goldsmith and Jeweller to the Russian Imperial Court. His Life and Work. (Henry Charles Bainbridge, with a foreword by Sacheverell Sitwell) Published 1949, second impression 1967. 

• This book is not attractive. Either it never had a dust jacket or it has gotten lost over the decades.
• The text SOUNDS like a man wrote it over seventy years ago! In a way, it would be an interesting historical study as a piece of academic writing.
• The pictures that are included are all black and white. 
• It still has the "pocket" with 1967 on it in the back of the book.
  
• I barely spent any time on this one.

 

Masterpieces from the House of Fabergé. (Alexander von Solodkoff) Published 1984, this edition 1989.  

• I wish I had spent more time reading this one. The writing is clear, interesting, and has strong historical connections.
• The photos, both color and black white, are wonderful. 
• Forbes (and other wealthy collectors) leave me feeling more grateful than resentful. Using their wealth to accumulate and SHARE great beauty with others is better than just hoarding.
• Honestly, of the five books I've looked at so far, this is the first one I would consider getting again to read and examine thoroughly. It's incredibly beautiful and clearly written. It's also big and heavy! 
• In fact, although I had planned to return all eight books today, I'm going to renew this one and hang onto it a bit longer.

 

Fabergé: Imperial Jeweler. (Géza von Habsburg and Marina Lopato) Published 1993. 

• So many more historical photos! Buildings, people, drawings . . . 
• This is the book for history researchers.

 

Fabergé Revealed: at the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts. (Géza von Habsburg) Published 2011. 

• Big, beautiful, lots of info and pieces. 
• Wonderful photographs

Fabergé and the Russian Master Goldsmiths. (Gerard Hill, editor) Published 1989. 

• Pity this is the last one I looked at. It had a whole section about Carl Fabergé and his life. 
• The photos are huge with lots of detail visible.
• The book is also the physically largest of the eight I got and it is heavy and awkward.
• If one wanted a gorgeous coffee table book, this might be the one. 

 

Pearly Everlasting

By: Tammy Armstrong

Libby ebook / Hardcover from Scott County Library 343 with author's note and acknowledgements

Published: 2024

Genre: historical fiction

The HarperCollins blurb about this book says (if you don't like spoilers, skip this): 

An immersive and enchantingly atmospheric novel set during the Great Depression, about a girl and a bear raised as sister and brother in a remote logging camp and the lengths to which they’ll go to protect each other.

New Brunswick, 1934. When a cook in a logging camp finds an orphaned baby bear, he brings it home to his wife, who names the cub Bruno and raises him alongside her newborn daughter, Pearly. Growing up, Pearly and Bruno share a special bond and become inseparable. While life in the camp can be perilous—loggers are regularly injured or even killed—the Everlasting family form a close-knit community with the woodsmen, who accept and embrace the tame young bear.

But all that changes when a new supervisor arrives, a ruthless profiteer who pushes the workers to their breaking point and abuses Bruno. When the man is found dead in a ditch, the blame falls on the bear; soon after, Bruno is kidnapped and sold to an animal trader. Determined to rescue the only brother she has ever known, Pearly, now a teenager, sets off alone on a hazardous journey through the forest—her first trip to “the Outside”—to find him. In the harrowing quest to bring him home through miles of ice and snow, eluding malevolent spirits and the cruelty of strange villagers, she will discover new worlds and a strength she never knew she possessed.

Steeped in rural folklore and superstition, and set against the backdrop of an enchanting woodland, Pearly Everlasting is a story about the triumph of good over evil, the beauty of the natural world, and the bonds that cannot be broken.

 

 I don't remember who recommended this book to me, but I had a lot of trouble getting "into" it. 

 

In the chapter "Like Deep Water or Ghosts," there was a scene that really caught my attention. Swicker (the evil supervisor) offers the men in camp bottles of Coca-Cola:

 

"Me and Ivy had shared a bottle of Coca-Cola just about twice in our lives. Swicker's smile reminded me of a leghold trap. Slow and careful, I took them. He glanced at Papa in a smug way. I saw then something elemental in my father for the first time. A rigidness to keep course, a firmness in his own convictions - as easy for him as trickery or vanity or two-facedness was for another man. And I wondered if I too might possess this trait, and it saddened me to think that I might not, that, should the opportunity arise, I might choose the easy mistake again."

 

"When It Thundered but Did Not Rain" is the chapter I was on when I realized I wouldn't finish the ebook in time. I'm glad that I requested and received a print copy from Scott County Library promptly! Interestingly, I enjoyed the book much more (Page 78 of 339 was where I picked up the story). Reading the rest of it was a delight! 

Page 104: "Under all of this, tucked up in newspaper, was Song-catcher's gifts to me and Bruno: our little spoon with the silver bear and the bowl engraved with our names and birth date: Pearly Everlasting and Bruno False Spring 1918. For just a minute, I felt Mama beside me again."

For some reason, the tenderness of this moment really struck me. Pearly was an interesting character and her emotions in this scene are relatable.

Page 115: "It was a house of half-rolled shades and breakfast plates still on the table at suppertime. It was a house that looked preoccupied with thoughts other than being a house. Books strewn everywhere. One wall in the living room dedicated to scraps of paper and magazine tear-outs. Everything stuck through with sewing pins."

Song-catcher and Ebony were super interesting characters. I love this description of their home.

Page 142: "They told him of the daily shape-ups in New York where men stood before a hiring boss and were cut from the crowd like horses, just to earn a day's wages. All of them castaways. Homesick and lost. The world felt like a loose skin, shedding something Ansell could neither recognize nor name."

I love how she uses language here! And Ansell was another lovely character, with his silver-streaked skin that had been struck by lightning.

Page 176: "Everything was still in it, except for three cans of milk and Mama's double-horn necklace from the little inside pocket I'd placed it in to keep it safe. That's when I knew, with sinking certainty, the Go-Preacher had not gone as far away as he'd let on. Nothing but a sneak thief."

 

I hate it when people do evil! But it's ten times worse when it's someone who says they're doing the Lord's work. That is so reprehensible! 

 

Page  221: "'What'd they do with the molasses?'

'What?'

'After they got the windows out. They use it for cookies? Beans?'

'I don't think anyone's asked that before.'"

When Amaël is telling Pearly about stained glass windows being shipped from France to Bracken in vats of molasses to protect them from being broken, she asks a very logical question. Especially during the Great Depression when hunger was a huge force in daily life.

 

Page 246: "'When you leave here, go left, out past where Devlin's dairy used to be, then past where Shuggie used to have his smokehouse. It's out near Frog Pond Road, I think. Over where the old train station café was? The one that used to sell that real good potato hash? You can't miss it.'

As she explained all this, . . .  I walked in the direction the cashier had given me. Uncertain how I'd find things no longer there, I walked, out to where the houses thinned."

I laughed when I read this because I've actually heard people give directions like this! It's as though they think you can see the past and its images in your mind! Poor Pearly. 

Page 333: "'He's been outside your door for days now, hovering around. Bad as the Persian. Worried sick about you, he was.'"

 

Mrs. Prue is talking about her husband. Mr. Prue got Pearly's necklace back for her. She had been attacked by the awful twins. Ansell and Bruno had rescued her then left for the logging camp. I cried. Mr. and Mrs. Prue, along with Amaël the vet all helped redeem the story from all the bad guys and sad events. I love this book.

Postern of Fate

Subtitled: A Tommy and Tuppence Mystery

By: Agatha Christie

Libby audiobook 7 hours

Read by: Hugh Fraser

Published: 1973 (this version 2012)

Genre: Murder mystery

This was Christie's last novel written before her death (though other stories were later published posthumously). It is NOT one of her better books. I confess that I had never even heard of Tommy and Tuppence Beresford before reading this book. (So clearly, there are several Christie novels I've not encountered.)

Basic elements of mystery, clues, suspects, etc. are present. But the story is so slow and so boring that I thought it was a knock-off written by someone else. Honestly, the dog Hannibal and the butler were the two best characters. 

Mary Jordan did not die of natural causes. Most of the people in the "case" are gone. Someone has coffee "problems." Tuppence looked through old children's books. Interviews. Old gardener murdered. Gossipy ladies. Blah blah blah. I can't recommend it. And I usually LOVE Agatha Christie stories!

A Black Woman's Civil War Memoir

Subtitled: Reminiscences of My Life in Camp with the 33rd U.S. Colored Troops, Late 1st South Carolina Volunteers

By: Susie King Taylor

Hennepin County Library hardcover 152 pages

Published: 1902 (this version 1988)

Genre: memoir, history

I got this book out of curiosity after reading the Civil War quilts book. What an extraordinary woman! She was taught to read and write when she was young (even though black people could and were punished for learning). She worked as a laundress during the war. Her observations and experiences over 150 years ago are a valuable part of our historical record as a nation.

Page 63: "They drove with him to the rear of our camp, where he was shot. I shall never forget this scene."

A deserter who was later accused of being a spy was killed while everyone was out for dress parade. For her to write this after more than forty years had passed . . . I believe it was a very memorable event for her.

Page 63: "Before we got to camp, where the payrolls could be made out, he sickened and died of small-pox, and was buried at Savannah, never having been paid one cent for nearly three years of service."

She's writing about a man named Robert Defoe who had refused the "reduced pay offered by the government." Many black soldiers were either not paid at all or paid at significantly less than what they had been told upon recruitment. 

Page 67: "When at Camp Shaw, I visited the hospital in Beaufort, where I met Clara Barton. There were a number of sick and wounded soldiers there, and I went often to see the comrades. Miss Barton was always very cordial toward me, and I honored her for her devotion and care for those men."

I love that a historical figure (to me) like Clara Barton was someone Taylor met as she did her own part in the war.

Page 68 (endnotes): "Their commander reported, 'I started from Saint Simon's island with sixty-two colored fighting men and returned to Beaufort with 156 fighting men (all colored). As soon as we took a slave from his claimant, we placed a musket in his hand and he began to fight for the freedom of the others."

There are other notes in this part about the efficacy of these soldiers.

"General Saxton was overjoyed at the success of his troops, and wrote to the Secretary of War that 'the Negroes fought with a coolness and bravery that would have done credit to veteran soldiers. There was no excitement, no flinching, no attempt at cruelty when successful. They seemed like men who were fighting to vindicate their manhood, and they did it well.'"

And yet there are people who continue to claim that people with dark skin are inferior to whites. Sometimes humanity saddens me deeply.

Page 87-88: "It seems strange how our aversion to seeing suffering is overcome in war, - how we are able to see the most sickening sights, such as men with their limbs blown off and mangled by the deadly shells, without a shudder; and instead of turning away, how we hurry to assist in alleviating their pain, bind up their wounds, and press the cool water to their parched lips, with feelings only of sympathy and pity."

I love this woman! She just rocked in so many ways. 

Page 120: "I look around now and see the comforts that our younger generation enjoy, and think of the blood that was shed to make these comforts possible for them, and see how little some of them appreciate the old soldiers. My heart burns within me, at this want of appreciation."

Her sentiment makes me wonder what she would think of people today with their entitlement and selfishness. Her writing is eloquent and poignant. Her chapter XIII is called "Thoughts on Present Conditions" and she writes about the injustices still occurring.

Page 135: "In this 'land of the free' we are burned, tortured, and denied a fair trial, murdered for any imaginary wrong conceived in the brain of the negro-hating white man. There is no redress for us from a government which promised to protect all under its flag. It seems a mystery to me."

She was writing this at the turn of the century. I think of students who have told me that the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s "ended" racism. I think of people I know now who are vehemently opposed to the Black Lives Matter movement. But if you look at racial profiling (by police, in education, in housing, . . . ) much of this injustice lives on. Thankfully, we don't see lynchings any more! But the fight for equal rights isn't really over in 2025.

The Master Craftsman

By: Kelli Stuart

Scott County Library hardcover (large print) 540 pages plus author's note and acknowledgements

Published: 2022

Genre: Historical fiction

 

Alternating between Tsarist Russia (early 1900s) and modern day, we learn about Karl Fabergé and his work on the Imperial Eggs while our current day Ava tries reconciling with her absent father by helping him look for a missing egg while he's on his deathbed. I definitely liked the 1900s era and characters better than the crew looking for the missing egg.

One of my favorite things about this book was learning more about the Fabergé eggs. Here's what Wikipedia has to say:

As many as 69 Czarist Russia Era eggs were created, of which 61 are currently known to have survived. Virtually all of the original first edition eggs were manufactured under the supervision of Peter Carl Fabergé between 1885 and 1917. The most famous of the firm's creations are the 50 delivered Imperial Easter eggs, of which 44 are currently known to be in complete or partial physical existence, leaving the fate of those remaining unknown.

These eggs were commissioned for the Russian tsar Aleksandr III (10 eggs) and tsar Nikolai II (40 eggs) as Easter gifts for Alexander's wife and Nicholas's mother Empress Maria Feodorovna, and Nicholas's wife Tsaritsa Alexandra Feodorovna. Fabergé eggs are worth large sums of money and have become symbols of opulence.

Two more of Fabergé Easter Imperial eggs (bringing the total to 52) were designed but were unable to be delivered. One egg known as the Karelian Birch Egg, has confirmed sketches but is not confirmed to have actually been made, and the other, the Blue Tsesarevich Constellation Egg, only partially completed due to the Russian Revolution of 1917.

 

I've requested some books about the jewelry house and the artisans from the library. I wonder if Peter Karl really was conflicted about creating such expensive items for the elite while he saw such suffering amongst the Russian people.

 

Page  28: "It was one of Zak's calling cards to talk like a ninety-year-old grandmother. What guy said things like 'splendid'?

Even though Zak was an extremely awkward computer nerd, I liked him. I also talk like a ninety-year-old, I guess.

Page 82: "She had a lilt to her voice that indicated she came from a refined background, as refined as one might be, living in America."

That comment made me laugh. Albert is pondering a customer from America.

Page 106: "Her mom had spent half her life reminding Ava to be prepared for the 'just in case.' 'You never know when life might throw you a curveball,' Carol would say every time Ava left the house. 'Do you have what you need just in case there's a change of plans?'

Ava would roll her eyes, but this morning as she made her way into the dark kitchen, she was immensely grateful to her mom for her 'just in case' preparation."

There's something about getting older (and being a mom) that makes a person more interested in preparedness and having contingency plans! I used to jokingly call my husband a boy scout, because he liked to be ready for any situation. There are many times I've been thankful for that propensity!

Page 127 on leadership . . . I need to include this. No commentary right now . . . just contemplation. 

Page 161: "There was, perhaps, nothing more thrilling to a young man than to feel the pleasure of his father."

Karl clearly respected his father's opinion of him and the direction he took the company. Gustav Fabergé was a jeweler who was happy to see his son follow in his footsteps. This comment makes me wonder about men who do NOT have fathers who are present and providing direction in their sons' lives.

Page 210: "Nick nodded 'The value of an object comes from the one who sculpts it - the one who crafts it with care and skill, and who breathes creative life into it. The master craftsman determines the worth.'"

When I read this, I thought about the true Master Craftsman, God, creating us.

Page 279: ". . . Karl found that he still enjoyed the thrill of the season, but he was more tired than usual this year. Perhaps it was his age, though he couldn't possibly admit that out loud because it felt like a concession of the winding down of life."

The "winding down of life" is what makes me want to LIVE life big right now while I can. 

Page 332: "'It's true. I am contractually bound to give you compliments whether they're accurate or not,' Carol replied."

This made me laugh out loud! It sounds like something my sons and I would have bantered about. Complimenting your children (genuinely) can be challenging. "You're saying that because you have to; you're my mom."

Page 346: "'History is one of our greatest assets. Knowing where we've been as a human race helps us navigate where we're going.'"

Although Xander (cool name!) ended up not being who / what we thought he was, I like his take on the importance of history.

Page 539 . . . Augusta "protecting" her husband . . . the final resting place of the egg . . . unsatisfying ending to me.

Out of the Silent Planet

By: C.S. Lewis

Libby audiobook 5 hours

Read by: Geoffrey Howard

Published: 1938 (this version 2005)

Genre: Science Fiction

I never knew Lewis wrote SciFi! This is actually the first book in the "Cosmic Trilogy" series. From Libby's description: 

"A planetary romance with elements of medieval mythology, the trilogy concerns Dr. Elwin Ransom, a professor of philology who, like Christ, is offered as a ransom for mankind. On a walking tour of the English countryside, Ransom falls in with some slightly shady characters from his old university and wakes up to find himself naked in a metal ball in the middle of the light-filled heavens. He learns that he is on his way to a world called Malacandra by its natives, who call our world Thulcandra, the silent planet. The Malacandrans see planets as having tutelary spirits; those of the other planets are good and accessible, but Earth's is fallen and twisted."

 

Malacandra turns out to be Mars and it is populated by at least three distinct sentient species who coexist peacefully. Devine (the former college "friend") only wants to get the "sun's blood" (gold) on the planet and Weston, the evil scientist who built the rocket,wants power and to take over Malacandra for humanity once they can no longer live on Earth. Both are morally bankrupt.

Some of the words and phrases would have made more sense to me if I had been reading the text rather than listening to it. (Though reader Howard does an exceptional job.) The "bent ones" seem to be people with evil intent, whichever planet they're on. I have had to go to the Wikipedia page to read up on the book I just read! The main creatures we meet on Malacandra are sorns, hross, pfifltriggi, and eldils. The Oyarsa is like a god, but in this book, Earth's god is "bent." 

It was fascinating and a bit confusing. I don't think I'll read the other books in the series right now, but I may read all three in print form at some point in the future. I generally really like Lewis' writing and I wonder about the point he was making with this. We know so much more about other planets now than he did in the 1930s, but this is still a very interesting foray into SciFi.

Oh! I had to stop and rewind to get back to a quotation I liked (while parked):

"The love of knowledge is a kind of madness."

When Ransom says this, he is trying to figure out the hross language. He is curious about their words (and wants to communicate his needs). On a strange planet and fighting for his very life, he wonders about their language and syntax!

 

 

A Pirate Looks at Fifty

By: Jimmy Buffett

Hennepin County Library hardcover 458pages

Published: 1998

Genre: Memoir, travelogue

I heard about this book when we were traveling through the Florida Keys in January. I'm not a big Jimmy Buffett fan (a "Parrothead"), but I was curious. I'm not sure I should have spent the time reading this . . . 

This would be perfect for:

• Parrot Heads
• pilots / people who love planes
• people who have wanderlust
• people who know the Caribbean really well
• fishing fanatics
  

 

I don't fit any of those categories and thought several times about just returning it to the library. I soldiered on and just finished it.

 

It didn't really resonate for me. I anticipated some wisdom or insight on aging. Below are the spots I noted, but nothing really stands out for me.

 

Page xvi (preface): "You can't force characters into unnatural stories or situations any more than you can force-feed canned peas and carrots to disinterested children. Unsavory legumes and watery fiction are both offensive to the palate."

 

This is one of those places where his way with words appealed to me.

 

Page 5: "That to me is the way any good romantic would look at his life: Live it first, then write it down before you go."

 

After another 451 pages, I'd say he was still focused on living life . . . and writing everything down. The book dragged.

 

Page  37: "There were also enough car wrecks, fights, carnival-ride accidents, and gypsy trickery to make Mardi Gras the world's biggest excuse for bad behavior."

I have long disliked that the day before Lent begins is seen as a legitimate excuse to be as sinful and selfish as possible. You're missing the point of the Holy Season here!

Page 45: "If you caught a fish every time you put your line in the water, they would call it catching, not fishing."

Buffett is sharing his dad's gem of wisdom about the draw and challenges of going fishing.

 

Page 67: "When you spend a lot of time on the water, you lose touch with what's happening on the land."

I love that sense of drifting away mentally (along with physically) when you go out on a boat!

Page 98: "I pray to God, Buddha, Saint Christopher, Saint Jude, and my loyal guardian angels to watch over my family and me."

This makes me wonder if Buffett ever figured out what he believed about eternal matters. He died in 2023 at age 76 . . . 

Page 111: "We started out being the people our parents warned us about, but we turned into them, or close facsimiles, anyway, because we shared the common burden of rearing children, and children change your entire life."

I can agree with that! Children do change your entire life. I was just talking with a teacher today and we acknowledged that our profession affected our parenting and our parenting affected our teaching.

Page 122: "I have been involved in the fight to preserve the quality of life in the area that I call home, where greed is a worse epidemic than any disease transmitted by Florida's mosquito population."

I wonder what he thought about Donald Trump and Mar-a-lago. I agree that greed is a horrible disease.

Page 164: "'It's getting worse, Jim,' he said flatly. 'It's the scariest thing I have ever been through in my life.' I didn't know what to say. I was in tears but couldn't speak. Saying I was sorry just didn't feel like enough."

When Buffett and his dad are talking about his dad's memory loss, I teared up too. It's so very hard to see someone you love start to lose themselves.

Page 180: "The best way for an American to get around in the world is to not act like you saved it or own it. . . . Hollywood has more clout worldwide than the U.S. State Department. Very few people in the street know who Madeleine Albright or Warren Christopher are, but everybody knows Harrison Ford and Jack Nicholson."

Wow. This is an interesting observation. I've heard stories about how much people in other countries (especially European countries) dislike the "ugly American" behavior. And I'm not shocked that celebrities are better known than policy people.

Page 200: "There's plenty of time for my kids to adapt to whatever school situation they'll eventually find themselves in. But by the time they get there, they will have ridden elephants in Thailand, experienced G-forces in an airplane, learned to bait a hook and release a fish. And they will have swum neckie in a waterfall by the sea."

Instead of finding this an endearing parenting perspective, I was turned off. He could afford to give his kids all those opportunities. Most children don't get to travel to a foreign country, much less jet set all over the world, experiencing life. He had resources at his disposal that most people can't even dream of having.

Page 224: "New Orleans is a whole other book that I'll write one day, but I need to try to get back to the beach in Costa Rica and end this damn chapter."

His digressions and love of telling stories that led to other stories are part of what made this book so long and slow. At times, it felt a bit like Alan Rickman's published journals and at other times, it felt more like a senile old uncle rambling on endlessly.

Page 389: "Life is much more manageable when thought of as a scavenger hunt as opposed to a surprise party."

His analogy of searching being worth the fun more than the finding made sense but there are easier ways to say that! (The journey is better than the destination.)

Page 420: "Unfortunately, the sportfishing boat in the harbor too often means that marinas and condos are not far behind. V.S. Naipaul once wrote that tourism is the 'slavery of the twentieth century.' On too many islands, a few profit-driven individuals can erode an entire culture.Carriacou has somehow avoided the attack so far, but there is always the threat of the wolf in sheep's clothing, scavengers from the corporate world."

This made me wonder if he considered his own role in this situation. He and his family flew all over the Caribbean, stayed in hotels and houses, rented cars and boats, . . . but other people aren't supposed to do that? All of these beautiful places should be undeveloped except for people like him? I agree that overdevelopment (and greed) are awful and can ruin natural beauty, but he just seems a bit myopic on this issue.

Page 425: "Politicians can make all the speeches they want and governments can do all the public-service ads money can buy, but in the islands the reality is this: If you want people to stop selling dope, they have to be able to make a living doing something else."

That observation is one of the wisest things he says in this book. All the "war on drugs" talk won't have as much impact as helping people find other ways to make a good living. Money talks.

Page 456: He closes with a poem called "The Double Life" by Don Blanding. I like the message of "A Restless Me" and "A Quiet Me." I also like to travel / explore AND stay home!

I'm glad I'm done with this book. I'm ready to return it to the library!

Mennonite in a Little Black Dress

By: Rhoda Janzen

Libby audiobook 8 hours

Read by: Hillary Huber

Published: 2009

Genre: Memoir

Janzen is a talented writer, no question. She is intelligent and has an impressive vocabulary (words are her thing!) Parts of this were funny, while other parts were intensely sad. It's her personal story, so who am I to critique?

I strongly disliked how dismissive she was about Jesus and Christianity. Her experiences growing up as a Mennonite are her own experiences, but it was hard to hear her rejection of faith in Jesus.

When she talked about her fifteen year marriage to Nick, I was horrified that she put up with him for so long and in so many ways. Him overspending on frivolities as an undergrad while she worked to support him. His verbal abuse and belittling. She acknowledges that it's different to be on the outside looking in - "Why doesn't she leave him?" - but then she goes on to be critical of others' life choices. 

The "wounding words" that her niece learned about in school came up in subsequent sections. It was wonderful how the author wove certain themes and phrases throughout the book.

When she talks about "what if" in regards to going back into the past, she acknowledges that she probably would still have ended up with Nick. Ugh. She also admits that she can be stupid. Can't we all?

I absolutely loved the relationship she had with her sister Hannah! It made me think of my sisters. 

There is much to like about this book, but if you love Jesus you may be sad about her perspective on religion. The Mennonite-specific content (about food, not being Amish, etc.) was interesting and entertaining. Her dismissal of Christianity was just sad.

While reading this, I wondered what her parents, siblings, and childhood friends thought of it. I'm not curious enough to go digging, but I wonder what their reactions were. Her mom is portrayed alternately as funny, clueless, sweet, and confining. Overall, I enjoyed reading this because the author wrote well and the reader did a great job.

I had originally read about this book in a 2010 Costco review . . . so many books, less and less time. Perhaps I need to be more selective. Right now, I'm forcing myself to finish a 450 page book that (like this one) has things I like and things I just don't care for . . . why do I do this to myself?!

The Surgeon's Daughter

By: Jaima Fixsen and Regina Sirois (united pen name: Audrey Blake)

Libby eBook  45 chapters plus historical note (plus first three chapters of The Woman with No Name)

Published: 2022

Genre: historical fiction

We continue the story of Nora (in Bolgna, Italy to become a doctor) and Daniel (in London, trying to help Horace Croft build his practice. Practicing medicine in the 1840s was not for the feint of heart - male or female. This book was less gory but still had interesting details. I like that one of the things Nora learned about medicine was the non-medical aspects of life and death.

The first half was kind of ho-hum and I thought about not finishing it. I'm glad I stuck with it.

My favorite parts were Nora finally being mentored and befriended by Magdalena, Harry and Julia joining the household, and two things that are spoiler alerts (So STOP now if you want to read it and be surprised).

I was confident that Lady Woodbine and her baby would survive, but the authors left enough couching and hedging room that it was suspenseful and satisfying.

I was so glad that Dr. Vickery was thwarted!

I was sad when Pozzi died. He was such a sweetheart and one of Nora's true friends in Italy.

Grandma Ruth Doesn't Go to Funerals

By: Sharon J. Mondragón

Jean's copy, paperback, 247 pages (including acknowledgements and a recipe)

Published: 2025

Genre: Christian realistic fiction

I was so ready for a "lighter" book and this one fit the bill! I've been on library waiting lists for a month, but I did find a pdf of the first few chapters online. Thankfully, a book club friend finished early enough to give me her copy in church yesterday. I purposely didn't take a sub job so I could finish it before book club tonight!

Grandma Ruth's health doesn't allow her to attend funerals any more, so she sends her granddaughter Sarah Elizabeth in her stead. The Southern charm is strong in this book and I loved the mystery of what exactly P.B. Harrington meant on his death bed. (We get the answer on the second to last page of the story!)

I'm surprised I stuck so many post-its in, since it's a pretty lightweight book. I think I just enjoyed it so darn much!

Page 27: "The macaroni and cheese casserole had been polished off long ago, but I didn't swing by the kitchen to take the dish home. Under Patti Sue's supervision, it was undoubtedly already washed, dried, and sitting on a counter, but I was under strict instructions from Grandma Ruth to retrieve the casserole dish one week after the reception, so as to visit with (read that check on) the bereaved."

Grandma Ruth was a wise old gal. She had Sarah trained well!

Page 31: "Grandma Ruth fixed me with a stare that told me I was indulging in wild speculation that bordered on disrespect. It was just a look, but it had all those words in it."

I love when people have a "look" that communicates so much more than words!

Page 47: "But as I looked into those kind eyes, something stirred, as if hope had caught its breath. I took a moment to clear the lump of gratitude from my throat before I went back into the parlor."

This is one of my favorite parts of the book! Doc Milford's words of encouragement were what she needed after having had such a bad experience with Jake. (I groaned when she was tempted by Jake coming back into her life and trying to sweet talk her back.) The image of "as if hope had caught its breath" really struck me. Hope is powerful!

Page 48: "I know most people my age keep their lives on their phones, but I like paper, section tabs, and fancy writing implements."

Me, too! I love office supplies.

Page 55: "She's been nitpicky about everything to do with words since high school, which explains why she has taken so well to working in a law office. I'm a numbers girl and could care less. Or is it couldn't care less? Never mind - you know what I mean."

This just made me giggle. I'm more of a words person than a number person, but I love this little aside.

Page 99: "During our final confrontation, the one in which I threw the engagement ring at him across the room, he told me that the situation was all my fault. He would never have taken up with Buffy if I had just given in.

He said calling off the wedding was a lucky escape for him, as I was probably frigid, anyway. It was as if he never realized just how warm my heart and all the rest of me was toward him, how my blood roared in my ears when he touched me, or how many times the only thing that kept me from going over the brink was the mental image of Grandma Ruth's piercing blue eyes."

He was such an awful creep! I understand her desire and temptation, but am SO glad that it was drilled in to her to not have sex before marriage. She experienced heartache, but not to the degree she would have had she "given in" to him.

Page 122: "I hated having to read between the lines, with all the suspicion and second-guessing that went with it."

She goes on, but my patience ran out. Stop jumping to conclusions!

Page 127: "Then, I cried and cried and felt that God was too big. Too big to care about me. My broken heart was a mere drop in the bucket of the vast suffering in the world."

 

God being too big . . . her grandma means it in a way that was meant to encourage Sarah to trust Him, not to make her think He was too big to care about her.

 

Page 161: "'I do not gossip, Sarah Elizabeth, nor do I pass gossip,' Grandma Ruth said through tight lips.

'Of course not,' I said. 'You gather information.'

'That's right, young lady, and don't you forget it.'"

 

The whole focus on gossip / not gossiping got a little old . . . according to the Bible, gossip is sin. Period.

Page 174: "Remember, 'if your lips you would keep from slips, five things regard with care -'

"I know, I know. 'Of whom you speak, to whom you speak, and how and when and where.'"

 

When  Sarah's mom starts the saying and Sarah finishes it, I love that they have that common knowledge / teaching. That's a good way to raise kids - with sayings that help them learn the right way to live and speak.

Page 181: "It was bad enough that his credit cards were maxed out and it looked like I'd have to pick up the check. But he also didn't know which of his cards he'd maxed out. That says he doesn't pay attention to his money and probably lives beyond his means. So, it doesn't matter if he comes into an inheritance or not. It'll be gone in no time, and he'll have no idea where it went."

Ugh. People like this baffle me. Don't spend money you don't have. Don't live beyond your means. I love that Meredith saw this right away on a first date!

Page 226: "Yes, I know I told Miss Charlotte she looked lovely when she really looked like something the cat dragged in, but that's different. Completely, bless-your-heart different."

Lying is lying, Sarah. But the Southern "bless your heart" reference clarifies it.

I enjoyed the book and have even requested another title by this author. The recipe in the back was for the "famous" macaroni and cheese dish. I was kind of hoping it would be for the lemon bars . . . It will be fun to talk about this at book club tonight. I'm so glad I had the chance to finish it!