Selected Poems and Songs, by Robert Burns

I am by no means a poet nor am I a connoisseur of poetry.  I have posted here before works by Robert Frost as, from time to time, I do appreciate a good poem.  It's important to slow down sometimes and take in the world around us, isn't it?

This past spring, I spent some time with another poetic Bob:  Robert Burns (Scotland, mid-late 1700s).  Overall, I have to say that I enjoy Frost more than Burns due, in no small part, to the fact that I can understand his writing better...literally.  American Frost always writes in English whereas Scottish Burns writes sometimes in English, sometimes in his native Scottish dialect.

For those of you who haven't seen or aren't familiar with Scots, consider the classic New Year's anthem, Auld Lang Syne (by Robert Burns).  Do any of you have an effing clue what that song is about?  Probably not, but I'll give you a hint:  it is a nostalgic piece about a time long past (or, for those of you familiar with my niece/goddaughter, "a long day ago").

Fortunately, the publication that I read included a Scots-English glossary in the back, but flipping back and forth in an already hefty volume made for rather cumbersome reading.  I didn't actually finish the entire book but, to be fair, I probably wouldn't have anyway.  I can't read a book of poetry cover to cover, can you?

I picked a few poems to read here and there throughout this publication, but three stood out to me.  I'll share these with you here:

A POET'S WELCOME TO HIS LOVE-BEGOTTEN DAUGHTER
The first instance that entitled him to the venerable appellation of Father

[Context:  Burns wrote this poem after the birth of his first child -a daughter named Elizabeth- who was born out of wedlock.  He had rather a notorious reputation as a floozy but, despite being the product of such scandalous actions of the day, Burns adored his baby girl.  Sadly, he never married her mother and baby Elizabeth was eventually raised by Burns's mother, after her (Elizabeth's) own parents married other people.  Nevertheless, as a weathered parent myself, I found this poem to be rather sweet and touching as it was written by a young, brand-new dad...and some things never change with the passing of the centuries.]

Thou's welcome, wean; mishanter fa' me,
If thoughts o' thee, or yet thy mammie,
Shall ever daunton me or awe me,
My sweet wee lady,
Or if I blush when thou shalt ca' me
Tyta or daddie.

Tho' now they ca' me fornicator,
An' tease my name in countra clatter,
The mair they talk, I'm kend the better,
E'en let them clash;
An auld wife's tongue's a feckless matter
To gie ane fash.

Welcome! my bonie, sweet, wee dochter,
Tho' ye come here a wee unsought for,
And tho' your comin' I hae fought for,
Baith kirk and queir;
Yet, by my faith, ye're no unwrought for,
That I shall swear!

Sweet fruit o' monie a merry dint,
My funny toil is no a' tint,
Tho' thou cam to the warl' asklent,
Which fools may scoff at;
In my last plack thy part's be in't
The better ha'f o't.

Tho' I should be the waur bestead,
Thou's be as braw and bienly clad,
And thy young years as nicely bred
Wi' education,
As onie brat o' wedlock's bed,
In a' thy station.

Wee image o' my bonie Betty,
As fatherly I kiss and daut thee,
As dear and near my heart I set thee
Wi' as gude will
As a' the priests had seen me get thee
That's out o' hell.

Lord grant that thou may aye inherit
Thy mither's person, grace, an' merit,
An' thy poor, worthless daddy's spirit,
Without his failins,
'Twill please me mair to see thee heir it,
Than stockit mailens.

For if thou be what I wad hae thee,
And tak the counsel I shall gie thee,
I'll never rue my trouble wi' thee -
The cost nor shame o't,
But be a loving father to thee,
And brag the name o't.

EPISTLE TO A YOUNG FRIEND (MAY 1786)

[Context:  Advice to a young friend named Andrew Hunter Aiken, the son of another recipient of Burns's poetry dedications (Robert Aiken, The Cotter's Saturday Night).  Burns demonstrates a familiarity with other literary works in this poem, including a reference to Shakespeare's Hamlet.  Offering counsel to a friend that we, looking in the proverbial rearview mirror, might give to our own, younger selves.]

I Lang hae thought, my youthfu' friend, A something to have sent you, Tho' it should serve nae ither end Than just a kind memento: But how the subject-theme may gang, Let time and chance determine; Perhaps it may turn out a sang: Perhaps turn out a sermon. Ye'll try the world soon, my lad; And, Andrew dear, believe me, Ye'll find mankind an unco squad, And muckle they may grieve ye: For care and trouble set your thought, Ev'n when your end's attained; And a' your views may come to nought, Where ev'ry nerve is strained. I'll no say, men are villains a'; The real, harden'd wicked, Wha hae nae check but human law, Are to a few restricked; But, Och! mankind are unco weak, An' little to be trusted; If self the wavering balance shake, It's rarely right adjusted! Yet they wha fa' in fortune's strife, Their fate we shouldna censure; For still, th' important end of life They equally may answer; A man may hae an honest heart, Tho' poortith hourly stare him; A man may tak a neibor's part, Yet hae nae cash to spare him. Aye free, aff-han', your story tell, When wi' a bosom crony; But still keep something to yoursel', Ye scarcely tell to ony: Conceal yoursel' as weel's ye can Frae critical dissection; But keek thro' ev'ry other man, Wi' sharpen'd, sly inspection. The sacred lowe o' weel-plac'd love, Luxuriantly indulge it; But never tempt th' illicit rove, Tho' naething should divulge it: I waive the quantum o' the sin, The hazard of concealing; But , Och! it hardens a' within, And petrifies the feeling! To catch dame Fortune's golden smile, Assiduous wait upon her; And gather gear by ev'ry wile That's justified by honour; Not for to hide it in a hedge, Nor for a train attendant; But for the glorious privilege Of being independent. The fear o' hell's a hangman's whip, To haud the wretch in order; But where ye feel your honour grip, Let that aye be your border; Its slightest touches, instant pause Debar a' side-pretences; And resolutely keep its laws, Uncaring consequences. The great Creator to revere, Must sure become the creature; But still the preaching cant forbear, And ev'n the rigid feature: Yet ne'er with wits profane to range, Be complaisance extended; An atheist-laugh's a poor exchange For Deity offended! When ranting round in pleasure's ring, Religion may be blinded; Or if she gie a random sting, It may be little minded; But when on life we're tempest driv'n A conscience but a canker - A correspondence fix'd wi' Heav'n, Is sure a noble anchor! Adieu, dear, amiable youth! Your heart can ne'er be wanting! May prudence, fortitude, and truth, Erect your brow undaunting! In ploughman phrase, "God send you speed," Still daily to grow wiser; And may ye better reck the rede, Then ever did th' adviser!

NINE INCH WILL PLEASE A LADY

[Context: Y'all know what this is about. I couldn't believe my eyes when I saw this amidst beautiful works like the previous two samples I've given, but there aren't a lot of ways to interpret this...declaration. Anyway, I couldn't stop laughing because bros be bro-ing, since time immemorial.]

Come rede me, dame, come tell me, dame,
My dame, come tell me truly,
What length o' graith, when weel ca'd hame,
Will ser'e a woman duly?
The carlin clew her wanton tail,
Her wanton tail sae ready;
I learn't a sang in Annandale,
Nine inch will please a lady.

But for a countrie cunt like mine,
In sooth we're nae sae gentle;
We'll tak' twa thumb-bread to the nine,
And that's a sonsie pintle.
O leeze me on my Charlie lad!
I'll ne'er forget my Charlie!
Twa roarin' handfu' and a daud,
He nidg't it in fu' rarely.

But weary fa' the laithern doup,
And may it ne'er ken thrivin';
It's no the length that gars me loup,
But it's the double drivin'.
Come nidge me Tam, come nodge me Tam,
Come nidge me o'er the nyvle;
Come louse and lug your batterin' ram,
And thrash him at my gyvel.

Click here for a side-by-side translation of this work into English. 

A softer side; a dose of nostalgia; a bawdy song for dudes.  Three starkly different poems, all by the same writer.  Whether he is doting on his little princess, offering advice to a young friend, or being gross, Robert Burns certainly has a way with words.  

MINDBODY: The Mindbody Prescription, by John E. Sarno, MD // The Mindbody Workbook (Vol. 2), by David Schechter, MD with Justin Barker, PsyD

I've been busy over the past couple of years.  In October 2023, I started experiencing pain in my right hip and the ball of my left foot.  The following month, I developed pain in the ball of my right foot.  In subsequent months, the pain extended to my left hip, both heels, both foot arches, and my right ankle.  I was a mess.  Three surgeries, hundreds of labs, blood draws, and imaging tests later, I am sloooooooowly finding my way back to something resembling normal.  I have a ways to go yet, but I finally have more of a direction.  This leaves me feeling less...untethered.

I stumbled upon the Curable app some time ago when I saw an infographic on Instagram about chronic pain and our neural pathways.  It really resonated with me, so I'm sharing it here.  Please look at it; it's very much worth your while.

CURABLE INFOGRAPHIC

I wasn't willing to throw money at something that could end up being snake oil, so I found that they had a podcast that was free - the right price!  I spent some time listening to a few episodes that I'd cherry-picked for my situation and found one in particular to be eerily striking. The guest on the episode described a very similar scenario with nearly mirror symptoms to my own and he mentioned a particular book and workbook that were his gateway to understanding these concepts.  This seemed like a more reasonable starting place to me -purchasing a couple books, after all, won't break the bank- so I did.  And boy, am I glad.

I first bought (and completed) The Mindbody Workbook (Volume Two), by David Schechter, MD and Justin Barker, PsyD.  

This was an incredibly informative resource for me that served as an excellent guide to journaling and reflection on my emotions.  As I neared the end, I looked to this workbook to guide me in what to do next.  Among a long list of other recommended books and gurus in the field of mindbody medicine, one name resounds as the father of the field:  Dr. John Sarno.

Sarno published a number of books before his death several years ago, but I felt that the one that would be most appropriate for my needs was the general guide to mindbody symptoms/conditions.  The Mindbody Prescription: Healing the Body, Healing the Pain is considered one of the proverbial Bibles to this approach.

Sarno's work began in studying chronic back pain and, while his work is certainly illuminating in that very specific field, he later discovered that chronic mindbody symptoms were not limited only to the back.  This kind of pain can (and does) appear everywhere in the body and, sometimes, it's not pain at all.  Sarno suggests that even conditions like digestive issues, allergies, and Raynaud's (all things that affect me) could be due to mindbody disorders.  Maybe yes, maybe no, but I see no harm in considering this possibility.  As a book, The Mindbody Prescription can get rather technical at times, but I can hang.  While I would recommend it to someone suffering from any type of chronic pain that has been enigmatic to biomedical practitioners, I know that the type of personality (e.g. mine!) that is prone to mindbody symptoms can easily become frustrated by the pedantic nature of the book.  Perhaps knowing that ahead of time -and accepting that certain parts may be tricky to follow without an extensive background in researching the medical terms used- is enough to get folks like myself through the muck and mire of a book that can occasionally be as extraneous as this longass sentence.

The bottom lines:

• Both of the above books are excellent resources that I'd strongly recommend for anyone who experiences "unexplained" chronic symptoms.
• After finishing the workbook, I joined Curable.  I use the app regularly for education, meditation, and journaling prompts.  It's great and I like the bite-sized exercises that users can access as often as needed/desired.
• After finishing the Sarno book, I joined Curable's classes/groups.  It's an additional subscription charge (boo!) but it gives me access to classes (both live and pre-recorded), support groups with "people like me", and is still far less expensive than one-on-one therapy.  So far, it has been quite cathartic.
• I love learning.  This journey has been so very fascinating in a number of ways and I'm grateful to know what I know.  (I just wish it had been on someone else's body, not mine!)  I hope I never need to share this knowledge with loved ones but, if I do, it's there and I'm ready to blather on to anyone who will listen.  
• I hate that I'm in this situation and have needed to learn what I have learned but an education is one thing that no one can take away from you.
• I have hit some very low points over the past couple of years but I am steadily coming back.  To be sure, I have had wonderful support from friends and family -without whom much of my progress would have been far more difficult (or even impossible)- but I credit myself with the vast majority of what I have accomplished, learned, and conquered.  Not doctors.  Not surgeons.  Not nurses.  Not physical therapists.  Not acupuncturists.  Not specialists.  Not even family or friends.  Me. 
• All of this has given me a great level of appreciation for myself and what I can withstand because I am fucking resilient, not to mention a goddam delight.
• Sometimes hope can be forced, phony, and toxic.  And it's OK to let go of it and embrace the darkness when you need to do that.  Well-meaning people who tell you not to give up hope are rarely those who have had reason to.  And if they have, well then they must be unicorns and good for them or whatever.  But they are not you, and you do what you want.  Plus, they probably lack the highly intelligent but dark sense of humor that you have, so they will never find the idea of having a life-threatening illness in a system that is designed to keep us sick as hilarious as it is.  Their loss.

Still a work in progress...but aren't we all until we die?

Arsène Lupin: Gentleman-Cambrioleur (Gentleman-Burglar), by Maurice Leblanc

Bonjour, mes amis!  Autrefois, pendant cet hiver passé en fait, j'ai donné un cours de français où on lisait un roman ensemble:  Arsène Lupin: Gentleman-Cambrioleur.

Did you catch that?  Si oui - très bien, je vous félicite.  Sinon - well, don't worry about it. 😉

Translation:  Hello, my friends.  Awhile back, during this past winter actually, I taught a French class where we read a novel together:  Arsène Lupin: Gentleman-Burglar.

As both of you know, I am a French teacher.  I teach college/grad level content for an international (though non-accredited) institution, mainly for people who simply love to learn.  It's a great gig and I love my job.  We have three annual "school year" sessions that meet weekly and, during the Winter Session, I like to either read a novel or watch a TV series together, discussing various chapters/episodes each week in class.  At the request of a regular student of mine, we read this novel together - and it was a lot of fun!

For those of you not familiar with the character, Arsène Lupin is the star of his own series of short stories by Maurice Leblanc.  Set during the turn of the 20th century, Lupin is a criminal mastermind, a charming, rakish thief who makes his way around the world (usually Europe, but he comes to the US at least one time), mainly stealing jewels and baubles and money off of the wealthier classes.  Sometimes he is bested, but he always works his way out of it with his wit and a crew of faithful followers.  A master of disguise with a laundry list of aliases, Lupin has no shortage of tricks up his sleeve to change his appearance and identity, as he often does.

Maurice Leblanc penned his stories slightly after -and also contemporaneously with- the publication of stories starring another turn-of-the-century mastermind: Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.  In fact, Arsène Lupin crosses paths with a one "Herlock Sholmès" on occasion.  They are rather each other's opposites (one being a thief, the other a detective), but share a great deal in common (brilliant minds, a love for puzzles, bleeding narcissism).  Of course, as the creator of Arsène Lupin, author Maurice Leblanc favors his own brainchild and Lupin bests "Herlock".

While the stories certainly have a similar feel to those of Sherlock Holmes, the anti-hero reigns supreme here.  Some stories are humorous, others less so.  Lupin is definitely not a "good person", but he does have redeeming qualities and a backstory that elicits empathy from the reader.  He rather calls to mind the image of Hercule Flambeau from the BBC series Father Brown.  (From my understanding, the character of Flambeau is portrayed rather differently on the series from his original version in the G.K. Chesterton books of the same title.  Lupin reminds me somewhat of a younger version of the TV portrayal of Flambeau.)

Hercule Flambeau, Father Brown on BBC

The edition we read together in class was a dual-language one, featuring the original French text alongside its American-English translation.  We quickly learned that the translation was not spot on, much to our annoyance.  Still, for readers of a second language, having quick-access reference to translations can be useful as it does not disrupt the flow of reading as much as having to seek a dictionary translation would.

All in all, Arsène Lupin: Gentleman-Cambrioleur makes for a fun, escaping read.  It isn't high brow or particularly difficult, but fun all the same for lovers of the genre.

Bonne lecture!

Two Junior/Children's Novels: The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place and Number the Stars

 You guys know that I like to read children's lit.  I love the straightforwardness of it, the speed of plot development, and the immediacy of any action from the characters.  Children's authors know their audience has a shorter attention span than many of their elder counterparts...

...so what's my excuse?

The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling, by Maryrose Wood

Earlier this year, I recalled a series of books that a friend had recommended for my daughter, The Incorrigible Children of Ashton Place: The Mysterious Howling, by Maryrose Wood.  (What a name!  What a title!)

I must confess, the language the author uses is fairly highbrow for younger readers but, after a short period of acclimation, clever kids can handle it.  Without divulging too much, we begin this first novel of the series (of six books, I believe) with our protagonist, young Miss Penelope Lumley, who has just left her beloved school behind to become the governess to three children at Ashton Place.  Only it seems that these children are not ordinary in the least; they are positively feral.  As Penelope seeks to both teach and understand these "incorrigibles", she begins to discover that it is not only their past that is entirely mysterious, but that Ashton Place itself holds a treasure trove of secrets.

I listened to this novel as an audiobook rather than reading a hard copy.  What a treat!  Upon finishing it, I immediately placed the five subsequent titles in the series under my "To Read" tag on Libby (my preferred library app).  The mystery, humor, colorful language, and premise itself are sure to delight readers (or listeners) of any age.

Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry

Many, many years ago -some time in the late 90s- I read the book Number the Stars, by Lois Lowry.  This 1990 Newbery Award Winner didn't disappoint when I read it then, and it certainly didn't disappoint when I re-read it this past winter.

Lois Lowry masterfully crafts a concise -yet very poignant story- based on the life of a fictional young Danish girl named Annemarie.  Our heroine is growing up in Denmark under Nazi occupation.  The German soldiers situated all around her neighborhood are intimidating, often bullying those they stop to "question", so Annemarie and her sister have been instructed to avoid them as much as possible.  It isn't until Annemarie's Jewish best friend Ellen catches their attention that things get too close to home.

A fictional retelling of the Danish resistance's success in smuggling nearly the entire population of Jewish citizens out of the country to Sweden, Number the Stars is a story that lingers for its veracity.  I don't wish to ruin the ending for you, but the absolute ingenuity of this silent resistance is nothing short of incredible.  A short novel, yes, but one that reminds us that humanity can indeed be found anywhere.

Two great books for the kids in your life, but certainly don't let them have all the fun.

Happy reading!

Dark Water Daughter, by H.M. Long

Fantasy.  Adventure.  Mystery.  Magic.  Pirates.  Swords.  Ethereal creatures.  Cold AF weather.  

This book has it all.

Enter a strange and magical world of ghistings (ghost-like creatures who inhabit mystical forests), stormsingers (women whose voices have the power to conjure and calm storms on the seas), and swashbucklers (come on, you know this one).  

From the dust jacket:

Mary Firth is a Stormsinger: a woman whose voice can still hurricanes and shatter armadas. Faced with servitude to pirate lord Silvanus Lirr, Mary offers her skills to his arch-rival in exchange for protection - and, more importantly, his help sending Lirr to a watery grave. But her new ally has a vendetta of his own, and Mary's dreams are dark and full of ghistings, spectral creatures who inhabit the ancient forests of her homeland and the figureheads of ships.

Y'all, this book is weird.  And I liked it.  Despite some major lulls in the story, author H.M. Long creates an exciting world to lay the foundations for the first novel of The Winter Sea series.  Some of her characters are likable; some of them are deplorable; some of them fall in between; some you think you'll like/hate, but end up hating/liking.  Set on a series of islands in a frigid sea, the fantasy world Long has created recalls images of the northernmost islands of Scotland, Scandinavia, and even a few locations within the Arctic Circle.  It was a great winter read by the fireplace.

As I mentioned, there were a few major lulls in the story.  I finished it in January (roughly three and a half months ago, at the time of this writing) so, while I cannot recall specific dull points in the novel, I do remember finding it rather long in some parts.  Overall, the book did seem to drag more than I personally would have preferred, though I know that some people really get into the world-building thing.  There were also a few annoying tropes (e.g. What is Mary going to do in this precarious situation?  What about THIS one?  Oh yeah?  How about NOW?) that I felt really took away from the story's progression, but it wasn't bad enough for me to put the book down.  It was mostly just an annoyance until the next good part.

So, will I continue the series?  Sure.  It's not a top priority, per se, but I could see myself completing it.  Ultimately, I feel that any subsequent novels in the series would be better audio books for me.  That way, I can at least be doing dishes while I enjoy a good story in my ear.

Death Comes to [all the places], by Catherine Lloyd

Summer 2023.  I casually picked up a copy of Death Comes to Kurland Hall for less than $1 at my local library's used bookstore.  After I began reading this book, I realized that it was the third in a series of eight.  No matter, it was a simple read -a hot dog book- and the context of the characters in the story was well explained.  It's the type where you could start in the middle of the series and not be too lost.

Later that year, I picked up the next book in the same series, Death Comes to the Fair.  Same story of a purchase for chump change at the library bookstore.  After reading this fourth installment, I figured that would be enough for me - no need to continue the series.

Fast forward about a year, to fall 2024.  I decided, what the heck?  Let's just read the entire series.  They're easy enough and I enjoy them.  So I read the first book, Death Comes to the Village.  I was planning to have surgery and knew I'd be laid up for awhile...might as well enjoy my forced convalescence with the rest of the hot dogs.

I actually ended up having two surgeries since last fall, giving me enough time to finish the series.  And although I started with books #3 and 4, I went back and read them in order: #1, 2, (skip 3, 4) 5, 6, 7, 8.  They are as follows (complete with links to my previous reviews):

#1. Death Comes to the Village

#2. Death Comes to London

#3. Death Comes to Kurland Hall 

#4. Death Comes to the Fair

#5. Death Comes to the School

#6. Death Comes to Bath

#7. Death Comes to the Nursery

#8. Death Comes to the Rectory

This post will review books #2 and #5-8.

While I could individually write up a review for each of the remaining five novels in the series, I feel that would be redundant.  To be completely honest, my reviews for every book in this series of eight would be nearly identical, checking every one of the following boxes:

• Quintessentially English
• Rainy
• Presence of sheep
• Bonnets
• Dressing for dinner
• Someone gets murdered
• Usually a second murder takes place that is linked to the first murder
• Subterfuge of non-murderers-but-still-characters-with-something-to-hide
• Mention of spectacles
• More bonnets
• Copious amounts of tea and brandy
• Portly gentlemen
• Bad editing and a plethora of typos (e.g. A character in one book is named Marjory, but sometimes her name is spelled Marjorie.  It flip-flops back and forth throughout the book.)
• Pampered bitches with delusions of grandeur
• Sensible shoes
• So many goddam bonnets
• Horses
• Dogs
• Ale
• Potatoes
• And more...

While the books become steadily more predictable, I truly did not mind.  They are an easy escape from the mundane, a welcome way to pass the time, and have no pretensions at being great works of literature.  Each one is a story within itself, though reading them in order certainly is preferable for inter-novel character development.  Certainly there is action and murder, but without being overly grotesque or gratuitous, making this -The Kurland St. Mary Mystery Series- the perfect "cozy mysteries" for fans of the genre.  

Hot dog books to the max.

The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck, by Mark Manson

Imagine a self-important fratty pretending to be a guru and doling out douche-baggy life advice unsolicited at a house party.

Congratulations, you have just read Mark Manson's The Subtle Art of Not Giving a Fuck.

But wait a sec...  Does what he is espousing actually hold water?  Wait, WHAAAA??

Yeah.  It actually kinda does.

In his 2016 book, blogger-author Mark Manson offers "a counterintuitive approach to living a good life", arguing that there are many things about which to give a fuck...but not everything is worthy of our fucks.

I once heard that Finland was one of the (if not the singular) happiest nations in the world.  When questioned about this, most Finns were surprised to hear themselves described this way.  They didn't consider themselves happier than the rest of the world; in fact, some of those questioned considered themselves to be quite broody.  It wasn't until someone somewhere along the line mentioned that, because their expectations are much lower than the rest of the western world's, it was easier to achieve a measure of "success" by their own standards.  We aren't all special or extraordinary.  In fact, if we were, then no one would be special or extraordinary at all.  Are you a janitor?  Great.  An accountant?  Fine.  A high school principal?  Good for you.  The fact that most Finns have realistic expectations for their lives allows them to achieve success more readily, without feeling that they have to accomplish something world shaking in order to be valuable people.  (Side note:  Finland even celebrates its own National Failure Day every year.)  You might say that they lack the gung-ho spirit that we so value in the U.S., but at least they are in touch with reality.  

Anyway, TSAONGAF is rather in line with this philosophy.  We can't all be great.  It doesn't mean we aren't valuable or deserving of love or worthy human beings, rather that most of us will not achieve some colossal magnitude of greatness in our lives.  And that's OK.

You might also describe parts of this book as advice on how to pick your battles.  Maybe not everything is worth your time, effort, attention...or fucks.  Some things are, and you should dedicate your proverbial fucks to those things but, just like we are not all special, neither are the things demanding our attention.

Manson talks a lot about pain and values in his book.  Pain and suffering, while difficult, are formative; change often only comes through such experiences.  Values such as pleasure, material success, dominance through violence/manipulation, being liked by everybody, and always being right are undesirable while values such as honesty, innovation, self-respect, creativity, curiosity, charity, and humility are good.  There is a difference between fault and responsibility and, even when things aren't our fault (e.g. being the victim of a robbery), we are still responsible for our subsequent choices (e.g. succumbing to victimhood or rebuilding our lives).  Another pervasive theme is that of entitlement, which he defines as the idea "that we're somehow unlike everyone else and that the rules must be different for us".  These are among some of the themes addressed throughout this book, though this list of topics is certainly not exhaustive.  

In every chapter/section, Manson helpfully shares stories -both his own and others'- to further illustrate his points anecdotally.  Some stories make you roll your eyes at his obnoxiousness, but he often (quite humbly and surprisingly) comes around to point out his own errors in ways you might not have anticipated.  While I do not disagree with his ultimate points in this book, I do question his credentials.  I'm not sure that being a successful blogger in the 2010s qualifies him as an expert, but I am interested in his perspective.  In general, he makes some excellent points and it's nice to be reminded -even crudely- that some things are just not worth our fucks.

At the end of the day, if you're willing to read it as nothing more than someone else's worldview -one that may indeed prove beneficial- and don't mind some naughty words, it's worth a read.  Clocking in at just a hair over 200 pages, it's an easy book to pick up and read in installments.  Solid toilet reading, actually...and I think Mark Manson would like that idea.

A Lack of Temperance, by Anna Loan-Wilsey

Once upon a time, I branched out by picking up a murder mystery novel by a different author.

I know.  It happened.

I am finishing up a series of "hot dog books" by a particular author (collective review forthcoming) but, while at the library, I came across a new series that takes place largely in the American Midwest.  As a Midwesterner, I recognize a lot of these places, and my own hometown is briefly referenced a couple of times in the novel.  (Fame, here we come!)

Author Anna Loan-Wilsey also writes under
the nom de plume Clara McKenna. 
This is the same person/novel.

Anyway, the first novel in the Hattie Davish Mystery Series takes place in turn-of-the-century Eureka Springs, Arkansas at the height of the Temperance Movement.  For those not familiar with this bit of history, the Temperance Movement was a predominantly woman-led ideology that villainized liquor of all kinds, citing its abuse as the cause for violence, sloth, domestic problems, and a laundry list of other sins.  While much of this was (is) indeed legitimate, the Women's Christian Temperance Union (WCTU) sought to legally outlaw liquor, shut down saloons and other alcohol-serving establishments, and prosecute anyone breaking the laws they wished to enact.  Sometimes, these ladies (and occasional gents) got rather zealous and even (quite ironically) violent.  The Temperance Movement certainly marked an interesting period of American history, although it must be said that the WCTU actually exists to this day.  

Funnily enough, I came across a great podcast episode about the WCTU after reading this book and realized that the murder victim of the novel (Mother Trevelyan - don't worry, this isn't a spoiler) is clearly based on a major player in the WCTU, right down to her hatchet wielding fervor.  Carry A. Nation -aka the "Hatchet Granny"- was a radical leader of the Temperance Movement, who relished destroying saloon property.  (If you choose to listen to this episode of An Old Timey Podcast, please suspend any sense of prudeness and just enjoy it.)  

A strikingly similar scene at the beginning of A Lack of Temperance serves as an introduction to the murder victim.  But Mother Trevelyan isn't the protagonist!  That would be (wait for it) Hattie Davish.  This is the first of the Hattie Davish Mystery Series after all.  Anyway, directly from the dust cover:

"On the eve of the heated presidential election of 1892, Miss Hattie Davish arrives in Eureka Springs, Arkansas, a scenic resort town where those without the scent of whiskey on their breath have the plight of temperance on their tongues. Summoned for her services as a private secretary, Hattie is looking forward to exploring the hills, indulging her penchant for botany—and getting to know the town’s handsome doctor. But it’s hard to get her job done with her employer nowhere to be found . . .

An army of unassuming women wielding hatchets have descended on the quiet Ozark village, destroying every saloon in their path—and leaving more than a few enemies in their wake. So when their beloved leader, Mother Trevelyan, is murdered, it’s easy to point fingers. Now that she’s working for a dead woman, Hattie turns to her trusty typewriter to get to the truth. And as she follows a trail of cryptic death threats, she’ll come face to face with a killer far more dangerous than the Demon Rum . . ."

Not highbrow, but still a lot of fun...if one goes in for that sort of thing.  I imagine I'll check out the second book in the series at some point, though it isn't a priority.  A perfect distraction from life and a diverting, easy read...especially when paired with a cocktail. ;)

Cheers!

2024 Wrap-Up: A record breaking 7-in-1 post

 I got lazy toward the end of 2024.  Part of it was that I had surgery in October, then still did all the usual year-end things...and I was just tired.  Being laid up, however, provided ample time for reading -- so read I did.  Because I am barraging you with seven new titles, I decided to group them by category.  You know how I love categories.

CHILDREN'S NOVELS

My daughter is always complaining about having "nothing to read" (false).  As a result, I have gone back into the deep recesses of my memory to dig up some of the books that I read and enjoyed around her age (give or take a couple of years).  Here are a couple that she read -and I re-read- in the final weeks of 2024.

Stepping on the Cracks, Mary Downing Hahn

I was fortunate as a child to have an older sister who was an avid reader.  This meant that she would often read books and then suggest the good ones to me, essentially weeding out the boring shit.  Stepping on the Cracks was one such "good book" that she recommended to me when we were kids.

The story is set stateside during WWII.  Two young girls -best friends Margaret and Elizabeth- both have older brothers fighting overseas, and know firsthand how war can affect a family.  Still, they are pre-teenage girls and war certainly doesn't occupy all of their thoughts.  In fact, the merciless sixth grade bully Gordy Smith and his cronies are more prevalent in their day-to-day lives.  In a scheme to exact revenge upon Gordy and his friends for their latest antics, Margaret and Elizabeth make a startling discovery that will change the way they think of their neighborhood as well as the world -and the war- around them.

Stepping on the Cracks is a simple but poignant coming-of-age story.  While most of us didn't live through WWII, we can relate to the youthful goings-on of the protagonists.  Re-reading this book as an adult was no less exciting, but certainly afforded me the opportunity to experience it through a different lens.  As an adult and a mom, I related to characters that I hadn't previously considered.  Well worth the re-read.

Cat Running, Zilpha Keatley Snyder

Another period-piece-lessons-learned novel that both my daughter and I enjoyed is Cat Running.  This story, set in California during the 1930s, features another sixth grade girl as the main protagonist.  Cat Kinsey is frustrated by her traditional parents -specifically her father- who will not allow her to "wear slacks" like the other girls at school.  It's not just the mandatory dresses that annoy Cat, but the fact that she is a very talented runner and wants so badly to defend her title in the school's annual running/track competition...but being unable to dress in a way that is conducive to her goals (and being a tweenage girl with an out-of-touch parent) makes that extremely difficult and frustrating.

As a salve to her rage, Cat discovers a strange little hideout in the rocky cliffs beyond her family's property.  As she sets up shop in her new secret place, she discovers that she is not the only one who frequents it...and a strange new friendship develops that might just change her life.  Fun, informative, and thought-provoking, Cat Running is a great story for the junior reader in your life.

MURDER MYSTERIES (A.K.A. "HOT DOG BOOKS")

Y'all, I'd be remiss if I didn't have at least one (or three) murder mysteries in my 7-in-1 post.  They need no introduction, so I'll just get started...

Miss Morton and the Deadly Inheritance, Catherine Lloyd

Devotees (ha!) will recall a series that I began in 2023: the Miss Morton books by Catherine Lloyd.  Deadly Inheritance is the third book in this series and follows the same format as the first two:  Miss Morton and the English House Party Murder and Miss Morton and the Spirits of the Underworld.  Honestly, I don't feel like it merits a full review because it's just the same formula.  It's predictable, fun, and I don't care what you say, I'm going to keep reading them.

Death Comes to the Village, Catherine Lloyd

Prior to the Miss Morton books, Catherine Lloyd penned a series of Death Comes to ____ books, featuring a practical, similarly minded leading lady:  Lucy Harrington.  Once again, "devotees" (double ha!) will recall that I began this series back in 2023, but unknowingly started with #3 of an eight book series.  (Previously read: #3 Death Comes to Kurland Hall and #4 Death Comes to the Fair.)  Since I've been doing a lot of hot dog reading in my convalescence (gearing up for another surgery next week...), I figured I ought to go back and start this series from the beginning with #1 Death Comes to the Village, and work my way through this series (skipping #3 and #4).  So far, same song and dance: fun, mindless, love mine with mustard and relish.

Vera Wong's Unsolicited Advice for Murderers, by Jesse Q. Sutanto

In a surprising turn of events, I left England's murdery countryside and landed in present day San Fran's Chinatown.  Stereotypical tiger mom Vera Wong runs a little tea house where nothing exciting happens...until one day, a man's body is discovered right in the middle of her shop.  Of course, the police department isn't up to snuff, so Vera must take over the investigation herself so that things will be done correctly.  As she continues her detective work, Vera finds herself cozying up to a laundry list of suspects, all people who knew the deceased.  What she doesn't expect is to find herself caring deeply for these people, their lives, and their well-being.

My husband and I listened to this book together (vs reading it in print) and, let me just say, we fully enjoyed it.  It was funny, suspenseful, and heartwarming -- a rare combination.  I would recommend Vera Wong to anyone who might enjoy a fun escape, particularly accompanied by a good cup of Chinese tea.  (Bonus:  Vera will be back in another novel set to release in March!)

MISCELLANEOUS (FANTASY + SHORT STORY)

The final two entries for this post fall into two separate categories.

Taliesin, by Stephen Lawhead

Last year, I listened to a Stephen Lawhead book In the Hall of the Dragon King.  It was OK, kinda contrived, not my favorite.  Still, I mentioned in that review how I wanted to try another couple of Lawhead's books/series, so I did.  Taliesin is the first in The Pendragon Cycle, a series featuring a cast of Arthurian characters.  

An epic build up to what is certain to be quite the universe, Taliesin spans perhaps an entire continent between Atlantis (a kingdom in its twilight) and a post-Roman Celtic world (that sounds a lot like Wales) that is on the rise.  Worlds collide, characters meet, years pass, and loved ones are lost or changed.  It's all the things that a fantasy prequel promise to be.  Nevertheless, I did find a lot of contrived action similar to that which I detailed in my review of Dragon King.  There were elements that were simply too forced for my liking, as well as a lot of "by the way" information crowded into the final chapters.  While it wasn't a bad read, per se, I will not be likely to pick up the second book in the series.  

The Turbulence Expert (from You Like It Darker), by Stephen King

My husband is a long time fan of Stephen King.  In fact, I believe he has read everything the guy has written.  (If not, it's pretty damn close.)  One of King's latest publications is a series of short stories in the book You Like It Darker.  

My husband hates flying; he hates heights.  As such, he related a great deal to the main character in the short story The Turbulence Expert from this collection and prompted me to read it, since I know these details about him.  Without divulging too much, the main character in the story shares my husband's fears, making him a perfect fit for a (fictional???) job as a "turbulence expert".  And that is all I'll say.  A fun and eerie read that will take you only a matter of minutes.

And that concludes 2024!  I've already made considerable progress in 2025 and am about to wrap my fourth book.  I will probably be back to review throughout the year, but I make no promises at this time!

HAPPY READING!!!

Historical/Gothic Fiction with Hester Fox

 In previous posts, I have reviewed books by the contemporary author Hester Fox.  Fox tends to gravitate towards gothic fiction, often set in the 19th century.  For previous posts on her works, click the links below:

The Witch of Willow Hall (2018)

The Widow of Pale Harbor (2019)

A Lullaby for Witches (2022)

The Last Heir to Blackwood Library (2023)

Over the past month or so, I read the remaining two (current) publications by Hester Fox.  To be honest, I really didn't love either one.

The Orphan of Cemetery Hill (2020)

Y'all, this book was B-A-D.  The characters were dull, the plot was preposterous, and the denouement was non-existent.  The main character is a young woman by the name of Tabitha Cooke.  Tabitha can commune with the dead, but this fact must remain a secret so that people don't take advantage of her.  She is impoverished and an orphan, separated from her older sister -who can see the future- during her childhood.  When Tabitha's friend's fiancée is murdered, he is suspect #1.  Of course, he didn't kill his lovely bride-to-be and Tabitha knows this, since she talked to her ghost.

And it just goes downhill from here.  But I still read it.  Shame on me. 

The Book of Thorns (2024)

Hester Fox's most recent publication is tepid, at best.  Two sisters were separated so early in childhood that neither of them actually recalls having a sister.  However, a bond they share -a gift their mother also had- is their ability to commune through and with flowers.  During the Napoleonic wars, older sister Cornelia is working with the French army as a healer.  Younger sister Lijsbeth is mostly mute, and works as a housemaid for a wealthy family in Belgium.  On opposing sides of a war, the sisters reconnect with each other, learn about their past, and are able to piece together their futures.  In Hester Fox fashion, it is contrived and (mostly) predictable.  I also found it annoying how hard she clearly worked to get a f/f/m love triangle worked into the plot.  It felt forced and did not add one iota of excitement to the story.  While I won't say it was her worst book, I'd rate it slightly below average.

If you asked me today to rank these books, I would probably do so as follows:

1. The Last Heir to Blackwood Library
2. The Widow of Pale Harbor and/or The Witch of Willow Hall **
   **Caveat being the first scene of the book where a cat is hurt.  Hated that.
3. A Lullaby for Witches and/or The Book of Thorns
4. ----
5. ----
6. ----
7. ----
8. ----
9. ----
10. ----
11. The Orphan of Cemetery Hill

Hester Fox will be releasing another book in 2025.  I'm eager to read it and rank it here for you!

Unfinished Business: Books I did NOT complete

 It isn't often that I will start to read a book and make the decision not to complete it.  Even if it's not great writing or the characters suck, I'm too stubborn to put it aside.

Except that I did just this three times in the past few months:

A Play of Piety, by Margaret Frazer

After reading the first few chapters of this book, I was just. so. bored.  I wanted to like it.  I tried to like it.  I just couldn't get into it.  Furthermore, I was not remotely invested in the characters and, looking ahead, I happened upon a scene where a dog is killed.  It's a merciful death, but still sad.  Pass.

Jacob Have I Loved, by Katherine Paterson

This book started off strong.  Paterson's narration is both pleasing and easy to read.  I enjoyed her exposition through the pathetic first person narrator about things from seasons to food to jealousy.  However, about halfway through the book, one of the worst scenes I've encountered in literature presented itself.  This scene is graphic, inhumane, and abhorrent.  I found myself wishing I could strangle Paterson myself for putting these pictures in my head and now, without hesitation, I can say that I hate both her and her work.  And her main character -the one with whom readers are meant to empathize- is a spineless, brainless, piece of excrement.  No wonder everyone loves her sister and simply tolerates her.  She sucks.  HARD PASS.

Tales of King Arthur, by Sir Thomas Malory,
Edited and abridged with an introduction by Michael Senior

I've read a number of Arthurian legends.  I've known many of the stories for years and years but it wasn't until I was in a French literature class that I actually read my first original work.  We read Le Chevalier au Lion (The Knight with the Lion) by Chretien de Troyes.  On each two-page spread of the text were the old, original French (left page) and the updated, modern French (right page).  With a sort of dual-language book like this, we could not only read the story, but compare and contrast the current words with the original.  It was one of my first novels in French and that fact, coupled with the type of lyrical writing even of the modern translation, made reading the story of Sir Yvain as a knight errant rather cumbersome.  Nevertheless, we carried on.  I had also read -in both English and French- the story of Tristan et Yseut (Tristan and Isolde), along with numerous other adaptations of different stories of Arthur and his knights.

While I do love the adventures and the kickass stories themselves, after awhile, they start to drone on.  Malory is very very wordy, and his characters are quite flat.  For instance, Arthur is always perceived as a hero...even though he casts a ship full of babies out to sea, leaving them to die in case one of them is his repudiated son Mordred.  Sorry, Art, but that's not a redeemable act.  Merlin coerces a teenage girl into doing...things with him and, when the bill finally comes due (read: she enacts her own justice), she is the one painted as a villain while poor Merlin is victimized.  Barf.  Morgan le Fay is, as always, portrayed as a toxic malevolent when, let's get real, it was Arthur's birth father (Uther Pendragon) who killed her father, forced her mother to marry him, and then was a general asshole.  Maybe Morgan is nasty, but she's got her reasons.  All in all, the more I read of King Arthur, the more I tend to empathize/sympathize with the alleged bad guys.  You might say that the writings are "of their time", but I am also of my time.

This edition of Sir Thomas Malory's accounts is a great start for readers new to the Arthurian legends.  It's a challenging read, but simplified in order to appeal to a modern reader without having to do too much research or investigating.  In fact, that is exactly what Michael Senior (editor) intended: to create a loyal rendition of Malory's work that is also pleasing to read.  I would say he accomplished his mission; I just simply could not read the entire thing cover to cover without breaks to read other stuff.

Three books - each unfinished.  I have to remind myself when I pick up a book that I am under no obligation to finish it.  Sometimes, you just don't, and that's OK.  I've moved on since then, even finishing a couple of other books in the meantime.  Stay tuned for more reports on books that I have completed.

Witches, Witches, Everywhere! (A NEW 4-in-1 post)

Four books.  I'm writing about four books.  This is a new multiple book post record!  But I felt that these books were appropriate to put together as they all revolve around a similar theme.  Since we are approaching Halloween, what better time to talk about...

...witches!!!

Three of these four books are by the author Hester Fox, whom I mentioned in a previous post that included her 2023 novel The Last Heir to Blackwood Library.  After reading several more of her works, I can see that Ms. Fox most definitely follows a formula and, so far, always in the genre of gothic historical fiction.  While her stories are not what I would consider particularly highbrow, nor do they stick with you after the final page, they are certainly entertaining.  And sometimes, that's just what you need.  (Hot dog books, am I right?) If you go into one of her novels with this mindset, you might find yourself swept up in a dark, broody past, typically set in mid-19th century New England (Blackwood Library being the one exception among those that I've read thus far).

Anyway, the first of these witchy novels that I'd like to talk about today is Hester Fox's debut book:

The Witch of Willow Hall

After a series of damning rumors destroy the reputation of the Montrose family, sisters Catherine, Lydia, and Emeline -along with their parents- find themselves moving from Boston to the small town of New Oldbury, Massachussetts.  Set in the early 1820s, the Salem witch trials are a thing of the past...but not forgotten.  As Lydia (our main protagonist and first person narrator) begins to notice strange things around the country estate, things take a supernatural turn.  Lydia eventually discovers her family's dark secrets and scandals but, most of all, she learns that certain traits -and abilities- run in the family.

I hated how this book opened.  Like, HATED IT and almost refused to read it any further than the first few pages.  People who know me understand one thing very well:  I do not abide animal cruelty.  In any form.  I don't tolerate it in books, TV, movies, anything.  The animal can end up fine but, if you're a storyteller and you put an animal in distress, then I'm simply no longer interested in anything you have to say as a writer or as a human being.  As such, you can imagine my disappointment when the story opened by describing -in moderate detail- an event taking place where my favorite animal was killed.  While I understand Hester Fox's use of this event to illustrate the goodness in the main character (who absolutely loses her shit at this loss of a beloved pet), I do not appreciate it.  ONE HUNDRED THUMBS DOWN FOR THIS, MS. FOX!

In a very uncharacteristic act, I continued reading.  I don't know why I did, but I did so with caution.  I knew that if one more animal got hurt, I'd be done.  (That was it, by the way.)  However, the book was filled with a number of other triggers that, for people like me, can be quite problematic.  [At the risk of spoilers, readers beware:  A baby dies (possible miscarriage).  A child dies (actually, two kids die).  There are some mildly graphic mentions of hangings and house fires.  There is consensual incest.]

Ew.  Come to think of it, why did I like this book?

OK, so some weird and gross shit happens.  It was the 1800s, man!  People were weird AF!  But there was a lot of action in the book that did not fall under any of these categories and was not gross.  I just felt compelled to share some common triggers with y'all.

"It was the 80s, man!  I told you, the 80s was a wild place."

Personally, I love the theme of witchcraft.  When I say witchcraft, I'm not referring to the dark arts or sinister practices, rather to the idea of women asserting power when and where they can.  Imagine growing up in a world where you had no voice, your only purpose was to make a good match (hoping he wasn't an asshole), serve your husband, procreate, and keep it tight.  Your entire existence was subservient, reading novels was frowned upon and led to mental distraction, your appearance indicated your level of sanity (looking disheveled being the equivalent of insanity), and you were so tightly buttoned up -both literally and figuratively- that any misspoken word could destroy your reputation.  All this while your bones are being contorted in tiny, pointed shoes and your lung capacity diminished in disfiguring corsets.  It's no wonder we all got the vapors!

But there is something about witchcraft that reasserts a level of power.  Think about the symbols of witchcraft:  an understanding of nature and herbs (in a cauldron?) to heal and soothe, a broom to maintain cleanliness of a space, a cat to chase the mice away (still thinking hygiene, not to mention companionship), a connection to other women and their shared wisdom.  That's witchcraft.

Ultimately, it is this sort of witchcraft that is wielded in this book.  Generations of women, passing down their compassion, wisdom, and understanding to their daughters, granddaughters, and beyond.  Isn't that a lovely thought?

But yeah.  Some spooky and gross shit happens too.

A Lullaby for Witches

I'm just going to include the description for this book from it's Amazon page because I could do no better:

"Two women. A history of witchcraft. And a deep-rooted female power that sings across the centuries.

Once there was a young woman from a well-to-do New England family who never quite fit with the drawing rooms and parlors of her kin.  Called instead to the tangled woods and wild cliffs surrounding her family’s estate, Margaret Harlowe grew both stranger and more beautiful as she cultivated her uncanny power. Soon, whispers of “witch” dogged her footsteps, and Margaret’s power began to wind itself with the tendrils of something darker.

One hundred and fifty years later, Augusta Podos takes a dream job at Harlowe House, the historic home of a wealthy New England family that has been turned into a small museum in Tynemouth, Massachusetts. When Augusta stumbles across an oblique reference to a daughter of the Harlowes who has nearly been expunged from the historical record, the mystery is too intriguing to ignore.

But as she digs deeper, something sinister unfurls from its sleep, a dark power that binds one woman to the other across lines of blood and time. If Augusta can’t resist its allure, everything she knows and loves—including her very life—could be lost forever."

Unlike the witches in The Witch of Willow Hall, we encounter a darker force in the sequel-ish novel A Lullaby for Witches (also by Hester Fox).  Of the books I've read by this author (to date), this one is my least favorite.  The concept was intriguing, but the characters were bleh.  Ultimately, the plot felt contrived and the conclusion was forced.  I did like the main characters' connections to the Montrose family from The Witch of Willow Hall, but it fell short in most every other way.  In fact, it was so unmemorable that I'm done talking about it.

The Widow of Pale Harbor

In yet another novel by Hester Fox, we encounter the idea of witchcraft, but in a non-magic sort of way.  None of the characters in this book possess any actual powers, although rumors swirl in accusation of such wickedness.  

Set in the sleepy, idyllic town of Pale Harbor, Maine, we meet the newly bereaved Gabriel Stone, a widower intent on honoring his late wife's wishes of spreading the transcendentalist movement.  While Gabriel doesn't particularly believe in transcendentalism himself, his wife was passionate about it and, feeling a sense of guilt at her death (childbirth), he feels compelled to do something for her.  It's weird and far-reaching, but people do weird things for grief, I guess.

Meanwhile, the spooky, witchy widow Sophronia Carver ("She has a tail!") is living alone up at Castle Carver (not a castle, just a bigass house) with only three discreet servants to help her.  The entire town suspects Sophronia of having killed her late husband, a well-respected businessman and magazine editor, whose cosmopolitan appeal charmed the residents of the small town.

Remember how I said Hester Fox had a formula?  It applies here, too.  But please also remember what I said about that:  "While her stories are not what I would consider particularly highbrow, nor do they stick with you after the final page, they are certainly entertaining. [...]  If you go into one of her novels with this mindset, you might find yourself swept up in a dark, broody past, typically set in mid-19th century New England" (source: me).

Just like the premise for the character of Gabriel Stone, the entirety of this book is far-reaching from a critical standpoint.  But, these unbelievable prompts are what propel the plot (alliteration!) and allow for readers to be entertained.

Finally, in a deviation from Hester Fox, I have one more book about witches.

The Girl and the Witch's Garden

This final book centering on witches is nothing like the previous three.  In fact, this is a children's novel by author Erin Bowman.

When young Piper Peavey's father is diagnosed with cancer, she is sent to live with her estranged  mother and distant grandmother at the mysterious Mallory Estate.  Upon arriving, Piper learns that her mother has taken in a number of other children -all with magical abilities- while neglecting her own daughter.  Frustrated at her mother's apparent enthusiasm for her foster kids, Piper becomes hurt, jealous, and determined to figure out what is behind the strange happenings at Mallory Estate.

I was honestly drawn to this book by the cover art.  Isn't it charming?!?!?!?!  I love the illustration (especially the cat) and thought that my own daughter might enjoy the book, so I checked it out from our local library.  At the end of the story, she and I agreed: although it wasn't a particularly memorable read, it was (like those of Hester Fox) entertaining for the duration.  It's about the ride, right?

Clearly drawing from more classic children's literature (think: Harry Potter, The Secret Garden, etc.), The Girl and the Witch's Garden is a charming read, even for adults.  Themes of loss, grief, friendship, belonging, and family are all included in this story of the main character and her discoveries.  (Of note:  There are some potential triggers in this book as well including, but not limited to abuse, neglect, loss of a parent.)

Four different books, mostly enjoyable, all featuring something pertaining to witches.  Happy reading and HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Graphic Novels for Kids: a 3-for-1 post!

 My son loves comic books and graphic novels.  In fact, he asks me to pick up new ones for him every time I go to the library (a couple times each month).  He doesn't really care what they're about, as long as "you think I'll like them".

Earlier this summer, I picked up three graphic novels I thought he'd enjoy...mainly because I thought that I would enjoy them.  And I did.  So, one at a time, and without further ado...

The Tea Dragon Festival, by K. O'Neill

I saw this book and was immediately in love with the illustrations.  The landscapes and use of color were so beautiful to me, and the little critters (called "tea dragons" -- look around the girl's feet) were cute AF.  I love tea.  I love critters.  I love this type of illustration.  Naturally, I needed to read this book.  

Touted as "a lovely, gentle fantasy" (Kirkus), it sounded like a calming, delightful sort of read that would be even more delightfully accompanied by the previously described images.  While it did deliver in both of these categories, I must confess, I was caught off guard by the whole notion of how "inclusive" it is.  Friends, it's woke.  

Maybe that's your thing.  Maybe it isn't.  It honestly annoyed me more than anything because I don't like pushing agendas of any kind on children, who are clearly this book's target audience.  While yes, the notion of gender fluidity did come up, it was mostly just in passing, and could be easily missed.  It was indeed forced and contrived (things that piss me off about writing in general), but it wasn't the primary theme of the story.  I cannot comment on how present these themes are in the other Tea Dragon books as I have not read those.  Unfortunately, I will not be likely to do so, due to the clear motives behind graphic novelist K. O'Neill.  Bummer.  I like tea, but this just isn't my cup of it.

Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt (A Narwhal and Jelly Book, #2), by Ben Clanton

I love narwhals.  Maybe I don't say it enough but, from the moment I learned that they were real, actual creatures (!), I was smitten.  There is nothing I love more unda da sea.

Narwhal and Jelly books do not need to be read in order, so it was no problem that this was the first one that I picked up.  Unlike the previously discussed Tea Dragon books, Super Narwhal and Jelly Jolt pushes no agenda beyond having fun with your friends, using your imagination, and including others when you play.  In terms of inclusion, I personally believe this needs to be where we shift our focus when communicating these values to kids.  Regardless of your beliefs, I think we can all get on board with Narwhal and Jelly.

Wizkit: An Adventure Overdue, by Tanya J. Scott

A one-eyed cat who is learning to become a wizard?  YES PLEASE!!!! 

Wizkit, a lazy, bread-loving student of wizardry overhears sobbing in her house.  When she and her teacher discover an overdue library book that wants to be returned home, Wizkit and the book are sent on an adventure back to the library.  Along the way, they use their imaginations to fill the book's blank pages, solve problems they encounter, and meet new friends.  Wizkit learns the power of books, using your mind, and getting off your butt to create your own fun -- lessons we can all stand to learn!

Three new graphic novels for the kiddos.  No Pulitzer prizes here, just fun: plain and simple!

Persepolis and Persepolis 2, by Marjane Satrapi

For better or worse, we all remember our childhoods.  The ups, the downs, the highlights and major moments -- it's all there.

Iranian graphic novelist, Marjane Satrapi, recounts her childhood (roughly ages 6-14) growing up in Tehran in Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood.  As a child, Satrapi witnessed the overthrow of the Shah of Iran, the subsequent Islamic Revolution, and the crippling war with Iraq.  Raised by passionate Marxists in a precarious time, Satrapi's unique views of the world were shaped by her family and her environment.  Nevertheless, she was a child and an adolescent girl who experienced all the things that girls do: friendships, nail polish, boyfriends, school, and -sometimes- being too mouthy for her own good.

In the follow-up, Persepolis 2: The Story of a Return, Satrapi recounts her life as a teenage student -alone and abroad- in Europe.  While she was sent to Austria to escape the dangers of war-torn Iran under an intense and extreme regime, her world remained precarious.  She navigated adolescence without the loving guidance of her parents, who had to stay in Iran, and trouble often ensued.  Persepolis 2 brings Satrapi into adulthood, returning to Iran, then traveling abroad once again (this time to France).

It is hard to imagine a coming of age like the unique one experienced by Marjane Satrapi.  Most of us have our own stories, but few of them involve the horrors she witnessed.  Nevertheless, Satrapi tells her story with wit, the dark humor required to survive such trauma, and an amazing cohesion that ties all these seemingly unrelated life events into a continuous story.  

As graphic novels, Persepolis and Persepolis 2 are rather "quick and easy reads", despite the weight of their contents.  While my library categorizes them as Young Adult graphic novels, I would recommend they be reserved for more mature YA readers.  Yes, a teenager could handle it, but they are heavy and, sometimes, quite graphic and/or violent.

Ultimately, these are intriguing reads by a very talented graphic novelist.  Fascinating and informative, hilarious and heartbreaking, I would recommend them to anyone looking for a new perspective or world experience.