Kopp Sisters #2
by Amy Stewart
Scott County Library hardcover 310 pages
genre: Historical mystery fiction
Set in the 19teens, this book is also based on historical people and events. Constance Kopp is employed as a jail matron for the female prisoners, but longs to be a deputy. When a dangerous prisoner escapes from a hospital room during a storm, Kopp feels personally responsible and tries to track him down. There is less of Norma and Fleurette in this story, but enough to keep Constance grounded and challenged. Fleurette's flair for drama (and skill at sewing) are clearly leading to some new ground for the Kopp sisters. I've already reserved book 3 at the library!
I liked this line from page 282: "The two of them sat resolutely behind bars, having decided, apparently, that they would trade their liberty for familial solidarity. Sometimes a family was like a swamp, everyone mired in the same mud." (I'm not sure I agree with it, but it did make me grin. There's something about family bonds . . . )
I absolutely love her "historical notes, sources, and acknowledgments" at the end of the book. What excellent research! I love how she identifies factual sources and her embellishments in storytelling. She has mad skills! Looking forward to continuing to read these exploits.
Monday, February 25, 2019
Sunday, February 24, 2019
King Peggy: An American Secretary, Her Royal Destiny, and the Inspiring Story of How She Changed an African Village
by Peggieliene Bartels and Eleanor Herman
personal copy paperback 334 pages
genre: biography / memoir
My son Alex and his wife gave this book to me a few years ago. Now that I've finally read it, I need to ask them if they met either of the authors . . . I'm not sure what the connection was for them to get this book and then give it to me. My sister wanted to read it for her book club, so that motivated me to finish it and loan it!
Peggy Bartels was born in Ghana, but had been working and living in Washington D.C. at the Ghanian embassy for years when she received a call that her uncle had died. The "spirits" had chosen her as the new king. After getting over her shock and disbelief, she needed to decide if she would accept the responsibility or not.
Her odyssey (living in the U.S. for 10-11 months each year and then traveling to Otuam, Ghana for the other month or two) was expensive and arduous. Her royal advisors were crooked, stealing from the money that should have gone toward the betterment of the village. The book was interesting and worth reading, but I struggled with the descriptor of her as a "devout Christian" intermixed with her pouring libations to the ancestors and talking to the spirits of the stool for direction.
Here are some passages I noted that I really liked or reacted to as I was reading:
Page 48 - "An African wearing kente, or even regular cloth decorated with adinkra symbols, walked out into the world proclaiming what he or she stood for: strength, family, or forgiveness, powerful concepts that helped you get through your day. Peggy opened her closet and looked at the row of black and brown pantsuits she usually wore to the office. How sad, she thought, that we Americans dress like this. We walk outside every morning with no power, no symbolism, no added bit of spiritual heft to help us meet our challenges."
Page 159 - "My people have no running water, she thought, and bad schools, and minimal health care, and electricity only part of the time. Most have no cars, no television, and no radio, and the kids don't have games or toys. We are poor in gadgets, but rich in so many other ways. And America, despite all its riches , and despite all the buttons you can push there, is in some respects poor."
Page 166 - (When the door fell off the refrigerator and Cousin Charles fixed it with a piece of cork) "'There!' he said, satisfied. He looked at Peggy. 'I know that in America you go out and buy new things when something breaks. But this is African engineering at an African price.'" I love that!
Page 198 - I laughed when I read the section about Tsiami's virility, even though I mostly thought he was a jerk.
Page 260 - "Returning to Ghana had made Peggy more aware than ever before of the concept of African family, of the interlocking layers of support needed to ensure that the weakest do not falter."
Page 317 - When Tsiami explained what Isaiah and Baba Kobena had done, in agreement with Uncle Joseph's daughters, it was heartbreaking. "Those in the room lowered their heads in shame at the story, except for Peggy. Her head was high, and her eyes flashing. But they haven't won, Peggy thought. Because there is a God who doesn't approve of dishonoring corpses, especially that of the person who gave you life. They haven't won because there is a God who hates deceit and bribery and causing pain to innocent people, a God who will punish the wicked. Honor thy father and mother, God said, and he wasn't joking."
Page 333 - "When I first cheerfully got on a plane headed for Ghana I had no idea that the experience would be life-changing. There are many Americans - I myself was one of them - who live in big houses with every luxury money can buy and who are, nonetheless, stressed, depressed, and take for granted so much of what we have. Until my trip to Otuam, I was never grateful for the faucet that brought me clean water, hot or cold, at a touch. For flush toilets. For the ambulance that arrives at our doors within minutes of a 911 call. For food and clothing, heating and air-conditioning. Yet most of the people of Otuam, despite their poverty and their lack of water, health care, and educational opportunities, are grateful for every blessing and find joy in their faith, families, and friends in a way that those of us trapped in suburban depression can't imagine."
personal copy paperback 334 pages
genre: biography / memoir
My son Alex and his wife gave this book to me a few years ago. Now that I've finally read it, I need to ask them if they met either of the authors . . . I'm not sure what the connection was for them to get this book and then give it to me. My sister wanted to read it for her book club, so that motivated me to finish it and loan it!
Peggy Bartels was born in Ghana, but had been working and living in Washington D.C. at the Ghanian embassy for years when she received a call that her uncle had died. The "spirits" had chosen her as the new king. After getting over her shock and disbelief, she needed to decide if she would accept the responsibility or not.
Her odyssey (living in the U.S. for 10-11 months each year and then traveling to Otuam, Ghana for the other month or two) was expensive and arduous. Her royal advisors were crooked, stealing from the money that should have gone toward the betterment of the village. The book was interesting and worth reading, but I struggled with the descriptor of her as a "devout Christian" intermixed with her pouring libations to the ancestors and talking to the spirits of the stool for direction.
Here are some passages I noted that I really liked or reacted to as I was reading:
Page 48 - "An African wearing kente, or even regular cloth decorated with adinkra symbols, walked out into the world proclaiming what he or she stood for: strength, family, or forgiveness, powerful concepts that helped you get through your day. Peggy opened her closet and looked at the row of black and brown pantsuits she usually wore to the office. How sad, she thought, that we Americans dress like this. We walk outside every morning with no power, no symbolism, no added bit of spiritual heft to help us meet our challenges."
Page 159 - "My people have no running water, she thought, and bad schools, and minimal health care, and electricity only part of the time. Most have no cars, no television, and no radio, and the kids don't have games or toys. We are poor in gadgets, but rich in so many other ways. And America, despite all its riches , and despite all the buttons you can push there, is in some respects poor."
Page 166 - (When the door fell off the refrigerator and Cousin Charles fixed it with a piece of cork) "'There!' he said, satisfied. He looked at Peggy. 'I know that in America you go out and buy new things when something breaks. But this is African engineering at an African price.'" I love that!
Page 198 - I laughed when I read the section about Tsiami's virility, even though I mostly thought he was a jerk.
Page 260 - "Returning to Ghana had made Peggy more aware than ever before of the concept of African family, of the interlocking layers of support needed to ensure that the weakest do not falter."
Page 317 - When Tsiami explained what Isaiah and Baba Kobena had done, in agreement with Uncle Joseph's daughters, it was heartbreaking. "Those in the room lowered their heads in shame at the story, except for Peggy. Her head was high, and her eyes flashing. But they haven't won, Peggy thought. Because there is a God who doesn't approve of dishonoring corpses, especially that of the person who gave you life. They haven't won because there is a God who hates deceit and bribery and causing pain to innocent people, a God who will punish the wicked. Honor thy father and mother, God said, and he wasn't joking."
Page 333 - "When I first cheerfully got on a plane headed for Ghana I had no idea that the experience would be life-changing. There are many Americans - I myself was one of them - who live in big houses with every luxury money can buy and who are, nonetheless, stressed, depressed, and take for granted so much of what we have. Until my trip to Otuam, I was never grateful for the faucet that brought me clean water, hot or cold, at a touch. For flush toilets. For the ambulance that arrives at our doors within minutes of a 911 call. For food and clothing, heating and air-conditioning. Yet most of the people of Otuam, despite their poverty and their lack of water, health care, and educational opportunities, are grateful for every blessing and find joy in their faith, families, and friends in a way that those of us trapped in suburban depression can't imagine."
Monday, February 18, 2019
Scar Island
by Dan Gemeinhart
NPMS paperback 249 pages
genre: YA dystopian
A student was reading this when I was subbing last week. I got another copy from the media center and read it to respond to some questions he had. I will see him tomorrow at school.
I made a cheat sheet for the characters because there are a lot of them! (Sixteen boys on a desolate island being punished for juvenile offenses, plus eight adults . . . and three other adults.) Kind of a nasty story, but just right for middle school.
I like that the author referenced great literature - Robinson Crusoe, Treasure Island, Lord of the Flies, and Moby Dick. I wonder if any students reading this would try to tackle those titles. My favorite character (besides the protagonist Jonathan) was the librarian!
The Admiral and his men are nasty creeps who should not be working with adolescent reform in any way! This book is a page-turner for sure.
NPMS paperback 249 pages
genre: YA dystopian
A student was reading this when I was subbing last week. I got another copy from the media center and read it to respond to some questions he had. I will see him tomorrow at school.
I made a cheat sheet for the characters because there are a lot of them! (Sixteen boys on a desolate island being punished for juvenile offenses, plus eight adults . . . and three other adults.) Kind of a nasty story, but just right for middle school.
I like that the author referenced great literature - Robinson Crusoe, Treasure Island, Lord of the Flies, and Moby Dick. I wonder if any students reading this would try to tackle those titles. My favorite character (besides the protagonist Jonathan) was the librarian!
The Admiral and his men are nasty creeps who should not be working with adolescent reform in any way! This book is a page-turner for sure.
The Secrets of Wishtide: A Laetitia Rodd Mystery
by Kate Saunders
Scott County Library, audiobook, 9 CDs
read by Anna Bentinck
genre: Historical murder mystery
Set in the 1850s, this was a delightful story! I will have to see if this author has other titles. I didn't make many notes, but it was a good mystery with lots of different elements.
Sir James is a jerk! I disliked him even before I found out about his double standards for his own conduct vs. his wife's (and his deception regarding Esther). I ended up really liking Mrs. Hardy, especially when she told Laetitia "I'm a fallen woman, not a kept one." Mrs. Calderstone's role got better toward the end.
Blackbeard
Mrs. Gammon (Sally or Sarah?)
Mrs. Orn? Helen
So many different characters and locations in England! (And Antwerp . . . )
Arrowsmith / Gammon / Saville
Bentinck's vocal work is absolutely superb!
<Blogged above 2.18.19. Below added 11.29.22>
I don't have a lot to add, but I re-read it in Libby last week. The parents hire Mrs. Rodd to dissuade their son from marrying Mrs. Orm(?), a widow. As she tries to find out more about the woman, she learns that she likes her. But when murders start happening and the young master is going on trial, the case really heats up.
Sisters Blanche and Elizabeth are lovely counterparts to the main characters. But her confidante and landlady, Mrs. Bentley, who once let rooms to
John Keats, is my favorite character.
Pastwatch: the Redemption of Christopher Columbus
by Orson Scott Card
PRMS discard, hardbound, 398 pages
genre: SciFi
Although Card is one of my favorite authors, I have been plowing through this slowly over several months. I'm on page 256, and I've decided to just let it go. I've never been a huge fan of time travel stories and this one is partly fascinating and partly irritating. "Pastwatch" is a technology that allows the watchers to go back in time and observe people and events in the past. Then a watcher realizes that the people being watched can *see* her! This changes everything.
The Christopher Columbus portions of the story - his history, motivations, and beliefs - are interesting, but I wonder how much research Card did and how accurate he is. His sources list at the end is pretty impressive.
A few passages really caught my attention. On page 49, "His words were so confident - yet she felt a dizzying vertigo, as if she stood on the edge of a great chasm, and the ground had just shifted a little under her feet. What sort of arrogance did she have, even to imagine reaching back into the past and making changes? Who am I, she thought, if I dare to answer prayers intended for the gods?"
The conversation on page 194 about going back (and who should go back and why . . . ) would have been a fascinating conversation to have with my peers when I was a teenager or a young adult. Now it doesn't interest me. It seems pointless.
This comment on page 203 amused me. "I know that to mate with someone without marriage is a repudiation of the community, a refusal to take one's proper role within the society."
It feels liberating to not spend more energy on this book. I have so many others I want to read!
PRMS discard, hardbound, 398 pages
genre: SciFi
Although Card is one of my favorite authors, I have been plowing through this slowly over several months. I'm on page 256, and I've decided to just let it go. I've never been a huge fan of time travel stories and this one is partly fascinating and partly irritating. "Pastwatch" is a technology that allows the watchers to go back in time and observe people and events in the past. Then a watcher realizes that the people being watched can *see* her! This changes everything.
The Christopher Columbus portions of the story - his history, motivations, and beliefs - are interesting, but I wonder how much research Card did and how accurate he is. His sources list at the end is pretty impressive.
A few passages really caught my attention. On page 49, "His words were so confident - yet she felt a dizzying vertigo, as if she stood on the edge of a great chasm, and the ground had just shifted a little under her feet. What sort of arrogance did she have, even to imagine reaching back into the past and making changes? Who am I, she thought, if I dare to answer prayers intended for the gods?"
The conversation on page 194 about going back (and who should go back and why . . . ) would have been a fascinating conversation to have with my peers when I was a teenager or a young adult. Now it doesn't interest me. It seems pointless.
This comment on page 203 amused me. "I know that to mate with someone without marriage is a repudiation of the community, a refusal to take one's proper role within the society."
It feels liberating to not spend more energy on this book. I have so many others I want to read!
Thursday, February 07, 2019
American Heart Association Low-Salt Cookbook (4th edition)
A Complete Guide to Reducing Sodium and Fat in Your Diet
Scott County Library hardcover
genre: cookbook, health
I kept this for so long so I could read all the intro info and try a few recipes. I think I'll just add it to my wish list or Amazon cart and get it back to the library. I believe that I could make a bigger effort to reduce my sodium. I am willing to try new things. This book seems much better than the last one I looked at . . . which I may or may not have blogged about. I think the American Heart Association has more information about heart healthy options. I especially like that there are recipes for seasonings, sauces, soups, etc.
Scott County Library hardcover
genre: cookbook, health
I kept this for so long so I could read all the intro info and try a few recipes. I think I'll just add it to my wish list or Amazon cart and get it back to the library. I believe that I could make a bigger effort to reduce my sodium. I am willing to try new things. This book seems much better than the last one I looked at . . . which I may or may not have blogged about. I think the American Heart Association has more information about heart healthy options. I especially like that there are recipes for seasonings, sauces, soups, etc.
Promise Me, Dad: A Year of Hope, Hardship, and Purpose
by Joe Biden
Scott County Library hardcover 206 pages
genre: memoir
I was very interested in reading about Joe Biden's son Beau. Those parts of this book were quite good. The political parts, with speeches, travel, etc. were kind of dull. The topics are quite important, but I was more interested in the personal. It kind of amazes me that I didn't realize Biden had such a major personal tragedy early in his adult life! He lost his first wife and daughter in a car accident that injured his young sons Beau and Hunter. . .
On page 77, when he relates President Obama's concerns about a possible "Biden in 2016" campaign, I put a post-it note. "For one thing, the president recognized the media's increasing appetite for the drama of politics over real policy." How sad it is to look back at that sentiment, now that we have a president who is all about drama over real policy.
Page 95 includes an interchange between Biden and Putin, but I question its veracity.
"Mr. Prime Minister, I'm looking into your eyes," I told him, smiling. "I don't think you have a soul."
He looked at me for a second and smiled back. "We understand each other," he said.
If true, that is simply too creepy. Putin is scary enough without him admitting to having no soul.
Scott County Library hardcover 206 pages
genre: memoir
I was very interested in reading about Joe Biden's son Beau. Those parts of this book were quite good. The political parts, with speeches, travel, etc. were kind of dull. The topics are quite important, but I was more interested in the personal. It kind of amazes me that I didn't realize Biden had such a major personal tragedy early in his adult life! He lost his first wife and daughter in a car accident that injured his young sons Beau and Hunter. . .
On page 77, when he relates President Obama's concerns about a possible "Biden in 2016" campaign, I put a post-it note. "For one thing, the president recognized the media's increasing appetite for the drama of politics over real policy." How sad it is to look back at that sentiment, now that we have a president who is all about drama over real policy.
Page 95 includes an interchange between Biden and Putin, but I question its veracity.
"Mr. Prime Minister, I'm looking into your eyes," I told him, smiling. "I don't think you have a soul."
He looked at me for a second and smiled back. "We understand each other," he said.
If true, that is simply too creepy. Putin is scary enough without him admitting to having no soul.
Shade: A Tale of Two Presidents
by Pete Souza
Scott County Library hardcover 238 pages
genre: photojournalism, politics
I didn't like this book nearly as much as Souza's Obama. I appreciate the juxtaposition of Trump's tweets with Obama's demeanor and behavior, but this wasn't as joyous a book as the first one. I find Souza's late-to-the-game understanding of "shade" to be humorous. I also liked that there were some photos I'd not seen before. It would have been disappointing if it were just a re-hash of what's already been published. Overall, I liked it but wouldn't want to own it.
Scott County Library hardcover 238 pages
genre: photojournalism, politics
I didn't like this book nearly as much as Souza's Obama. I appreciate the juxtaposition of Trump's tweets with Obama's demeanor and behavior, but this wasn't as joyous a book as the first one. I find Souza's late-to-the-game understanding of "shade" to be humorous. I also liked that there were some photos I'd not seen before. It would have been disappointing if it were just a re-hash of what's already been published. Overall, I liked it but wouldn't want to own it.
Saturday, February 02, 2019
Okay for Now
by Gary D. Schmidt
Scott County Library audiobook 8 CDs
read by Lincoln Hoppe
genre: YA historical fiction
Gary D. Schmidt is one of my favorite YA authors! He is amazing - Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, The Wednesday Wars, . . . He is simply phenomenal. I am frustrated, though, at how hard it can be to "sell" his books to today's readers. The era for this one (Vietnam War) is so foreign to today's tweens and teens. So many of the cultural references won't make any sense. The angst, family dynamics, and struggles of main character Doug will still resonate, though.
Doug Swieteck's dad is an angry man. When he moves his family to Marysville, New York, Doug is miserable. His brother Christopher has "a twisted criminal mind" and his oldest brother Lucas is in Vietnam. I don't want to give away spoilers, so I'll just say that it's an amazing story and well worth reading! Lincoln Hoppe's vocal work is exceptional; this is a great listen-to.
Things I want to capture: Mr. "Big Bucks" Ballard, horseshoes, orchids, Lil, Spicer's Deli, deliveries, Mrs. Windermere, Audobon's birds, "skinny delivery boy," Joe Pepitone, the jacket, Jane Eyre, art, reading, school, Coach Swieteck, "so-called" gym teacher, the Dougherty family, . . . The Wikipedia page for this book has images of all the Audobon bird drawings that head the chapters. Fun to look at them!
I would love to find a middle schooler who enjoys historical fiction. I'd recommend all three of Schmidt's books and Ruth Sepetys' as well.
Notes from my car:
Unhappy, angry boy with angry alcoholic dad, two mean older brothers, and sweet, resigned mom.
Why set in this era? Connection to modern kids?
"jerk" "remember" "chump" "I'm not lying" etc. . . . repetition used effectively or too irritating?
Dad is reprehensible!
Scott County Library audiobook 8 CDs
read by Lincoln Hoppe
genre: YA historical fiction
Gary D. Schmidt is one of my favorite YA authors! He is amazing - Lizzie Bright and the Buckminster Boy, The Wednesday Wars, . . . He is simply phenomenal. I am frustrated, though, at how hard it can be to "sell" his books to today's readers. The era for this one (Vietnam War) is so foreign to today's tweens and teens. So many of the cultural references won't make any sense. The angst, family dynamics, and struggles of main character Doug will still resonate, though.
Doug Swieteck's dad is an angry man. When he moves his family to Marysville, New York, Doug is miserable. His brother Christopher has "a twisted criminal mind" and his oldest brother Lucas is in Vietnam. I don't want to give away spoilers, so I'll just say that it's an amazing story and well worth reading! Lincoln Hoppe's vocal work is exceptional; this is a great listen-to.
Things I want to capture: Mr. "Big Bucks" Ballard, horseshoes, orchids, Lil, Spicer's Deli, deliveries, Mrs. Windermere, Audobon's birds, "skinny delivery boy," Joe Pepitone, the jacket, Jane Eyre, art, reading, school, Coach Swieteck, "so-called" gym teacher, the Dougherty family, . . . The Wikipedia page for this book has images of all the Audobon bird drawings that head the chapters. Fun to look at them!
I would love to find a middle schooler who enjoys historical fiction. I'd recommend all three of Schmidt's books and Ruth Sepetys' as well.
Notes from my car:
Unhappy, angry boy with angry alcoholic dad, two mean older brothers, and sweet, resigned mom.
Why set in this era? Connection to modern kids?
"jerk" "remember" "chump" "I'm not lying" etc. . . . repetition used effectively or too irritating?
Dad is reprehensible!
Monday, January 21, 2019
Stars Over Clear Lake
by Loretta Ellsworth
Scott County Library audiobook 8 CDs
read by Tavia Gilbert
genre: Historical fiction
This was a delightful story set in a place I've visited - Clear Lake, Iowa. Alternating between the 1940s and 2007, we meet Lorraine Kindred (cool last name) as a teenager and a woman in her 70s, mourning the loss of her beloved husband Sid.
The story was delightful! I don't want to give too much away, so I'll just jot my notes here.
1944 - the mom is *nasty*
Sid - prominent character in the 2000s . . . but not mentioned in the 1940s at all
The Surf Ballroom - cool history!!!
Pete's letter . . . so glad he sent it.
1944-47 - I love this part the best!
2007 - kind of depressing
Daisy's a B-I-*-*-*
Stella . . . not much of a friend
Lance Dugan is a jerk
Scotty / Jens (sounds like "Yens") . . . could one of them be Sid???
Miss Berkland - love her!
YES! I love the part where we find out (finally) who Sid is/was!
The author's note at the end was fascinating. There were over 700 POW camps in the U.S. during WWII. Sounds like I should make a trip to Camp Algona in Iowa . . . and visit The Surf (the rebuilt one, of course) while I'm in the area.
What a fun book! I was entertained and I learned. Delightful!
Scott County Library audiobook 8 CDs
read by Tavia Gilbert
genre: Historical fiction
This was a delightful story set in a place I've visited - Clear Lake, Iowa. Alternating between the 1940s and 2007, we meet Lorraine Kindred (cool last name) as a teenager and a woman in her 70s, mourning the loss of her beloved husband Sid.
The story was delightful! I don't want to give too much away, so I'll just jot my notes here.
1944 - the mom is *nasty*
Sid - prominent character in the 2000s . . . but not mentioned in the 1940s at all
The Surf Ballroom - cool history!!!
Pete's letter . . . so glad he sent it.
1944-47 - I love this part the best!
2007 - kind of depressing
Daisy's a B-I-*-*-*
Stella . . . not much of a friend
Lance Dugan is a jerk
Scotty / Jens (sounds like "Yens") . . . could one of them be Sid???
Miss Berkland - love her!
YES! I love the part where we find out (finally) who Sid is/was!
The author's note at the end was fascinating. There were over 700 POW camps in the U.S. during WWII. Sounds like I should make a trip to Camp Algona in Iowa . . . and visit The Surf (the rebuilt one, of course) while I'm in the area.
What a fun book! I was entertained and I learned. Delightful!
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
The Man He Never Was
by James L. Rubart
Scott County Library paperback 364 pages
genre: Christian fiction
I waited too long to start reading this and have to return it to the library (two days ago . . . someone's waiting . . . and I had already renewed it . . . bad library user!) so I speed-read it last night. No post-it notes.
It will be interesting to discuss it at book club this month. Toren Daniels had a major anger problem. When he disappeared for eight months, people thought he was dead. His sudden reappearance (with no memory of where he'd been for that time) causes major havoc in the lives of his family, friends, and football fans.
What I liked: the Jekyll / Hyde analogy, with the "two halves" of good and evil, along with the fable of the two dogs, black and white
What I disliked: Toren was kind of an irritating character. Plus, how on earth did all these people survive financially for so long with no apparent income? It's not like he had been an NFL star before his disappearance!
Again, I look forward to hearing book club conversation about this title.
Scott County Library paperback 364 pages
genre: Christian fiction
I waited too long to start reading this and have to return it to the library (two days ago . . . someone's waiting . . . and I had already renewed it . . . bad library user!) so I speed-read it last night. No post-it notes.
It will be interesting to discuss it at book club this month. Toren Daniels had a major anger problem. When he disappeared for eight months, people thought he was dead. His sudden reappearance (with no memory of where he'd been for that time) causes major havoc in the lives of his family, friends, and football fans.
What I liked: the Jekyll / Hyde analogy, with the "two halves" of good and evil, along with the fable of the two dogs, black and white
What I disliked: Toren was kind of an irritating character. Plus, how on earth did all these people survive financially for so long with no apparent income? It's not like he had been an NFL star before his disappearance!
Again, I look forward to hearing book club conversation about this title.
Monday, January 14, 2019
Girl Waits With Gun
by Amy Stewart
Scott County Library hardcover 404 pages
genre: historical fiction, detective
I don't remember where I heard about this book, but it pairs well with Miss Phryne Fischer's mysteries. In this story, Constance Kopp and her sisters Norma and Fleurette live on the family farm after their mother's death. Their brother Francis lives in town and keeps trying to convince his sisters to move in with him, his wife, and their children. One day when the sisters head into town in their horse buggy, an automobile crashes into them and destroys the buggy. This first encounter with silk factory boss Henry Kaufman just leads to worse and worse circumstances.
Set in 1914, the author used actual letters and newspaper articles to build this inventive story of Constance and her amazing life. I am curious about the historical person who lived . . . and the author shares some of her fact / fiction choices in the author's endnotes. But I am interested enough to request book two and see where the story goes!
Oh! I made a note of page 107 . . . and the Singer man. I was quite surprised by this part of the story!
Added 1/30/2019 (two weeks later):
I found where I first heard about this book . . . a page torn from a Costco Connections magazine.
Scott County Library hardcover 404 pages
genre: historical fiction, detective
I don't remember where I heard about this book, but it pairs well with Miss Phryne Fischer's mysteries. In this story, Constance Kopp and her sisters Norma and Fleurette live on the family farm after their mother's death. Their brother Francis lives in town and keeps trying to convince his sisters to move in with him, his wife, and their children. One day when the sisters head into town in their horse buggy, an automobile crashes into them and destroys the buggy. This first encounter with silk factory boss Henry Kaufman just leads to worse and worse circumstances.
Set in 1914, the author used actual letters and newspaper articles to build this inventive story of Constance and her amazing life. I am curious about the historical person who lived . . . and the author shares some of her fact / fiction choices in the author's endnotes. But I am interested enough to request book two and see where the story goes!
Oh! I made a note of page 107 . . . and the Singer man. I was quite surprised by this part of the story!
Added 1/30/2019 (two weeks later):
I found where I first heard about this book . . . a page torn from a Costco Connections magazine.
Tuesday, January 08, 2019
The Drifters
by James A. Michener
Hennepin County Library, paperback 722 pages
genre: Realistic fiction (at this point, it's like historical fiction, but that's not how it was written)
A dear friend talked about how significant this book was in her reading as a teenager. I haven't read any books by Michener, so I got this one. In doing a little pre-reading, I learned that Michener's Tales of the South Pacific (a book of short stories) inspired the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical!
This book was fascinating to me on some levels and kind of repugnant on others. The first six chapters each have two pages of quotations and excerpts from different sources. These alone are interesting and sparked my curiosity! The chapters introduce the main (young) characters - Joe, a draft dodger; Britta, a Norwegian girl who wants to be in the sun; Monica, an English girl who is living in Africa and is filled with disdain for her father; Cato, an African-American who is disillusioned with his father's Christianity and his own prospects for the future; Yigal, an Israeli-American who feels pulled between his two countries; and Gretchen, a talented singer and guitar player who encounters police brutality in Chicago.
Written in 1971, this almost reads to me like a historical novel. Some of the events and characters' attitudes are definitely dated to the late 60s / early 70s. The Wikipedia page actually has very good summary info - on the chapters, the characters, and the places (real / fictional). I tagged a lot of pages, so I'll just comment on those.
Page 51 - Mr. Mogstad (her boss) forcing himself on Britta. She was . . . "quite unprepared for this assault and in a kind of dumb panic allowed him to have his way, not certain what other course might be available to her. It was a messy business, clumsy, frightening and totally disgusting, with Mr. Mogstad's dirty mustaches and fetid breath adding to the ugliness." This made me so sad and mad. Too many girls and young women have real experiences like this!
Page 69 - Britta: "Oh God, I am so afraid. I am so alone." As she expresses this, it made me think of people who do cry out to the Lord and are delivered. That doesn't happen in this story, but I like that the crying out was at least there.
Page 111 - People discussing Monica's poor behavior and the generation gap in general: "I suppose the best thing a parent can do these days when society refuses to give us any help and when even the schools and churches are powerless, is to start when the child is in the cradle and try in our own way to give her a sense of values . . . " I thought, "Duh! It doesn't matter much what society, schools, and churches are up to - of COURSE you have to work on developing values with your own children!"
Page 181 - When Grandpa Melnikoff and Mr. Fairbanks are talking about the quality of education in Israel vs. The United States: "in America nearly every child goes to high school. In Israel about one out of twenty-five makes it. Reali ought to be superior. It doesn't have to bother with the clods." I don't know if this info was ever accurate, but it made me think of the education comparisons I've often heard in my career. This can be maddening when the comparisons are not accurate!
Page 202 - Yigal: "his growing awareness that a surprising number of well-educated Jews in the Detroit area were turning against Israel and finding it fashionable to parade pro-Arab sentiments." I thought this section was fascinating. I've heard others expound on the injustice of Israel even existing . . . and I get the sense that they sympathize with the Arabs / Palestinians without really understanding why they do. I'm no expert on the Middle East, but I do know that the conflict is rooted in a lot of complex issues and a long history. This is no simple black and white story.
Page 235 - Mr. Fairbanks realizing something while listening to Gretchen. "The songs I heard that winter in Boston were an invitation to rebellion, and for the first time I realized that if able young people like Gretchen had been nurtured on these songs over the past ten years - the most formative of their lives - things in the adult world were bound to be changed." This is actually a pretty profound thought. What music has been "nurturing" the current youth for the last ten years? How has the youth psyche been formed?
Page 313 - Mr. Fairbanks - "But deeper than that was the unspoken feeling that at my age of sixty-one, this would be the last young group I would ever associate with; my own son was lost to me through bitter misunderstandings and I felt the need of comprehending what the youth of this age were up to. I saw in them the only hope for the future, the vitality of our society, and I approved of much they were attempting." This sentiment becomes even more ironic to me by the end of the book. I don't really understand Mr. Fairbanks' ineffectual attempts to be a part of the young peoples' lives. And knowing that he "lost" his own son . . . this just makes me sad.
Page 365 - When Cato rages about the space program being an exclusively white endeavor, I immediately thought of the book and movie Hidden Figures. Even though I completely understand his point and even though racism clearly impacted those who worked at NASA in the 1960s, it made me smile to think of the amazing women who made a difference!
Page 390 - Mr. Fairbanks reflecting on his youthful time in the Orient . . . "And actually puncture my arm to inject a foreign substance into my bloodstream? Impossible. I even use alcohol sparingly, because I feel no desire to enhance my capacity for sensation; I already experience things too deeply." And yet Mr. Fairbanks observed his group of young friends travel further and further into destructive drug behavior.
Page 504 - Interesting discussion between Mr. Melnikoff and Mr. Fairbanks on the differences in Irish Catholics integrating into America versus African Americans assimilating. "A white Irish girl can hide the fact that she's Catholic, or she can join the Episcopal Church. But a black never could hide his color, and we allowed him to join nothing. There is no possible comparison between a Jew who got ahead and a black who didn't. They were not even playing in the same ball game." There are a lot of very powerful discussions throughout this book.
I've had it for far too long and finally finished it! It mostly made me sad, especially at the end.
After I finished it, I asked the friend who raved about it what she liked as a teen when she read it. The excitement, adventure, freedom all resonated for her teenage self. I think I would have had a different attitude toward this book had I read it 35 years ago.
Hennepin County Library, paperback 722 pages
genre: Realistic fiction (at this point, it's like historical fiction, but that's not how it was written)
A dear friend talked about how significant this book was in her reading as a teenager. I haven't read any books by Michener, so I got this one. In doing a little pre-reading, I learned that Michener's Tales of the South Pacific (a book of short stories) inspired the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical!
This book was fascinating to me on some levels and kind of repugnant on others. The first six chapters each have two pages of quotations and excerpts from different sources. These alone are interesting and sparked my curiosity! The chapters introduce the main (young) characters - Joe, a draft dodger; Britta, a Norwegian girl who wants to be in the sun; Monica, an English girl who is living in Africa and is filled with disdain for her father; Cato, an African-American who is disillusioned with his father's Christianity and his own prospects for the future; Yigal, an Israeli-American who feels pulled between his two countries; and Gretchen, a talented singer and guitar player who encounters police brutality in Chicago.
Written in 1971, this almost reads to me like a historical novel. Some of the events and characters' attitudes are definitely dated to the late 60s / early 70s. The Wikipedia page actually has very good summary info - on the chapters, the characters, and the places (real / fictional). I tagged a lot of pages, so I'll just comment on those.
Page 51 - Mr. Mogstad (her boss) forcing himself on Britta. She was . . . "quite unprepared for this assault and in a kind of dumb panic allowed him to have his way, not certain what other course might be available to her. It was a messy business, clumsy, frightening and totally disgusting, with Mr. Mogstad's dirty mustaches and fetid breath adding to the ugliness." This made me so sad and mad. Too many girls and young women have real experiences like this!
Page 69 - Britta: "Oh God, I am so afraid. I am so alone." As she expresses this, it made me think of people who do cry out to the Lord and are delivered. That doesn't happen in this story, but I like that the crying out was at least there.
Page 111 - People discussing Monica's poor behavior and the generation gap in general: "I suppose the best thing a parent can do these days when society refuses to give us any help and when even the schools and churches are powerless, is to start when the child is in the cradle and try in our own way to give her a sense of values . . . " I thought, "Duh! It doesn't matter much what society, schools, and churches are up to - of COURSE you have to work on developing values with your own children!"
Page 181 - When Grandpa Melnikoff and Mr. Fairbanks are talking about the quality of education in Israel vs. The United States: "in America nearly every child goes to high school. In Israel about one out of twenty-five makes it. Reali ought to be superior. It doesn't have to bother with the clods." I don't know if this info was ever accurate, but it made me think of the education comparisons I've often heard in my career. This can be maddening when the comparisons are not accurate!
Page 202 - Yigal: "his growing awareness that a surprising number of well-educated Jews in the Detroit area were turning against Israel and finding it fashionable to parade pro-Arab sentiments." I thought this section was fascinating. I've heard others expound on the injustice of Israel even existing . . . and I get the sense that they sympathize with the Arabs / Palestinians without really understanding why they do. I'm no expert on the Middle East, but I do know that the conflict is rooted in a lot of complex issues and a long history. This is no simple black and white story.
Page 235 - Mr. Fairbanks realizing something while listening to Gretchen. "The songs I heard that winter in Boston were an invitation to rebellion, and for the first time I realized that if able young people like Gretchen had been nurtured on these songs over the past ten years - the most formative of their lives - things in the adult world were bound to be changed." This is actually a pretty profound thought. What music has been "nurturing" the current youth for the last ten years? How has the youth psyche been formed?
Page 313 - Mr. Fairbanks - "But deeper than that was the unspoken feeling that at my age of sixty-one, this would be the last young group I would ever associate with; my own son was lost to me through bitter misunderstandings and I felt the need of comprehending what the youth of this age were up to. I saw in them the only hope for the future, the vitality of our society, and I approved of much they were attempting." This sentiment becomes even more ironic to me by the end of the book. I don't really understand Mr. Fairbanks' ineffectual attempts to be a part of the young peoples' lives. And knowing that he "lost" his own son . . . this just makes me sad.
Page 365 - When Cato rages about the space program being an exclusively white endeavor, I immediately thought of the book and movie Hidden Figures. Even though I completely understand his point and even though racism clearly impacted those who worked at NASA in the 1960s, it made me smile to think of the amazing women who made a difference!
Page 390 - Mr. Fairbanks reflecting on his youthful time in the Orient . . . "And actually puncture my arm to inject a foreign substance into my bloodstream? Impossible. I even use alcohol sparingly, because I feel no desire to enhance my capacity for sensation; I already experience things too deeply." And yet Mr. Fairbanks observed his group of young friends travel further and further into destructive drug behavior.
Page 504 - Interesting discussion between Mr. Melnikoff and Mr. Fairbanks on the differences in Irish Catholics integrating into America versus African Americans assimilating. "A white Irish girl can hide the fact that she's Catholic, or she can join the Episcopal Church. But a black never could hide his color, and we allowed him to join nothing. There is no possible comparison between a Jew who got ahead and a black who didn't. They were not even playing in the same ball game." There are a lot of very powerful discussions throughout this book.
I've had it for far too long and finally finished it! It mostly made me sad, especially at the end.
After I finished it, I asked the friend who raved about it what she liked as a teen when she read it. The excitement, adventure, freedom all resonated for her teenage self. I think I would have had a different attitude toward this book had I read it 35 years ago.
Thursday, January 03, 2019
A Is for Alibi
by Sue Grafton
Scott County Library audiobook 7 CDs
read by Mary Peiffer
genre: murder mystery
I hadn't read any of Grafton's books in a long time and was ready to start a new series. I didn't remember clearly how this story would turn out until about the halfway point.
Like: the clues, the characters, the action
Dislike: the swearing, this narrator's voice, the detachment of Kinsey Millhone to most of humanity, the datedness of it (no cell phones . . . which would have made this a different story).
Not sure if I'll get the B book next . . . or look for something entirely different. The first time I read these, I'm pretty sure I only made it to D or E. I like the cleverness of the titles best of all!
Scott County Library audiobook 7 CDs
read by Mary Peiffer
genre: murder mystery
I hadn't read any of Grafton's books in a long time and was ready to start a new series. I didn't remember clearly how this story would turn out until about the halfway point.
Like: the clues, the characters, the action
Dislike: the swearing, this narrator's voice, the detachment of Kinsey Millhone to most of humanity, the datedness of it (no cell phones . . . which would have made this a different story).
Not sure if I'll get the B book next . . . or look for something entirely different. The first time I read these, I'm pretty sure I only made it to D or E. I like the cleverness of the titles best of all!
The Heart Healthy Cookbook for Two
by Jennifer Koslo
Scott County Library
(Subtitled: 125 Perfectly Portioned Low Sodium, Low Fat Recipes)
I won't say much about this, but want to be able to "find" it again so include it on my reading blog.
I got this because I want to curb my high blood pressure without medicine. It is definitely different to cook for just two people (who are aging and eat less) than it was to plan and cook meals for a family of five (three of whom were teen boys!). Even though it's been just the two of us for a while, we're still changing our household habits.
I loved the intro material and her writing style. I looked through some of the recipes, but haven't tried any yet (and have already renewed the book twice). I looked for stir fry with rice. This is something I love to eat and it can be healthy if you don't add too much salt. That recipe was fine, but I didn't have all the ingredients. Then I saw that many of the recipes in this book have added salt! Only a little bit of salt, but still! I know that one of the huge health benefits of preparing your own food is limiting the salt. Avoid processed foods, add other seasonings instead of salt, etc. Time for this to go back to the library.
Scott County Library
(Subtitled: 125 Perfectly Portioned Low Sodium, Low Fat Recipes)
I won't say much about this, but want to be able to "find" it again so include it on my reading blog.
I got this because I want to curb my high blood pressure without medicine. It is definitely different to cook for just two people (who are aging and eat less) than it was to plan and cook meals for a family of five (three of whom were teen boys!). Even though it's been just the two of us for a while, we're still changing our household habits.
I loved the intro material and her writing style. I looked through some of the recipes, but haven't tried any yet (and have already renewed the book twice). I looked for stir fry with rice. This is something I love to eat and it can be healthy if you don't add too much salt. That recipe was fine, but I didn't have all the ingredients. Then I saw that many of the recipes in this book have added salt! Only a little bit of salt, but still! I know that one of the huge health benefits of preparing your own food is limiting the salt. Avoid processed foods, add other seasonings instead of salt, etc. Time for this to go back to the library.
Friday, December 21, 2018
Capital Gaines: Smart Things I Learned Doing Stupid Stuff
by Chip Gaines
Scott County Library audiobook 5 CDs
read by the author
genre: memoir
Although I'm not a fan of Fixer Upper (I've seen part of one episode in my life) and I wasn't aware of how big a phenomenon Magnolia Market was . . . I thought this would be an interesting story. It was, but it was also super irritating. I'm sure he's a great guy and he clearly has a LOT of fans. I had to evaluate the positives and sort them from the stuff that just irritated me.
I love his positive outlook! I could use more of that attitude in my life. I also love that he has a strong faith in God. I like that he is dedicated to his wife and children. I like that he is enjoying life so thoroughly. I think it is wonderful for Waco, Texas, that he is such a positive spokesperson for his community.
That said, I find him to be pretty irritating. His story about trusting people and seeing the best in them . . . your apartment was robbed twice (due to you and a roommate leaving it unlocked!) and you act as though that's somehow commendable? No, that's careless and stupid. Trusting people is great, but letting them walk over you is not amazing (like the two teens who emptied the cash register they were entrusted with).
Also, his teaching philosophy about letting people learn by doing . . . I understand his theory. But his story about Kristen and pulling permits just seems petty and mean. It would have been much better to give her some direction, rather than setting her up to waste time and make preventable mistakes. To me, he just comes across as a jerk. I wouldn't want to work for someone like this.
His cavalier attitude toward safety and his expressions - We could "literally work ourselves to death." Really? And his odd choice to include two possible obituaries for himself . . . I could do another blog entry just on those.
Anyhow, I highly recommend this for fans of Fixer Upper and the Gaines. I'm actually curious to watch an episode of it to see the appeal. Others may not enjoy this book as much.
Scott County Library audiobook 5 CDs
read by the author
genre: memoir
Although I'm not a fan of Fixer Upper (I've seen part of one episode in my life) and I wasn't aware of how big a phenomenon Magnolia Market was . . . I thought this would be an interesting story. It was, but it was also super irritating. I'm sure he's a great guy and he clearly has a LOT of fans. I had to evaluate the positives and sort them from the stuff that just irritated me.
I love his positive outlook! I could use more of that attitude in my life. I also love that he has a strong faith in God. I like that he is dedicated to his wife and children. I like that he is enjoying life so thoroughly. I think it is wonderful for Waco, Texas, that he is such a positive spokesperson for his community.
That said, I find him to be pretty irritating. His story about trusting people and seeing the best in them . . . your apartment was robbed twice (due to you and a roommate leaving it unlocked!) and you act as though that's somehow commendable? No, that's careless and stupid. Trusting people is great, but letting them walk over you is not amazing (like the two teens who emptied the cash register they were entrusted with).
Also, his teaching philosophy about letting people learn by doing . . . I understand his theory. But his story about Kristen and pulling permits just seems petty and mean. It would have been much better to give her some direction, rather than setting her up to waste time and make preventable mistakes. To me, he just comes across as a jerk. I wouldn't want to work for someone like this.
His cavalier attitude toward safety and his expressions - We could "literally work ourselves to death." Really? And his odd choice to include two possible obituaries for himself . . . I could do another blog entry just on those.
Anyhow, I highly recommend this for fans of Fixer Upper and the Gaines. I'm actually curious to watch an episode of it to see the appeal. Others may not enjoy this book as much.
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
The Beautiful Mystery
by Louise Penny
Scott County Library audiobook 11 CDs
read by Ralph Cosham
genre: murder mystery
This book was frustrating! Jean-Guy was *not* an enjoyable character in this tale. At one point I jotted, "Dude! Listen to Gamache!" The video, the painkillers, the regression, rising to Francour's bait . . . ugh!
"Honestly, they're worse than crackheads." This comment of Beauvoir's, early in the story, as a commentary on the monks' chanting, made me laugh. As the story went on, though, his attitude and psychology ruined the story.
I liked Frere Bernard! And some of the other monks, as well. Toward the end, my list of suspects went from the 23 possibilities to five names, to one of three. The killer was one of the three I expected. Although I love the Three Pines stories and characters, it was kind of nice to have a different setting and different characters.
I think I'll take a break before I get the next Inspector Gamache story, though. I like him tremendously, but I think there will be some Beauvoir / Francour drama recurring in the next book. Ugh.
Scott County Library audiobook 11 CDs
read by Ralph Cosham
genre: murder mystery
This book was frustrating! Jean-Guy was *not* an enjoyable character in this tale. At one point I jotted, "Dude! Listen to Gamache!" The video, the painkillers, the regression, rising to Francour's bait . . . ugh!
"Honestly, they're worse than crackheads." This comment of Beauvoir's, early in the story, as a commentary on the monks' chanting, made me laugh. As the story went on, though, his attitude and psychology ruined the story.
I liked Frere Bernard! And some of the other monks, as well. Toward the end, my list of suspects went from the 23 possibilities to five names, to one of three. The killer was one of the three I expected. Although I love the Three Pines stories and characters, it was kind of nice to have a different setting and different characters.
I think I'll take a break before I get the next Inspector Gamache story, though. I like him tremendously, but I think there will be some Beauvoir / Francour drama recurring in the next book. Ugh.
Monday, December 03, 2018
Thunderhead
by Neal Shusterman
Scott County Library hardcover 504 pages
genre: YA dystopian fiction
Oh my! This book was almost as good as Scythe, book one in this series (Arc of a Scythe). I already can't wait for the third one!
The story follows Scythe Anastasia, Rowan (aka Skythe Lucifer), Rowan's friend Tyger, and a new character named Greyson. Greyson loves the Thunderhead, who has acted more like a parent than his parents and more like a friend than any friend.
I don't want to write any spoilers here. If you haven't read Scythe, don't even think about opening this book! It won't make much sense without the incredible foundation laid in the first book. You may want to wait until the third book is out, though, so you're not in suspense for too long! (The Toll, at this writing, doesn't have an expected release date. See an interview with Shusterman here.)
Scott County Library hardcover 504 pages
genre: YA dystopian fiction
Oh my! This book was almost as good as Scythe, book one in this series (Arc of a Scythe). I already can't wait for the third one!
The story follows Scythe Anastasia, Rowan (aka Skythe Lucifer), Rowan's friend Tyger, and a new character named Greyson. Greyson loves the Thunderhead, who has acted more like a parent than his parents and more like a friend than any friend.
I don't want to write any spoilers here. If you haven't read Scythe, don't even think about opening this book! It won't make much sense without the incredible foundation laid in the first book. You may want to wait until the third book is out, though, so you're not in suspense for too long! (The Toll, at this writing, doesn't have an expected release date. See an interview with Shusterman here.)
Sunday, November 25, 2018
Pennyroyal Academy
by M.A. Larson
T. Helgerson's personal signed copy, hardcover 312 pages
genre: YA fantasy
I read this so I can share with a friend how to best recommend it to her sixth graders. Quite frankly, it's not an especially well-written book. (I have found that screenwriters are not necessarily good novelists . . . ) It was entertaining enough, but it may languish on the shelf. I also question whether there will be a book two, though the storytelling in this volume sets it up easily.
An unnamed girl is wandering through a haunted woods. Who she really is becomes the main source of conflict as she is "rescued" by a knight in training (Remington) and heads to Pennyroyal Academy to try to train as a princess. Princesses are expected to have courage, compassion, kindness, and discipline so that they can defeat the evil witches. Not much of the book is about what the knights in training are supposed to embody or learn. Princesses defeat witches and knights fight dragons.
The book had enough twists and turns to keep things interesting. It's a pretty quick read. I'll have fun sharing ideas with my colleague.
One thing I want to note here:
I love words! I have a fairly large vocabulary (but still can get kicked in the can at Scrabble and Words with Friends). This book, which is pretty much geared to sixth graders, had words I'd never seen before! It wasn't a problem, since the context clues were enough for me to know what the words meant without having to look them up. Still, it was a surprising choice and I'm not sure what the author's intent was . . .
I finally made a note for it on page 245 when he used the word "jennet" and even though I could tell it was a horse (or another creature that has hooves that one rides) I wondered why he picked that word. Now that I'm blogging about it, I have to actually find the definition. According to Dictionary.com, a jennet is "noun 1 a female donkey 2 a small Spanish horse."And on page 247, "berfrois" was obviously a building or structure that is part of the castle. But it is such a weird experience for me to come across words I've never heard of . . . and in a children's book, it almost never happens!
Besides the new vocab (kind of fun, actually), I don't think this guys hangs out with twelve-year-olds very much. When they're putting out a fire, they use "water butts." I am familiar with the term and understand its use in the context. But how many kids will read that and either have a giggle fit or just go "What?!?!" Anyhow, if he does write a book two, I can safely skip it.
T. Helgerson's personal signed copy, hardcover 312 pages
genre: YA fantasy
I read this so I can share with a friend how to best recommend it to her sixth graders. Quite frankly, it's not an especially well-written book. (I have found that screenwriters are not necessarily good novelists . . . ) It was entertaining enough, but it may languish on the shelf. I also question whether there will be a book two, though the storytelling in this volume sets it up easily.
An unnamed girl is wandering through a haunted woods. Who she really is becomes the main source of conflict as she is "rescued" by a knight in training (Remington) and heads to Pennyroyal Academy to try to train as a princess. Princesses are expected to have courage, compassion, kindness, and discipline so that they can defeat the evil witches. Not much of the book is about what the knights in training are supposed to embody or learn. Princesses defeat witches and knights fight dragons.
The book had enough twists and turns to keep things interesting. It's a pretty quick read. I'll have fun sharing ideas with my colleague.
One thing I want to note here:
I love words! I have a fairly large vocabulary (but still can get kicked in the can at Scrabble and Words with Friends). This book, which is pretty much geared to sixth graders, had words I'd never seen before! It wasn't a problem, since the context clues were enough for me to know what the words meant without having to look them up. Still, it was a surprising choice and I'm not sure what the author's intent was . . .
I finally made a note for it on page 245 when he used the word "jennet" and even though I could tell it was a horse (or another creature that has hooves that one rides) I wondered why he picked that word. Now that I'm blogging about it, I have to actually find the definition. According to Dictionary.com, a jennet is "noun 1 a female donkey 2 a small Spanish horse."And on page 247, "berfrois" was obviously a building or structure that is part of the castle. But it is such a weird experience for me to come across words I've never heard of . . . and in a children's book, it almost never happens!
Besides the new vocab (kind of fun, actually), I don't think this guys hangs out with twelve-year-olds very much. When they're putting out a fire, they use "water butts." I am familiar with the term and understand its use in the context. But how many kids will read that and either have a giggle fit or just go "What?!?!" Anyhow, if he does write a book two, I can safely skip it.
Becoming Mrs. Lewis
by Patti Callahan
Dakota County Library hardcover 392 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction
This book tells a fictionalized version of Joy Davidman, the woman who married C.S. Lewis. I had never heard of her before and found this book to be fascinating and somewhat challenging. We'll discuss it at book club tomorrow night, but I heard snippets of people's reactions this morning, so I'm glad I've read the book and am blogging it before we talk!
I (wrongly) assumed that the pieces of letters written between the two were from actual letters. In the author's note at the end, I found that their letters to one another were destroyed. I believe the author did plenty of research and captured the tone of each writer, but some of the things I noted might credit her more than either Lewis (whose writing I love) or Davidman.
Page 28 - in a letter from Lewis - "Along with Dante, Plato, and moorings in Classical Greek thought and of course many others. How can we know what has filtered into our work? This is precisely why we must be careful of what we read." It's interesting to think about our ideas and where they come from . . . but it's also important that we are cognizant of what we are feeding our minds.
Page 69 - Joy talking with her friend Phyllis - "What's fascinating is the way I see the world now. It's as if in believing in God I was given new eyes - the world is full of possibility and fascination. It's no longer just nature, or just beauty - it's revelation." I love the idea of seeing with new eyes. God changes us in so many ways!
Page 87 - Yes! She answered the question I'd been asking . . . "Why are you called Jack when your name is Clive?" C.S. stands for Clive Staples, but he was called Jack in this book. Apparently, he'd had a dog named Jacksie when he was a boy. He was devastated when the dog was hit and killed by a car. "I announced my name was Jack and vowed never to drive a car." Again, I'm assuming the author did her research diligently and included info like this accurately.
Page 94 - Ugh! I can relate to this bad habit . . . "We were in great trouble if we didn't finish our meals on time or finish at all. It led to this terrible habit of gobbling, which I've tried to no avail to break." Jack isn't the only one who eats too fast! I really need to work on slowing down.
Page 105 - Joy admits, "I stayed out of trouble mainly because my most pleasurable activity was reading, and you can't get in much hot water doing that." I love reading, too! Perhaps that habit kept me out of trouble as well.
Page 124 - This is a part that will be good to discuss. Jack says to Joy, "My false face. It can get in the way. I don't see God as magic; you know that. I wanted my conversion to escort some change into my life, but sadly I think I'm essentially the same. Only with God. My masks remain. Anger still bursts out before I can stop it. I built my masks readily and with such skill that I believe they lock into place when I'm unaware and nervous. It can be blisteringly difficult to show one's real face." Authenticity . . . being a new creation in Christ . . . struggling with one's old sins and weaknesses . . .
Page 177 - I love the part where Lewis talks about coming up with the idea for The Screwtape Letters! (Perhaps because I love the book itself . . . ) This is yet another place where I have hope and trust that the author did research to learn about this and isn't just making it up herself. "While the preacher spoke of temptation, my mind wandered. How would a head devil instruct his underlings on such things? Would he do it in the same but opposite manner as this preacher?"
Page 184 - Yay for moms who support their children's creativity! "No matter how long we were cooped up in the little end room of that attic, we had our paper, pencils, and paint boxes." This is from Lewis' brother Warnie. Delightful memories for old men who were boys during a difficult time.
Page 191 - Lewis talking to Joy - "If you're looking for a religion to make you happy, it wouldn't be Christianity. . . . Christianity is rightfully not here to make us comfortable or happy." This is another good section for discussion.
Page 208 - Joy connecting with her friend Belle - "When I'd first met her in college, her beauty had caused me to withdraw. Comparison was the devil of self-esteem." So true! It's discouraging to compare oneself to others who are more beautiful, talented, smarter, etc. . . . because there will always be others who are "better." I like the way the author words this.
Page 212 - Also during her time with Belle, who says she's "working on a novel about an English teacher in New York City. I've titled it Up the Down Staircase." There were SO many literary allusions in this book! This one just caught me by surprise; I know this book and have read it! Davidman sure hung out with a lot of writers. How have I never heard of her before?
Page 241 - When Joy is visiting with her friend Michal, she makes a comment about being a Christian. Michal responds, "Being a Christian isn't what most think it is - all rules and regulations. . . . It is all trust and surrender and transformation, at its best." It can be hard for unbelievers to understand the distinction, though.
Page 263 - I was a bit surprised when Joy chose to get lusty with Harry (especially as a friends with benefits, no commitment . . .) "This was a sin. I wasn't a fool; I knew the commandments of my religion. I wrote about them. Still I fell. And repented. And fell again. Maybe I always would, but somehow grace felt big enough, sturdy enough as I stood again, resolute to do better." This was disappointing, but says a lot about her.
Page 294 - "Discernment fell down on me with great weight: You must know when it's enough. I would not ask him about Ruth Pitter or his feelings for her or for anyone else. I must know when it is enough. And I must trust God - again and again I was learning and relearning to trust the Truth who had entered my sons' nursery. The rusty and decrepit habit of trusting in only myself, only abiding in my own ability to make things happen, died hard and slow." This paragraph has a lot of wisdom in it, and I sometimes have to remind myself to trust God.
Page 324 - "From that moment on, the love affair I would develop would be with my soul. He was already part of me; that much was clear. And now this would be where I would go for love - the the God in me. No more begging or pursuing or needing." I don't especially love the way she worded this, but I love the idea of looking to God almighty for the love and acceptance we need instead of looking to another human being.
I look forward to book club tomorrow, but may be the only one there who enjoyed the book! It was more scholarly than most of our recent books, but I'm okay with that!
Dakota County Library hardcover 392 pages
genre: Christian historical fiction
This book tells a fictionalized version of Joy Davidman, the woman who married C.S. Lewis. I had never heard of her before and found this book to be fascinating and somewhat challenging. We'll discuss it at book club tomorrow night, but I heard snippets of people's reactions this morning, so I'm glad I've read the book and am blogging it before we talk!
I (wrongly) assumed that the pieces of letters written between the two were from actual letters. In the author's note at the end, I found that their letters to one another were destroyed. I believe the author did plenty of research and captured the tone of each writer, but some of the things I noted might credit her more than either Lewis (whose writing I love) or Davidman.
Page 28 - in a letter from Lewis - "Along with Dante, Plato, and moorings in Classical Greek thought and of course many others. How can we know what has filtered into our work? This is precisely why we must be careful of what we read." It's interesting to think about our ideas and where they come from . . . but it's also important that we are cognizant of what we are feeding our minds.
Page 69 - Joy talking with her friend Phyllis - "What's fascinating is the way I see the world now. It's as if in believing in God I was given new eyes - the world is full of possibility and fascination. It's no longer just nature, or just beauty - it's revelation." I love the idea of seeing with new eyes. God changes us in so many ways!
Page 87 - Yes! She answered the question I'd been asking . . . "Why are you called Jack when your name is Clive?" C.S. stands for Clive Staples, but he was called Jack in this book. Apparently, he'd had a dog named Jacksie when he was a boy. He was devastated when the dog was hit and killed by a car. "I announced my name was Jack and vowed never to drive a car." Again, I'm assuming the author did her research diligently and included info like this accurately.
Page 94 - Ugh! I can relate to this bad habit . . . "We were in great trouble if we didn't finish our meals on time or finish at all. It led to this terrible habit of gobbling, which I've tried to no avail to break." Jack isn't the only one who eats too fast! I really need to work on slowing down.
Page 105 - Joy admits, "I stayed out of trouble mainly because my most pleasurable activity was reading, and you can't get in much hot water doing that." I love reading, too! Perhaps that habit kept me out of trouble as well.
Page 124 - This is a part that will be good to discuss. Jack says to Joy, "My false face. It can get in the way. I don't see God as magic; you know that. I wanted my conversion to escort some change into my life, but sadly I think I'm essentially the same. Only with God. My masks remain. Anger still bursts out before I can stop it. I built my masks readily and with such skill that I believe they lock into place when I'm unaware and nervous. It can be blisteringly difficult to show one's real face." Authenticity . . . being a new creation in Christ . . . struggling with one's old sins and weaknesses . . .
Page 177 - I love the part where Lewis talks about coming up with the idea for The Screwtape Letters! (Perhaps because I love the book itself . . . ) This is yet another place where I have hope and trust that the author did research to learn about this and isn't just making it up herself. "While the preacher spoke of temptation, my mind wandered. How would a head devil instruct his underlings on such things? Would he do it in the same but opposite manner as this preacher?"
Page 184 - Yay for moms who support their children's creativity! "No matter how long we were cooped up in the little end room of that attic, we had our paper, pencils, and paint boxes." This is from Lewis' brother Warnie. Delightful memories for old men who were boys during a difficult time.
Page 191 - Lewis talking to Joy - "If you're looking for a religion to make you happy, it wouldn't be Christianity. . . . Christianity is rightfully not here to make us comfortable or happy." This is another good section for discussion.
Page 208 - Joy connecting with her friend Belle - "When I'd first met her in college, her beauty had caused me to withdraw. Comparison was the devil of self-esteem." So true! It's discouraging to compare oneself to others who are more beautiful, talented, smarter, etc. . . . because there will always be others who are "better." I like the way the author words this.
Page 212 - Also during her time with Belle, who says she's "working on a novel about an English teacher in New York City. I've titled it Up the Down Staircase." There were SO many literary allusions in this book! This one just caught me by surprise; I know this book and have read it! Davidman sure hung out with a lot of writers. How have I never heard of her before?
Page 241 - When Joy is visiting with her friend Michal, she makes a comment about being a Christian. Michal responds, "Being a Christian isn't what most think it is - all rules and regulations. . . . It is all trust and surrender and transformation, at its best." It can be hard for unbelievers to understand the distinction, though.
Page 263 - I was a bit surprised when Joy chose to get lusty with Harry (especially as a friends with benefits, no commitment . . .) "This was a sin. I wasn't a fool; I knew the commandments of my religion. I wrote about them. Still I fell. And repented. And fell again. Maybe I always would, but somehow grace felt big enough, sturdy enough as I stood again, resolute to do better." This was disappointing, but says a lot about her.
Page 294 - "Discernment fell down on me with great weight: You must know when it's enough. I would not ask him about Ruth Pitter or his feelings for her or for anyone else. I must know when it is enough. And I must trust God - again and again I was learning and relearning to trust the Truth who had entered my sons' nursery. The rusty and decrepit habit of trusting in only myself, only abiding in my own ability to make things happen, died hard and slow." This paragraph has a lot of wisdom in it, and I sometimes have to remind myself to trust God.
Page 324 - "From that moment on, the love affair I would develop would be with my soul. He was already part of me; that much was clear. And now this would be where I would go for love - the the God in me. No more begging or pursuing or needing." I don't especially love the way she worded this, but I love the idea of looking to God almighty for the love and acceptance we need instead of looking to another human being.
I look forward to book club tomorrow, but may be the only one there who enjoyed the book! It was more scholarly than most of our recent books, but I'm okay with that!
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