2019 - Fourth Quarterly Review

To assist my blog readers, I've decided to summarize my reading four times a year, providing a brief description, the page count, and a grading scale (5 thumbs up - Highly Recommend, 4 thumbs up - Enjoyed, 3 thumbs up - Good, but not as satisfying as I'd hoped, 2 thumbs up - Meh, and 1 thumb down - Regret, wishing I could get back the time invested). I might also document the mention of agents in the acknowledgement section - this is primarily for my own purposes, since it benefits a writer to know what agents represented similar works.

I read the following books during the fourth quarter of 2019 (for my full review, click on title):


The Road Back to You by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile - A helpful Christian outline of the Enneagram personality paradigm. - 240 pages, 👍👍👍👍 - Revised to 👎 after learning how heretical these teachings are.

All the Flowers in Paris by Sarah Jio - Waking with amnesia, Caroline must piece together her past, along with the history of an untouched room in her apartment on the Rue Cler. For fans of Sarah's Key. - 304 pages, 👍👍👍-1/2

Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey by The Countess of Carnarvon - Weaving information from Highclere Castle's archives, the current Countess presents the story of the fifth Countess of Carnarvon's life, loves, and nursing work. - 310 pages (I listened in audio form, 7 CDs, 8 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell by Robert Dugoni - Born with ocular albinism, Sam Hill endures bullying on the strength of his mother's assertion that his condition is "God's will." He, however, is unsure whether he believes his mother's convictions and doubts his life will be extraordinary. - 434 pages, 👍👍👍👍

The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary by Simon Winchester - Professor James Murray, editor of the renown OED, welcomes the help of Dr. William Chester Minor, unaware that he is an inmate in a criminal lunatic asylum. - 298 pages, LP edition, 👍👍👍👍

Carnegie's Maid by Marie Benedict - When Clara Kelly dissembles to gain employment as Mrs. Carnegie's maid, she never imagines the impact her relationship with Andrew Carnegie will bring.  - 288 pages (I listened in audio form,  CDs,  hours), 👍👍👍👍

The Path Between Us: An Enneagram Journey to Healthy Relationships by Suzanne Stabile - Outlines Enneagram personality types and how to best approach relationships between the various personalities. - 240 pages, 👍👍👍 - Also revised because of heretical nature of this teaching 👎

Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-Luck Jay by Julie Zickefoose - A gorgeous tale, illustrated with photos and sketches, chronicling the rescue of an abandoned blue-jay. - 247 pages, 👍👍👍👍

The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan - Author Anthony Peardew finds and catalogs lost items with the hopes of one day reuniting them to their owners. When he dies, he leaves his house and collection to his assistant and she ferrets out their stories with the help of a Downs Syndrome neighbor and the handsome gardener. - 288 pages, 👍👍👍

Ellie and the Harpmaker by Hazel Prior - Ellie Jacobs stumbles upon Dan's Harp Barn and is overwhelmed when he gives her one of his custom-made harps. But following her dream of playing the harp might come at some cost and might stir up trouble for everyone. - 336 pages, 👍👍👍👍

My Name is Mahtob by Mahtob Mahmoody - The continuation of the story begun in the film Not Without My Daughter, told from the daughter's perspective and pointing to the faith and hope that preserved her through and after her abduction ordeal. - 352 pages, 👍👍👍👍

A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World by C. A. Fletcher - In a distant future, after a severe thinning of the population, Griz knows only his home and his family until a man arrives, drugs them, and steals his dog. A coming-of-age story sure to take you by surprise. - 384 pages (I listened in audio form, 9 CDs, 11 hours), 👍👍👍👍

Firstlight by Sue Monk Kidd - A compilation of the early writings of Sue Monk Kidd (mostly from Guideposts) covering topics of parenting, spirituality, solitude, and compassion. - 240 pages (I listened in audio form, 5 CDs, 5 hours), 👍👍👍

Unlikely Converts: Improbable Stories of Faith and What They Teach Us About Evangelism by Randy Newman - Is there someone you think will never convert to Christianity no matter how often you share the gospel? Newman encourages you to never give up because God has a plan and can radically redeem those He chooses. 192 pages, 👍👍👍👍-1/2

Church of the Small Things: The Million Little Pieces That Make Up a Life by Melanie Shankle - A humorous look at how God uses the small moments of our lives for great impact. - 224 pages (I listened in audio form, 5 CDs, 5-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

Word Catcher: An Odyssey Into the World of Weird and Wonderful Words by Phil Cousineau - A compilation of interesting words and their origins. - 291 pages, 👍👍👍👍-1/2

The Words Between Us by Erin Bartels - With an assumed name, Robin Dickinson attempts to flee her past, but an old friend reappears and is determined to bring it all up again. - 384 pages, 👍👍👍

Beautiful Boy by David Sheff - A heartbreaking memoir about a father dealing with his son's addiction to crystal meth. - 352 pages, 👍👍👍-1/2

Border Crossing by Pat Barker - A therapist jumps into a freezing river to save a young man who turns out to be a boy sent to prison on his own testimony. Intriguing idea, but no redemption. - 228 pages, (I listened in audio form, 6 CDs, 7 hours), 👎

Pleased to Meet Me by Bill Sullivan - The musings of a scientific materialist on how we are simply a mass of matter with no function or purpose. Even if I agreed with the author, I couldn't abide his constant inclusion of pop culture references. - 331 pages, 👎

Favorite Gifts of Christmas 2019

We had a lovely Christmas. It was such a blessing to have Bryce with us (he returned home to West Virginia late Christmas afternoon). Here were a few of my favorite gifts:

My husband bought me a copy of my blogging friend/author Maria Novajosky's book, An Ocean, an Airplane, and Two Countries Full of Kisses - a book to restart my failing reading mojo.

About a month ago, I was at a local flea market and spotted a game that I knew I would love. I snapped a photo and sent it to my husband convinced he would put it off until December and the thing would already be gone. No, bless him, he snagged it for me - Bookopoly: A Novel Property Trading Game Celebrating the Classics!

It looks delightful.  Instead of properties, you land on classic books. It says interesting facts about the books and the authors are printed on the back of each property deed. You secure $200 every time you pass READ. Instead of going to jail, you are stuck watching tv - ha! When you land on Explore or Knowledge, you receive cards like "Can't find your library card - Go directly to WATCHING TV. Do not pass READ. Do not collect $200." or "You only read the Cliff Notes. Move backward to the next book." My only complaint about the game is that they neglected to include a book by Dickens. My complaint about my family - the only one willing to share in the game is Sean.

Perhaps I will bring it to a Free Write night (an offshoot of my writer's group) and convince them to ditch their writing prompts (so intimidating) and join me in a game.

Finally, I was thrilled with Bryce's gifts: a set of gel pens, dark chocolate truffles, and a Double-Sided Full Body Massage Mat. This thing is wonderful - heat and vibration.

Christmas Greetings for 2019!

When you have bigs, Christmas morning is laid back. Daylight comes and they're still sleeping.

I couldn't bring myself to write an annual Christmas letter this year. Instead, I simply sent out a small photo of our dog, Toby (captured so well by a photographer at J.C. Penney who claimed it was her first pet photo shoot ever):

I probably wouldn't have even bothered, except that I wanted to remind the few I send and receive cards from, of our address change (no, we didn't move; the city extended the street name down to our country road, requiring the pointless hassle of an address change). The futility of the gesture is monumental. We received 16 Christmas cards this year - a third from extended family. Tempted to feel aphilophrenia (see my Word Catcher review), but will optimistically attribute it to the fact that the Christmas card is going the way of the dodo bird! At least I know I'm not alone in this sadness. A friend posted her card dilemma on Facebook (she sends far more than I do and this year her card was going to cost $3.84 each to send, so she sent it disassembled with the challenge to assemble it - ha!) - she tries to fill one door with cards from family and friends, but this year resorted to adding a Santa decoration to take up space due to the scarcity of cards:

Here are our recent photos of Trevor (freshman) and Sean (7th grade):

The only news I would have added to a Christmas letter (had I sent one) would be that our oldest, Bryce, received his next job assignment and is thrilled to be moving to Houston, Texas (where his girlfriend already lives and works for Exxon). We are grateful for his presence here for Christmas, but will grieve the loss of more frequent visits. Here is a summer shot of Bryce and Elizabeth from their travels together in Europe:

May you and yours enjoy a blessed Christmas and new year!

Book Review: Pleased to Meet Me

I had great expectations for Pleased to Meet Me because it promised to explore "our behavior through the lens of genetics, microbiology, psychology, neurology, and family history, revealing the hidden forces that drive our individual natures." Two of my favorite topics are genetics and neurology. I should have realized from the outset that the author is a materialist (believing nothing exists except matter). His biased perspectives were sometimes downright unscientific. In his chapter on what shapes our political perspectives he cited a study that observed preschoolers, noting behavioral characteristics, then followed up on these individuals, documenting their political leanings. Their conclusion: the "resourceful, initializing, autonomous, confident ... and self-involving" boys ended up as liberals and the "visibly defiant, ... easily offended, anxious when confronted by uncertainties, distrustful of others, ruminative, and rigidifying when under stress" boys ended up as conservatives. What a skewed load of crock!

His terminology follows his philosophical leanings. He asserts "nature invented sex" and "science is the elixir that allows us to rise above our demons." Why speak of demons if you don't even countenance a spiritual realm? If anyone displays a confirmation bias, it is this author. To me, it seems far more of a stretch to believe that our mental capacities, the physical intricacies of the body and the world, the deep desire for meaning, somehow all stem from a big bang that simply set all of this in motion without a prime mover or intelligent designer and with no more purpose than a cocktail of chemicals and matter.

What was most annoying, though, were the almost constant references to pop culture (several per page). It was as if the author felt he must dumb down his discussion to make his lofty thought accessible to the ignorant masses. Indeed, he talks down to anyone who does not share his perspective on scientific materialism. It is ironic. In the grand scheme of things, he may truly be the one blind to the truths of both the material and spiritual realms. Poor man! Trapped in a construct that allows for nothing further than a bunch of atoms randomly dancing around in the universe. What a sterile, pointless existence! Somehow, when the time comes, I don't think he'll be pleased to meet his maker.

Book Review: Border Crossing

I'm always trying to find new audio selections to accompany my treadmill workouts. Indeed, I cast aside a famous Christian memoir because the author spent the first half of the initial CD regaling how many books she has written. She waxed on about how the book will appeal to all women of every age bracket and background experience. Plenty of people have recommended her books, but I will probably steer clear from now on, given my brief foray into her self-aggrandizement.

Thus, I was back to square one and on a limited time budget for browsing. I will acknowledge that I haven't been disposed to reading lately, but Border Crossing by Pat Barker is an audio book I wish I hadn't consumed. I was too far in before happening upon the raunchier bits. Plus, while it was intriguing to consider a therapist and his relationship with a juvenile murderer, it accomplished no redemption or resolution. I ended the book wondering why I had bothered. It provided a character study of a psychologist who is grieving the end of his marriage while reconnecting with a boy he helped send to prison. What a disturbing youth! I felt sure it would lead somewhere, but alas, it never did. The man remained unchanged. The boy remained unchanged. I ached for a sense of redemption that never materialized.

Book Review: Beautiful Boy

A few years back my book club read a book called The Story of Beautiful Girl. While looking the book up, I noticed a book called Beautiful Boy. Intrigued, I thought I would check it out but didn't. I recently encountered the book again. What a hard, heartbreaking book to read! My husband's family has lived through a similar journey because my husband's younger brother was an alcoholic and ended up taking his life.

David Sheff tells the riveting story of his son Nic's addiction to crystal meth (and other drugs). He opens his heart to readers, pouring out his own feelings of guilt and the intense questions that arise when someone you love succumbs to the disease of addiction. Did his divorce create the inner demons that drove his son to drugs? Did his own experimentation with drugs predispose Nic to a genetic game of Russian roulette? He opens a vein and invites readers into his pain and the perplexing problem of seeking rehab when the addict doesn't desire it personally.

My heart ached for the author and his entrapped son. It reminded me of a video I watched called The Secret Life of the Brain. In it, the section on the adolescent brain discusses how addiction rewires the brain and tells the individual that the drug equals survival. It destroys the dopamine balance and drives the addict to seek further rushes. It truly is a Pandora's box. Once opened, they cannot return the contents. I also encountered an idea I have heard twice in recent days. He wrote that a parent at one support group expressed, "Resentment is like taking poison and waiting for the other person to die."

I wish Anne Lamott's endorsement on the cover could be true. She writes: "This book will save a lot of lives and heal a lot of hearts." The problem with addiction is that it deludes the addict into thinking salvation comes from the drug not from avoiding the drug. Yes, the book is eye opening and allows you to come alongside their story. But, is the story capable of saving lives or healing hearts? The author shared his approach, but addiction is probably not a one solution game. Indeed, countless others have taken a similar course and ended up with a different conclusion. However, having said that, there is much to gain in walking through life in another person's shoes. He has wisdom to share about what he learned as a parent, and that wisdom is valuable for anyone who picks up this memoir.

Even if you don't read the book, you could hear their story in this brief interview. Or, the 2018 movie is available to watch on Prime Video, trailer here.

Book Review: The Words Between Us

If you love books, bookstores, and poetry, you might enjoy Erin Bartels' novel The Words Between Us. Listen to the introduction: "Most people only die once. But my father is not most people. He is a monster." Thus begins a weaving story about a teenager who escapes into a false identity to distance herself from the notorious crimes for which her parents are both spending time in prison. Although she resents their absence and has a hard time trusting others, she desperately wants to find her place in the world.

The story is told in dueling time lines, alternating between her past teen years and her current life as an owner of a bookstore in River City, Michigan. She hides from life in the pages of her beloved books until an old friend begins to send her the books they shared in high school. Why is he finally making contact now? Does he forgive her for her disappearance from his life? Can you redeem a broken past?

I enjoyed the book. It still was a stretch for me to concentrate, but I stuck with it. Although it wasn't so riveting I couldn't put it down, it successfully roped me in and kept me. Plus, who doesn't enjoy a book that name-drops famous books? Fun.

Book Review: Word Catcher

I suffer from logophilia! Indeed, I love words. They are delicious and learning new ones is a delight. This book solved a current dilemma. One of my sons has been tankmanning and it has left me flakhappy. Focusing on anything is a challenge and I tend to fribble the hours away (I suppose I'm not fribbling, since I'm praying for parental wisdom). I should really thole it better, but alas I don't. I'm not as resilient as I once was. Perhaps I am too much of a handschuhschneeballwerfer (don't you love that word for coward, roughly translated from German as one who wears gloves to throw snowballs). But, let me apologize. I'm being a wordmonger.

What a delightful book, easily consumed in small sittings with a limited attention span. Phil Cousineau provides a plethora of fascinating words and their origins in this book, Word Catcher: An Odyssey Into the World of Weird and Wonderful Words. I enjoyed learning about various fears and psychological states: aphilophrenia, the haunting feeling that one is unloved; arachibutyrophobia, the fear of peanut butter sticking to the roof of the mouth; hippomonstrosesquipedaliophobia, the fear of long words; kakorrhapphiophobia, the fear of failure; and callomania, the delusion that one is beautiful. I have often suffered from esprit de l'escalier: a brilliant comeback that comes to mind too late. Such delectable terms!

If you delight in dissecting phrases and expressions, you will love this book. It is a privilege to be a wordcatcher, playing a game of catch with Phil Cousineau. He has compiled a veritable treasure in this volume. Pick it up! You won't be discontented and your vocabulary will surely expand. I was thrilled to discover a similar book he has written called The Painted Word. Onward to more words!

Book Review: Church of the Small Things

I was up for a light-hearted Christian book of encouragement and Melanie Shankle delivered. Melanie's main message in Church of the Small Things is that God wants to work through us, but it isn't necessarily in some the grand master plan we imagine necessary. This was a similar message to her other book I read last year, called Everyday Holy. He works in the small things of life, in a meal brought to a grieving widow or new parent, in a call offering prayer when you know a friend is facing a difficult trial, or in faithfulness to follow the random moments of direction God gives. Our job is to be available in the big things and the small. We are privileged to play a role in kingdom-building even if it means planting small seeds and fulfilling minor tasks (just those words of love as I pushed my youngest out the door to catch the bus - a small gesture reaping untold fortification in his life). This was a great audio experience and a timely reminder to give it all to God.

Book Review: Unlikely Converts

Ever since I read Jordan Raynor's Called to Create, I have been receiving his newsletters. They discuss the creative process and our need to balance our call from God with our work in daily life. At the end, he always recommends a book. Anyone who knows me well will understand why this recommendation reverberated in my brain for days. I was desperate to locate and read the book.

Randy Newman studied evangelism at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has written four other authoritative books on evangelism: Questioning Evangelism, Corner Conversations, Bringing the Gospel Home, and Engaging with Jewish People. This book, Unlikely Converts: Improbable Stories of Faith and What They Teach Us About Evangelism, presents his findings from countless interviews with recent converts. Newman structures his book into two separate sections. Section One covers how people come to faith in Christ: gradually, communally, variously, and supernaturally. Section Two presents ideas for how Christians should present the gospel: carefully, fearfully, kindly, and prayerfully. He supports each chapter with examples taken from his interviews. The book is accessible and fundamental. If you are interested in the conversion process or in reaching the unsaved for God's kingdom, then you will surely enjoy reading Newman's book.

Book Review: Firstlight

If anyone has a way with words, it is Sue Monk Kidd. She has woven beautiful tapestries in her famous novels, The Secret Life of Bees, and The Invention of Wings. After the suggestion to read her book, When the Heart Waits, I discovered another of her titles in our library's audio book selections. Thus, I lapped up Firstlight: The Early Inspirational Writings of Sue Monk Kidd. As always, I could relate to many passages. I returned to the library to check out the hard copy because I wanted to glean more from its pages.

If the book had been my own, I would have highlighted a passage she shared about compassion. She writes: "When compassion wakes up in us, we find ourselves more willing to become vulnerable, to take the risk of entering the pain of others. We open our lives to them in a genuine willingness to be known. We tell them our own story of suffering as a way of offering healing and hope." And later she writes: "The most gracious and courageous gift we can offer the world is our authenticity, our uniqueness, the expression of our true selves."

Even though I listened in half hour to forty-minute increments (to accompany my morning treadmill walk), I loved that the passages offered bite-sized reflections. She has so much of value to share: thoughts about letting go of our children, about navigating tricky waters when it is hard to trust God and His plan, and embracing solitude.

My only complaint is that sometimes her message presents a watered-down gospel (which is not the "good news" at all). Devoid of recognition of our sinfulness and desperate need for His atonement on our behalf, it references mystics and others who parrot feel-good concepts that skirt the edges of Christianity. It emphasizes God's love without clarifying His holiness and His just wrath for sin. It presents the idea that God is in all of us and we tap into His divine essence just by seeking Him in contemplation. Her ideas fall in line with Niebuhr's description of the liberal, social gospel, where "A God without wrath brought man without sin into a kingdom without judgment through the ministrations of a Christ without a cross." So, while there is much to glean from her words and her thoughts, I would proffer this reminder: her words are extra-Biblical. For the best guidance, go to the supreme source, His Word.

Book Review: A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World

I really enjoyed the audio experience of A Boy and His Dog at the End of the World. It was an engaging story and one I thought, until I got to the final disc, I would recommend to my youngest. I will probably still give it to him, however I might wait a year or two because the end of the story has some mature content. Apart from that and a faith-deriding tone, however, it was an outstanding tale. Since Sean is a dog-lover, I know he will relish the story of a boy desperate to retrieve his stolen dog.

Griz lives in an apocalyptic future in an isolated location with only his small family for company. He loves books, so he's read about the world of the past, crowded with cars and people and computers. But it is all foreign to him. Still, he was content in his little slice of world, until a man came and stole his dog. Without even counting the cost, he chases after the man, intent upon retrieving what belongs to him.

The voice was so well done. The pacing, although draggy in bits, was overall sound. But, best of all, the twists in the tale toward the end took me totally by surprise. Perhaps I should have expected them, but they shocked me. I would love to read this one with Sean, but I doubt he'd tolerate a read-aloud. After all, he's almost a teenager. I'll be eager to see if he appreciates it as much as I did.

Book Review: My Name is Mahtob

As soon as I saw the author's name on the cover of this book, I knew I had to read this continuation of the story from the movie Not Without My Daughter. My mother recommended the movie to me many years ago, and it is one of our favorites. Sally Field does an outstanding job of portraying Betty Mahmoody's strength and resilience in the face of forced detainment in Iran. The opportunity to hear from the child who endured the trial with her was too good to ignore. Besides, who wouldn't be lured in by that beautiful, innocent face?

When Mahtob Mahmoody was almost five years old, her Iranian father and American mother took her to Iran for a two-week vacation to see her paternal relatives. Mahtob's father had always been gentle and loving, even doting. Although he was educated in the United States as a doctor, Moody decided to remain in Iran and intended to keep his wife and daughter there with him. He claims the movie misrepresented him to garner viewers. Yet, the story Mahtob tells in this book is consistent with the movie. Mahtob says she never read her mother's book because she didn't have to ... she lived through it alongside her mother.

In this book, the reader enters the mind of a growing child whose fears of abduction continue to plague her long after the actual detainment in Iran. Despite the traumatizing nature of her life story, Mahtob is resilient and focuses on hope. I was not aware of her grounding in the faith. The movie shows the mother and daughter huddled in the bathroom praying for deliverance, but many petition His hand when held to the flame. Mahtob's personal faith helped her forgive her father for robbing her freedom and sense of security. It kept her strong during his continuing campaign to reunite them.

When others argue that she, of all people, should recognize how harmful religion can be, Mahtob responds with genuine faith in the unmerited grace of God through belief in Jesus Christ. She argues that every individual can make a difference in this world (as her mother did in petitioning for better laws to prevent international child abduction). Mahtob's elementary school teachers encouraged her to hide God's Word in her heart because it was the one thing nobody could ever take from her. What a great lesson! As the back cover proclaims, "My Name is Mahtob portrays the resilience of a wounded soul healed by faith in the goodness of God."

Book Review: Ellie and the Harpmaker

I'm a sucker for books that sing a love song to music. Phaedra Patrick, author of The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper and Rise & Shine Benedict Stone, provides this enticing endorsement: "A beautiful love song of a story, wonderfully told with a warm heart and much hope. Hazel Prior's writing is a lyrical delight." Ellie and the Harpmaker is an outstanding debut novel. It provides a sweet story and the even sweeter lure of dazzling music.

When Ellie Jacobs stumbles upon the Harp Barn in the middle of the countryside, it is like finding a hidden cache of diamonds. Inside, she meets owner Dan Hollis, and attempts to explain the serendipity of her find, since playing the harp is on her bucket list. Dan is not merely a harp maker, he is an impulsive eccentric. She cannot believe her good fortune when he gives her one of his stunning creations and encourages her to come to the barn whenever she wants to practice the instrument. The wrinkle in the plan comes in the form of her discouraging and jealous husband. But what he doesn't know can't hurt him, right?

This was a quick and easy read. The only thing that would have made it better is if I could have listened in audio form and heard a Celtic harp introduction to each chapter (hopefully they incorporated music into the audio version). Still, my brain imagined on its own. While I've never added "play a harp" to my bucket list, I loved watching Ellie chase her dream.

Book Review: The Keeper of Lost Things

The Keeper of Lost Things by Ruth Hogan was my October book club selection. I enjoyed meeting a whole host of new-to-me words. What fun I had looking them up. Many of the words were understandable without the dictionary (used in context), but I love when a book teaches me something new. Have you ever used any of these words: salmagundi, etiolated, trilby, titian, gimcrack, termagant, feculent, mufti, portcullis, pellucid, or tombola? Even my spellcheck doesn't recognize a few. I doubt I'll ever use them, but at least I might remember their definitions.

I loved the premise of this book. After an author loses a memento just before his wife dies, he fixates on a growing collection of lost items, cataloging and keeping them in his locked study. I was a bit confused. The book indicated that Anthony Peardew wrote short stories from the items he found. Thus, when an introduced item had an italicized story, I assumed it was a short story he conjured. The stories instead offered the true origins of each item.

This reminded me of a woman in my old writer's group who made up stories for her grandchildren using props. She would set a small knick-knack in front of her and weave an imaginative tale to go with each. Plus, it brought to mind several things I have lost over the years. I wonder who may have salvaged them.

I loved the enticing opening paragraph. The sentences swept me in quickly by describing an individual travelling on a train. Oh, yeah - he's travelling inside a biscuit tin. Say what? Are they remains? How did they get in a biscuit tin? Why were they abandoned on a train? Anthony's first find in the book is alluring.

While the premise was intriguing, and the vocabulary expanding, the story itself was disappointing. I tired of it before it ended. It took forever to figure out how the second story-line (Eunice and her publisher) would intersect with the first story-line (Anthony and his assistant). I appreciated the author's excellent skill in bringing the story full circle, but I'd say I yawned through the final third of the book. Perhaps it was when the supernatural elements intensified. Maybe that wasn't my thing as it grew silly. Plus, I thought I would relate to it more because a few characters struggled with dementia, but even that wasn't sufficient to keep me rapt. I guess the book wasn't a wasted effort, but it wasn't a "keeper" either.

Book Review: Saving Jemima

Although I am not as much a bird-lover as my husband, I do enjoy watching the blue-jays, cardinals, orioles, and goldfinches that congregate outside the window where I write at my computer. My mother-in-law teases that my husband spends more money feeding his birds and critters than he does feeding his sons, however that is not true, as my boys are always in the kitchen ferreting out snacks. I think my favorite sighting this summer was an indigo bunting. I favor blue birds. Thus, my interest in this book about a woman's effort to rescue an abandoned blue-jay.

Julie Zickefoose must be a common name in birding books because as soon as my husband saw the cover he recognized her name. This tale was touching. In Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-Luck Jay, Zickefoose chronicles the journey from discovery, release, migration, and return. Alongside the bird's growth, she reveals her own passage through the difficult path of divorce. She may have saved the bird, but the bird also saved her.

Hard won wisdom emerges: mother birds often have logical reasons for abandoning their offspring. In this case, an infection Jemima caught from the egg-stage hindered her ability to fly. Still, with Zickefoose's help and application of antibiotics, the bird's chance of survival increased. I enjoyed reading about the process. The book is full of photos and sketches (both gifts I envy). If you love birds, you will enjoy this tale. I feel sorry for the author's losses and grateful for the distraction offered in her attention to Jemima. She writes well and shares her love for nature and birds.

Book Review: The Path Between Us

In finding the Enneagram book, The Road Back to You, I discovered Suzanne Stabile's follow-up book, The Path Between Us. The first book emphasizes identifying your own personality type. The second book emphasizes using your understanding of the various personality types to aid in relationship building. Reading them back to back was repetitive. Of the two, The Road Back to You is more accessible. Still, I benefited from the second book's focus on how to relate to other personalities.

Sadly, I'm often socially inept. I didn't take the advice to heart well enough. After reading the chapter on Ones (what I assume is my husband's personality), I was eager to share with him why he fits that pattern. In sharing my opinion, I flouted the book's clear advice. It warns not to be critical of individuals who are already overly critical of themselves. It would have been great if I had incorporated an understanding of his perspective and used that knowledge to bridge a gap. Instead, I drove a wedge further by pointing out my idea of why he fits in the Perfectionists category.

If you plan on reading these books, try to not only understand but also carry out the gentle suggestions for improving relationships. Understanding is great; incorporation of ideas is greater still. I will try to heed the warnings better, but sadly it may take more than reading books to improve my relationships.

Again, I resonated with many insights into my type - Nines - Peacemakers. This book highlighted why communication often fails. As a Nine, fearing conflict, I say what you want me to say or say nothing because I think I'm protecting the relationship. Then, when I speak up, it sometimes blindsides others because my silence led them to believe nothing was wrong. I must learn to "manage the tension between regretting being compliant and being afraid of being non-compliant." In addition, I have to recognize that sometimes I must assert myself, regardless of the cost or conflict it might bring.

The book offered great suggestions for nurturing relationships. With Nines: "Focus on what Nines do as opposed to what they forget or fail to do," "Encourage Nines to share their grievances with you," and "Nines want clear, direct communication regarding what's expected of them." With Ones: "They will likely be more verbal about what you do wrong than about the things you get right," "Be careful and gentle when you point out their mistakes - it can easily be overwhelming for the One (my failure)," "Admit your mistakes in the relationship," and "They work hard and they expect the same from you." I doubt I'll convince my husband to study the Enneagram framework, but I will try to use the tools I've gained.

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Wishing I had been a more discerning reader from the start. There's no problem with attempting to heal relationships, but anything that substitutes another method instead of the gospel of Christ's atonement is HERESY. Must watch this video:

Book Review: Carnegie's Maid

This audio book's cover blurb lured me: "Downton Abbey fans should flock to this charming tale." I'd say this is for Downton Abbey fans who wish for a more wholesome version of the upstairs/downstairs story. I enjoyed this historical tale very much. The author uses her imagination to explain the shift in Andrew Carnegie's perspectives. She weaves a believable and entertaining possibility. A servant might have impressed Carnegie to reach out to the lower classes and provide them with access to libraries and schools.

Imagine landing alone on American soil and hearing your name called for passage to a job in Pittsburgh, a job that rightfully belongs to someone else who shares your name. Clara Kelley cannot pass up this opportunity. And if the real Clara died on the ship's crossing, what harm could it do to impersonate a lady's maid and secure a station in her new life. Clara is a quick learner and steps into the shoes of this other Clara well enough to keep the job. Her family depends on the income she sends back to Ireland, so Clara cannot risk stepping out of line. But the allure of Andrew Carnegie's affections, his desire to treat her as an equal, his recognition of her business sense, all overwhelm her.

The book explores democracy, education, class conflict, and philanthropy. While Carnegie's business ventures succeed, they harm the poor. Clara forces Andrew to face the implications of his involvement with merging companies and widespread layoffs. Will the two become a team on equal footing or will Clara's past catch up with her? Marie Benedict offers a plausible fictional scenario for Carnegie's rise in philanthropy.

Book Review: The Professor and the Madman

I've been longing to read this book, The Professor and the Madman: A Tale of Murder, Insanity, and the Making of the Oxford English Dictionary, by Simon Winchester. I have fond memories of using the OED in my job at the Wade Center (the collected writings of 7 British, Christian authors). It was a remarkable reference tool - a multi-volume treasury of words! I never gave one thought to the lengthy process required to compile all those words and sentences. Having grown up with dictionaries, I couldn't conceive of a world without one.

What a fascinating tale! The seventy-year project (1857 to 1927) required many hours of research and investigation. Its editor, Professor James Murray, sent out a bid for volunteers. These individuals scoured books for early references and sentences that might articulate and support the meanings of various terms. One volunteer was an American, Dr. William Chester Minor. The good doctor's story was every bit as interesting as the illustrative quotes accumulated.

I'm still pondering the implications of the timing. If Dr. Minor hadn't served in the American Civil War, would his insanity have taken hold? Did he merely have a genetic predisposition for his paranoid mental instability? Without his insane act of murder, would he have had the freedom and time to devote to his thorough scouring of books for source material? What a sad life. Yet what a grand accomplishment!

Although the movie version received mixed reviews (trailer here), I will probably watch it at some point if it comes to Netflix or my library.

Book Review: The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell

I survived a near-death case of double pneumonia at age three. From that point on, I heard assertions of divine intentions. "God must have had a reason for sparing your life." "You will achieve something significant for Him." But was it a burden to carry such weight of expectation? When it turns out I'm quite ordinary, does that negate all those clear declarations of God's will?

The main character in Robert Dugoni's The Extraordinary Life of Sam Hell could well relate. Born with red eyes, from ocular albinism, Sam Hill's mother asserts that it is "God's will" because He intends Sam to have an extraordinary life. Given the public reaction to his condition, he needs her constant reminders. The nuns don't want him at the local Catholic grade school because his presence might be disruptive. Other kids call him "the devil's son" or "Sam Hell." His worst bully is a boy named David Bateman. Sam watches as his mother's faith never wavers, but he struggles to believe with her fervor. To him, saying "It's God's will," and "God has a plan," rings like a hollow excuse.

Because of Sam's skepticism, I worried that it would veer into typical modern ridicule of faith. However, by the end, I felt the novel was quite faith-affirming. If anything, it showed a realistic struggle with faith in the face of trial and tragedy. I should warn, the book includes sex scenes (it follows his life from birth, through grade school, and adolescence, into adulthood). I enjoyed the parallel time structure (a chronological progression, alongside his present struggles as an opthamologist). Sam Hill is a likeable character, and I sympathized with his dilemma. Even though he had two devoted friends (also misfits), he's on his own to face his demons when he encounters David Bateman again as an adult.

Throughout this well-written book, the author's portrayal of life rings true. If you pick up the novel, be sure to read the acknowledgements section. In it, the author explains how the story took hold of him and grew from his experience of having a sibling with Downs Syndrome. His own mother's fierce defense of his brother taught him to value all forms of life, because even in the ordinary, life can be extraordinary.

Book Review: Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey

Two birds, one stone: necessary audio book, and current fascination with Downton Abbey. I couldn't go wrong. Well, actually, I could. Not every Countess is skilled enough to pull off historical storytelling. The eighth Countess of Carnarvon did so splendidly! This book, Lady Almina and the Real Downton Abbey: The Lost Legacy of Highclere Castle, reads like an engaging novel rather than a stilted history book.

Highclere is the real-life inspiration and setting for the PBS blockbuster series Downton Abbey. The current Countess of Carnarvon used the castle archives (diaries, letters, and photographs) to paint her literary portrait of this famous predecessor. When Lady Almina (daughter of the wealthy Alfred de Rothschild) married the fifth Earl of Carnarvon, her dowry helped secure Highclere Castle. Almina's love of nursing, and access to necessary funding, led her to transform Highclere Castle into a war hospital during the First World War. They hosted royalty, just as the Downton Abbey movie portrays.

If you love Downton Abbey, you'll love reading about the castle where it was filmed and where many aspects of its story originated. Of course, the lives of the real occupants held little scandal. Still, it is a fascinating story, full of challenges, struggles, and relationships. The Earl of Carnarvon was most renown for his archeological explorations in Egypt. Before his death, he discovered the tomb of Tutankhamun, but didn't live long enough to enjoy the thrill of discovery. Still, the Countess has also written another historical book about that, Carnarvon & Carter: The Story of the Two Englishmen Who Discovered the Tomb of Tutankhamun. She also continues the Highclere story with Lady Catherine, the Earl, and the Real Downton Abbey.

Book Review: All the Flowers in Paris

This book is reminiscent of Sarah's Key (by Tatiana de Rosnay). It progresses with parallel plot lines, following a modern American woman in Paris teasing out the story of a Parisian Jew during WWII. In All the Flowers in Paris we meet Caroline, racing away from a Paris cafe on her bicycle, head full of indignation at a man seeking her forgiveness. When she swerves to miss pedestrians and plows into an oncoming truck, the hook intensifies as she wakens with amnesia. They can only piece together the bare minimum. She returns to her ornate apartment on the Rue Cler almost paralyzed by questions. How had she come to live there? Why is there an untouched room within the apartment? Why had she led such a sad, isolated life before her accident? As Caroline uncovers more of who she is, she also unearths the story of an earlier tenant, Celine, who ran a flower shop with her father during wartime. Celine and her young daughter, Cosette, bravely faced the atrocities of war. Fans of Sarah's Key and The Nightingale will enjoy this novel.

My Downton Abbey Movie Review

Photo by Greg Willson on Unsplash

I had such high hopes for my return to the Downton Abbey splendor. Perhaps, my too-recent immersion in the six season television show dampened my movie-going experience. From the outset, it felt off. I understand that the actors have moved on and lived many years now off the Downton Abbey set. Nonetheless, the portrayal of the characters felt stiff and stilted, as if they had difficulty plunging back into their past personas. The lines that used to zing and crackle, now fell flat. There were a few moments when Violet and Isobel returned to their typical sparring modes, but it wasn't a seamless jump from the television version to the big screen.

The story line lacked intrigue and substance, as well. It seemed they tried to cram the two-hour movie with at least ten minutes devoted to each character, but at the cost of plotting. Yes, the king and queen's arrival, with the inevitable scramble to impress, caused wrinkles. But the wrinkles were minor and not significant enough to make me care or even get excited.

While I loved the costumes, they didn't appear to be any more special than the ones from the six-season show. It was grand to see the aerial shots of the castle again and John Lunn's music still tugged at my emotional heart for Downton. Mostly, I thrilled in the story line that provided Tom Branson with a suitable match (my greatest hope from the movie). While not truly from the servant class, she wasn't from the privileged upbringing of a peer's family either. She met the criteria well. The romance developed too quickly for my taste, in the space of a few frames. Still, she seemed a wise choice to settle my heart's desire for a love interest for the widower.

All in all, the movie disappointed. I'm not sure what would have saved it. Better writing? Better acting? A longer script (the two-hour romp felt like an over-large body crammed into a shrunken garment)? I certainly won't anticipate another Downton Abbey movie with equal vigor. It is clear, any future episode will not include Dame Maggie Smith (and even her lines did not carry their usual intensity). Lady Edith and Lady Mary have secured the truce I assumed I wanted, but I missed the spark and intrigue of their barbed relationship. How would they all go forward? They obviously need new characters and new challenges. I will bid Downton Abbey adieu. It was nice while it lasted, but the attempt to rekindle the old flame seemed more like a Bic lighter than a blazing bonfire. So sad!

Book Review: The Road Back to You

I come late to many parties. I resist joining the crowd in following a particular movement. This was true for Downton Abbey. I heard the buzz and even considered, given it was British and Masterpiece Theater, that I would probably enjoy it, yet I resisted mightily. Once I gave in, I was hooked. I binge watched the whole six-season show not once, but twice. I immersed myself in Downton Abbey books and anxiously awaited the release of the movie.

The same is true about Enneagram theories. Loads of people were talking about Enneagrams, referencing it in cute little add-ons to their Facebook posts, proclaiming where they fall on the Enneagram scale. Oh, how I resisted. Until ... a new friend mentioned a Christian book outlining the nine personality types on the Enneagram scale and recommended it to help improve some of my fractured relationships. She suggested it couldn't hurt to see where the other individual is coming from, what makes them behave the way they do, and how I might respond in a way that brings out their best instead of their worst. If nothing else, I could identify my own perspectives with more clarity and understand what makes me tick.

The Road Back to You, by Ian Morgan Cron and Suzanne Stabile, outlines nine personality types. It identifies what each one looks like when healthy, average, and unhealthy. Moreover, the book identifies the fear that drives each type. I really enjoyed the close of each chapter, where the authors presented ten strategies for individuals who identify with that personality type.

I loved the author's funny illustrations and analogies. For example, when describing his mother: "is so spry and mentally acute you'd think nicotine and inactivity were the keys to a long and happy life." When outlining his own mistakes, he wrote "I made more missteps than a guy running through a minefield wearing clown shoes." His descriptions are colorful and clear. The book is well-structured and accessible. Surely, you will see yourself in one or two of the personality types.

Oh, how I recognized myself in the list of "What it feels like to be a #9, Peacemaker." I will, indeed, do almost anything to avoid conflict. I procrastinate, have trouble being decisive, and numb myself to life's pain by avoidance. I choose the path of least resistance and avoid ruffling feathers, downplaying my true feelings about things. "I'm a 'what you see is what you get' person." Although, I don't find the outdoors soothing and I rarely worry about being selfish while doing what I want to do. Still, several sentences hit me square between the eyes: "harbor resentments going back to childhood," "drop their healthy boundaries," and "will cling to relationships long past their expiration dates."

The application section for Nines was quite helpful, beginning with the suggestion to journal "What is my calling? and Am I pursuing it or postponing it to keep the peace?" I might benefit from an app to keep me on task and productive. I need to recognize the numbing strategies used to avoid having to deal with life and resist passive-aggressive behaviors like procrastination and avoidance. When angry, I need to be honest and open (oh, that's a hard one for me). A normal disagreement might feel/seem like intense, terrible conflict. When paralyzed, I need to find someone who can help me tease out what I want to do.

Then, I reached the chapter about Ones, Perfectionists, and it was my husband personified. He is, indeed, critical and judgmental, beats himself up for mistakes, cannot relax because so much needs doing, relishes detail, clings to resentment, is very self-disciplined, careful and thoughtful with money, sees things as either right or wrong, rigidly follows routine, resents when he has to redo someone else's work (i.e. re-clean a room someone else hasn't tidied to his standards). Thankfully, our years of counseling had already opened my eyes to the way he sees and experiences the world. Indeed, they opened his eyes, as well, and he is much better at attacking his perfectionism than he ever was before (however, there are still areas where he demands so much and sees things in such black and white ways that I struggle).

The great thing about studying the Enneagram patterns of personality is that it gives you a chance to see how your own perspectives and life history could cause you to have a distorted view of reality. Others see things differently and experience situations from their own life lens. I believe I greatly benefited from understanding what drives the various individuals who approach life from a different perspective and frame of mind than my own. Hopefully, I will use that understanding to build bridges. Indeed, I hope I will work on some of my own distorted views and strive to be my best self.

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Addendum: Heresy can be so subtle. I was swept in. This podcast opened my eyes to the New Age aspects of "Christian" Enneagram theories. This is a must watch video:

2019 - Third Quarterly Review

To assist my blog readers, I've decided to summarize my reading four times a year, providing a brief description, the page count, and a grading scale (5 thumbs up - Highly Recommend, 4 thumbs up - Enjoyed, 3 thumbs up - Good, but not as satisfying as I'd hoped, 2 thumbs up - Meh, and 1 thumb down - Regret, wishing I could get back the time invested). I might also document the mention of agents in the acknowledgement section - this is primarily for my own purposes, since it benefits a writer to know what agents represented similar works.

I read the following books during the third quarter of 2019 (for my full review, click on title):


How to Forget by Kate Mulgrew - Well-written memoir about the deaths of Mulgrew's father to cancer and mother to Alzheimer's. - 334 pages, 👍👍👍

The Fast Diet: Lose Weight, Stay Healthy, and Live Longer with the Simple Secret of Intermittent Fasting by Dr. Michael Mosley and Mimi Spencer - A 5:2 plan (5 days normal eating, 2 days restricted calorie eating) that seems reasonably easy to follow, but probably not the best book available on intermittent fasting. - 250 pages, 👍👍

Finding Dorothy by Elizabeth Letts - The story of Maud Gage Baum, wife of the author of The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, and her intersection with the actress Judy Garland as she played the role of Dorothy in the movie version of Baum's book. - 340 pages, 👍👍👍-1/2

All the Missing Girls by Megan Miranda - Told in reverse chronological order, this unique thriller lays groundwork for two missing girls, a decade apart, and slowly reveals the solution to the mystery. - 368 pages, 👍👍👍

The Tattooist of Auschwitz by Heather Morris - Lale Sokolov endures the terrors of the Nazi concentration camp because of his budding love for Gita.  More historical romance than historical expose. - 288 pages (I listened on audio, 6 CDs, 7.5 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

Rules for Visiting by Jessica Francis Kane - Forty-year-old May Attaway lives with her father and her cat and works in the university gardens. A sudden allotment of time off prompts her to visit four old friends from her past. What follows is deep reflection on friendship in this modern age. With each visit she tends the garden of her soul. - 289, 👍👍👍👍-1/2

Love and Other Consolation Prizes by Jamie Ford - Ernest, a twelve-year-old Asian boy, is raffled off at the 1909 Seattle World's Fair and won by a madam in a brothel. Weaving back and forth between two Seattle fairs, Ernest's life is full of conflict and intrigue. - 320 pages (I listened on audio, 9 CDs, 11-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍👍-1/2

Once More We Saw Stars by Jayson Greene - Memoir of Greene's grief journey after losing his toddler daughter, Greta, in a freak accident. - 256 pages, 👍👍👍

Out of the Dust by Karen Hesse - Newbery-winning book about a teen living during the Depression in the Dust Bowl. - 227 pages (I listened on audio, 2 CDs, 2-1/4 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

Beyond the Bright Sea by Lauren Wolk - Award-winning historical fiction about a young abandoned baby raised by strangers on the Elizabeth Islands, near a leper colony on Penikese Island. - 283 pages, 👍👍👍-1/2

Emily's Fortune by Phyllis Reynolds Naylor - Orphaned and on the run, Emily Wiggins makes her way by stagecoach to her new home with her aunt Hilda. - 160 pages (I listened on audio, 2 CDs, 2-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

On the Wings of Heroes by Richard Peck - Davy Bowman navigates the tricky waters of the World War II homefront. - 160 pages (I listened on audio, 3 CDs, 3-1/4 hours), 👍👍👍

How Not to Die Alone by Richard Roper - Andrew works as a public servant seeking clues of kin for those who die alone, but his life is built upon the lie that he goes home to a loving family. When he begins to take an interest in his co-worker, Peggy, he must find a way to come clean without losing everything. - 321 pages, 👍👍👍👍

A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer - Danny Cartwright is framed for the murder of his best friend but by a quirk of fate he is able to seek rectification and revenge. An intricate, twisty cat-and-mouse game! - (Found this confusing: Amazon lists the hardback as 512 pages and the audio as 16-1/2 hours, yet my library audio version was only 5 CDs, 6 hours??? doesn't say abridged), 👍👍👍👍-1/2

The Outcasts of Time by Ian Mortimer - In 1348, brothers John and William are given a rare choice to either spend their final six days of life with their family (possibly passing along the plague) or cross time to spend the days with one day in ninety-nine year increments until their final day in 1942. As they travel across time, they encounter the many changes and attempt to do good or earn salvation. - 383 pages, 👍👍

When the Heart Waits by Sue Monk Kidd - Insight into spiritual times of waiting and seeking God's direction for life. - 205 pages, 👍👍👍

The Golden Tresses of the Dead by Alan Bradley - How did a severed finger turn up in Flavia's sister Ophelia's wedding cake? Could someone truly believe the finger holds the power to impart the musical prowess of the dead? If so, I could do with a drink from the dust of Dickens, ha! - 352 pages, (I listened on audio, 7 CD's, 9 hours), 👍👍👍-1/2

The Wit and Wisdom of Downton Abbey by Jessica Fellowes - A compilation of favorite lines from the popular PBS show about the upstairs and downstairs life in an Edwardian English estate. - 128 pages, 👍👍👍👍

The Cross Gardener by Jason F. Wright - John Bevan is having difficulty managing his grief until he strikes up a friendship with a heaven-sent individual who calls himself "the cross gardener," and comforts with the proclamation that "no one dies alone." - 304 pages, 👍👍-1/2

A Risk Worth Taking by Robin Pilcher - Dan Porter's world is falling apart after the loss of his job. Can a trip to Scotland save him? - 304 pages (I listened on audio, 3 CD's, 3-1/2 hours), 👍👍👍

Book Review: A Risk Worth Taking

Back when my mother was a reader, she loved Rosamunde Pilcher's books. I attempted a short story collection, Flowers in the Rain & Other Stories, but struggled with endless distractions from my boys. I still plan to try September. When I recognized the Pilcher name, this time her son Robin, I gave this audio book a chance. I think the storytelling was good, the characters genuine, and the pacing sound.

In A Risk Worth Taking, Dan Porter is seeking direction in life after losing his job. His marriage is suffering and his teenaged children are distant. Then he reads an article about a clothing company in Scotland planning to sell. Although he is too late to buy the company, the owner's husband offers him a temporary job. Joined by his son, Dan forges a new path and takes a risk to redefine his existence.

It was easy to become engrossed in the tale. My only complaint is that it seemed to wink at infidelity. But, it held my attention and presented believable characters and dilemmas. I would venture forth with another book by this author. I shall have to see if my library has any more audio books by Robin Pilcher.

Book Review: The Cross Gardener

After listening to Lincoln Hoppe narrate a recent middle grade read, I sought another audio book from his narration. When I noticed this title, The Cross Gardener, I recognized an author I've attempted and moderately appreciated before, Jason F. Wright (author of The Wednesday Letters and The Seventeen-Second Miracle). Given his other titles, I knew to expect an inspirational read. However, I found this one somewhat hokey and often irritating.

John Bevan lives a life of almost constant loss (one individual hammered by so much tragedy felt like a stretch). The tale opens with the story of his birth, on the side of the road, to an unwed mother who dies in an accident. Despite the good fortune of adoption, his life continues to spiral in grief when his teen brother drowns, his grandfather dies, and his adoptive father dies of lung cancer. After marrying his childhood sweetheart, he welcomes a daughter, Lulu. But, tragedy assaults again.

Reeling from grief, he meets a young man on the side of the road where yet another auto accident has torn his life apart. This messenger calls himself "the cross gardener," and feels a singular mission to teach John Bevan the foremost lesson that "no one dies alone." I'm sure readers struggling with grief will find these words comforting, but so much of the explanation veered away from my own personal beliefs.

The presented ideas conflict with a Christian perspective and offer a fluffy feel-good mentality of dead individuals returning to help the living cross over into eternity. Moreover, several of the author's concepts disturb me, especially the dead garnering eternal life for the lost (despite their lifelong rejection of God). According to the Bible, we each will stand before the judgment seat to receive what is due us for the things done while in the body (2 Corinthians 5:10). I cannot reject God, yet gain heaven by someone else's petition on my behalf. Salvation is a free gift, by grace through faith in the atoning work of Christ's death on the cross, not something earned through the efforts of others.

Even the emphasis on the crosses erected at grave-sites in this story perplexes me. Why would someone who does not believe in the validity of Christ's act on the cross, memorialize the dead with a cross? I Corinthians 1:18 says the preaching of the cross is foolishness to many people. This author seems to imply that we can gain salvation/eternal life through the activities and efforts/prayers of others. As a Christian, I believe that eternal life is a free gift through belief, by grace, not works. (Ephesians 2:8-9) Not only does the story require a herculean suspension of disbelief, it presents heretical thought in a pretty consolatory package meant to comfort the grieving. I agree our pain has purpose. I agree God holds a higher perspective over it all (like Wright's hot-air balloon example). Yet, I disagree with so many of the foundational arguments in this book that I cannot recommend it, even to comfort a grieving friend.

My Commendations and Criticisms of Downton Abbey

Photo by Greg Willson on Unsplash

The Downton Abbey movie officially opens in U.S. theaters today. For years, the buzz pushed me away. I knew it was an addictive Masterpiece Theater series. Several friends raved about it on Facebook. Many aspects should have enticed me: it was a lengthy British, historical drama - just my thing.

Years ago, I gave it a shot and only completed the first episode before setting the Season One DVD rental aside. This time around, I determined to push through my hesitations and, by episode three, the characters hooked me with the masses. Yet, I'm torn in my assessment. While I love the show and admit my addiction (I watched all six seasons twice to prepare for the movie), in other ways, I find it ridiculous - a high-heeled soap opera.

Commendations:

1) As noted in my earlier book review, I LOVE the dialogue and witty banter between characters, first and foremost. I cannot get enough of the caustic exchanges between the Dowager Countess and Mrs. Crawley. I love Mrs. Patmore's retorts. Mary's acerbic tongue spears her sister and others with direct blows. So many times, various characters come back with responses I might only dream up after much cogitation and indignation-fueled fury (like O'Brien's quick response to Anna's derisive tone, "Get back in the knife box, Mrs. Sharp!").

2) My favorite beloved characters. Who wouldn't fall for Matthew Crawley? Handsome, humble, honorable. I'd have taken him in a minute-flat - middle-class or not. Or could anyone not root for Lady Sybil? She is free from societal restraints and sees to the genuine heart of things. She lives and loves outside the box. What a blow her childbirth episode delivered! The show paints the chauffeur, Tom Branson, in such generous colors. Even when tasked with swimming upstream, he keeps viewers on his side. I almost gave up on him when he succumbed to the crafty exploits of Edna, but that smile wooed me back as soon as he realized the error of his ways. His was a hard walk, and he managed it with grace. I also loved the two primary masters of the downstairs staff - Mr. Carson and Mrs. Hughes. They both exhibited compassion balanced with grit. I enjoyed loving the lovely and despising the despicable. But, even I cried when a broken Thomas softened and a prickly Mrs. O'Brien regretted the action she couldn't erase.

3) The history, setting and dress. What fun to immerse myself in the post-Edwardian aristocracy's world. From the inciting incident of the Titanic's sinking, the series offers a faithful portrayal of many historical details: the suffrage movement, war-time with grand homes morphing into hospitals, post-war losses from the Spanish Flu, politics in England and abroad, the narrowing chasm between the landed elite and their domestic staff, and the threat of death taxes. Even though my personal love is for Victorian England, the grandness of Downton Abbey and the elaborate costumes of the family swept me away. I imagined what it would be like to live on that glorious estate, to have such a library (swoon), and to dress in spectacular outfits and finery. Would I even endure the corset if it meant I'd stun like Lady Mary, Lady Sybil, or Lady Rose?

4) The music. My heart swelled with the hammered notes of the introductory theme song. I loved how, at the end of certain sadder episodes, the theme muted or switched to more subdued tones. In scenes of romance, particular strains repeated. It was evocative and rich and enhanced the feelings of the moment. Kudos to Scottish composer John Lunn!

5) Increasing conflict is essential to a story! Every episode seemed to offer a new avenue of distress or wrinkle in the tale. I'm sure much of the addictive tendency goes back to the excellent plot pacing. Each character presented problems anew and the dynamics between individuals created enough friction to carry the story.

But some positives flip to negatives.

Criticisms:

1) The plotting waxed absurd. It was as if the author drew up a comprehensive list of scandals and included each one. The characters experience an array of appalling offenses. Downton Abbey is the hotbed of sin and sordidness. Lives are fraught with sexual promiscuity, infidelity, prostitution, blackmail, rape, murder, gambling, divorce, death in childbirth, class violations, and racial tensions. Jilting at the altar? Check. Upstairs individuals cavorting with downstairs individuals. Check. Illegitimate offspring? Check. Child ripped from her adoptive home? Check.

2) Many aspects were unbelievable. Would the decent, upright Matthew Crawley feel attracted to the calculating, cold Lady Mary? How could Mary pursue someone whose career involved the very thing that killed her first husband? After turning down Matthew because he might not be rich, why would she later settle on Henry who ends up as a car salesman? I saw no impetus for that relationship at all and detected only the blandest level of love between them. Threat to expose Mary's indiscretions occurs not once, but twice. Lady Edith, billed as the homeliest and least appealing daughter, enjoys countless relationships (the married farmer; the amnesiac, intended heir; the milk-toast, jilting Lord; the marriage-bound editor; ...) and secures the marriage with the highest ranking. I'm surprised Mary didn't swoop in to steal that prize (after all, she needs to secure Downton's future). Lord Grantham's dalliance with Jane was unbelievable. What caused that attraction? Every time you turn around you meet a new relationship and an impending wedding (be it upstairs or downstairs). Apart from Daisy, it seems there's someone for everyone.

3) They hammered some plot-lines to death. The whole Bates saga went on forever. Will they or won't they convict him, hang him, or absolve him? Plus, what a conflicted character! He had to be tough enough for the viewer to believe him capable of the accused atrocities and yet tender enough to woo the gentle Anna. He was violent enough to seek revenge, to twist his wife's arm and call her a foul name, yet honorable enough to go to prison for her crime and to stay silent when Lord Grantham considers his behavior dishonorable. In prison he attacks his roommate, yet later uses his forgery skills to secure funding for the proud Mr. Moseley and, later still, to save the day retrieving the purloined letter. Quite a mixed bag. Then, as if Bates hasn't suffered enough, the legal trial of his wife hounds him further, prompting him to once again take the fall. At least Mrs. Bates catches a break when permitted to give birth in the fine furnishings of Lady Mary's room.

4) They dropped other story elements quickly. Beloved characters died before viewers took a breath. I'm not sure I understood the point of including Lady Grantham's American brother and his flirtations with the young girl (apart from emphasizing the ever-present scramble to align with the wealthy) or the plot line of Rose's stolen letter (loyalty to the monarchy). Two servants seek to elevate their station yet two ignore marriage proposals that would pull them out of their servant subsistence. Mr. Carson's ex-stage partner enters and exits his life in sputters, along with news of his earlier love interest.

5) I know I'm squeamish, but I struggled with several scenes: the operation to extract fluid from around the heart; Lady Grantham's bout with Spanish flu; Livinia's death; Lady Sybil's childbirth and post-childbirth scenes; the rape scene; Lord Grantham's graphic response to illness; and Matthew's demise on the wings of such elation. Granted, life is full of ups and downs, easy days and difficult, but some harder scenes were shattering.

Overall, I'm still a Downton Abbey fan. I have high hopes for the movie. The grandeur will increase because they are hosting the King and Queen. I cannot wait to see the costuming. I hope the witty banter persists. It is thrilling to know Dame Maggie Smith is returning for the movie, despite her protestations that her character would be ancient by then. Bring on more daggers from the Dowager Countess. What scandal remains to explore? I'd love to see Lady Mary and Lady Edith call a truce and rely on, instead of repel, each other. Is that even possible? Although I criticized the overabundance of romantic relationships, I still desire love for Tom Branson. May he find a satisfactory place and a suitable partner.

At some point, I wish to walk the grounds of Highclere Castle. While I doubt I'll win the Viking River Cruises sweepstakes (a cruise with a day-trip to the film location of Downton Abbey), perhaps I will one day find my way back to Britain. The characters became such a part of my daily life while binge-watching these past months. Approaching the location will equal walking into a moment of history or re-opening a favored book.

Are you a Downton Abbey fan? What are your likes and dislikes about the show? What are your hopes for the movie and the future? Should they offer even more Downton by pursuing a second movie? I doubt the Dowager would return, and that might be like french fries without salt.