Book Review: During the Reign of the Queen of Persia

The title makes this book sound like it will be some sort of historical fiction. It isn't. It is simply a tale about four girls (cousins) living together in a small Ohio farmhouse and dealing with what it means to be a woman, with life, and with the tragedy of death. The title refers to the matriarch - the grandmother - who is a fiery, determined old woman ruling over her four daughters and their offspring.

This was a book club pick and the first time I have ever read a book for group and then thought to myself, "I really didn't like the book enough to even want to gather around and discuss it." It just wasn't my thing. A winner of several awards for first fiction, lots of people on Amazon are raving about the lyrical writing and comparing it to the writing of Marilynne Robinson (author of the wonderful book, Gilead - a much better read).

If I had to quantify why I didn't really care for the novel, it seems to boil down to nothing drawing me in at any point. It was definitely slow going in the beginning. The characters were neither likeable nor interesting. There was little to call a plot, since it is really a stream-of-consciousness telling of the events leading up to and after the death of their beloved Aunt Grace, from cancer. (Spoiler alert: skip this sentence.) It ends abruptly with one of the granddaughters attempting suicide and losing the baby she was carrying. The ruminations on the difficulties of being a woman grated on me at times. I almost gave up on it several times and would have definitely set it aside if it hadn't been a book club pick. But part of me kept hoping it would pick up after a bit and I would come to feel differently about the book.

Alas, I think I'll be skipping this month's club meeting and wishing I had spent the time reading another book on my huge stack. I've been inundated recently with held books from the library which have come available to me but must be read within the three week loan period because someone else will be waiting for them on the hold list. At the moment, I have nine books due sometime between now and the 31st, which cannot be renewed because they are from a lengthy hold list. Something will have to give or something be neglected. Sadly, they all sound interesting and worthy of my time. Do you ever encounter this kind of problem?

Book Review: The Kill Order

A few weeks ago, Trevor and I went to see the movie adaptation of James Dashner's, The Maze Runner. I had thoroughly enjoyed the fast-paced book and knew it would be an absorbing movie. Well, while we were absorbed, I was also a little disturbed. Mid-way-through, I began to worry that, without checking the movie's rating, I had unwittingly taken my almost ten-year-old to a rated R movie. It was that violent. I discovered that the movie was rated PG-13, and if I had waited to show him the movie when he was 13, I probably wouldn't have been as concerned. Of course, Trevor assured me that it wasn't too horrific for him. Our children have come to expect graphic violence in movies. I still think The Maze Runner is an excellent YA book, (a great book, indeed, for a reluctant male reader) just not exactly the best fare for the younger set.

When I headed to the library in search of another audio book to listen to while walking on the treadmill, I stumbled upon Dashner's prequel to The Maze Runner series, The Kill Order. While this book was fast-paced, at times the action became a bit too much and the constant difficulties seemed drawn out just to keep the book going. The obstacles they faced were repetitious (same old obstructions over and over again - hordes of the ill surround them several times, the weapons accidentally fall into the hands of the enemy twice, the boy finds himself hanging with an enemy out of an aircraft window twice, etc.). But, it was interesting to hear how the world came to be in the state which led to the institution of the maze (although there's really no explanation offered for the origins of WCKD, the group behind the maze).

Moreover, with the recent introduction of Ebola to our country's soil, it was a terrifying ride to observe a society attempting to achieve population control through the use of biological warfare. It hit a bit too close to home and I was genuinely disturbed thinking of the realistic prospect of this fictional scenario. It isn't that big of a stretch to think that some evil individuals would actually consider that to be a necessary course of action in the face of the world's problems.

If you are looking for more information about the characters in The Maze Runner, you'll be disappointed. It is really a separate story altogether. The book begins with a natural catastrophe of sun flares wiping out the earth's resources and much of the population. Mark and Trina are barely surviving in their little settlement in the Appalachian mountains, when suddenly a large, hovering aircraft lowers its ramp and individuals in hazmat suits begin shooting people with darts. Mark and his military friend, Alec, manage to get aboard the ship and discover the darts contain a virus known as "the flare." Surviving the sun flares becomes child's play compared to what they are facing now, but they are determined to live long enough to ensure that a cure for the virus is discovered.

The book presents a realistic, and horrifying, glimpse at the demise of civilization as we know it. It is action-packed enough to appeal to reluctant readers. I didn't enjoy it as much as The Maze Runner, but it was certainly a riveting read. The minutes did slip away while I was listening (and that's an absolute requirement for my audio books, to distract myself from the exercise).

If I Could Change One Thing About Myself

If I could change one thing about myself, I would be fearless in the face of physical pain or medical intervention of any kind. Fearless, I am not. I am the world's biggest wimp and spend far more time in anticipatory agony than is normal or healthy. Of course I know the reason behind my fears - the traumatic experience I had at the age of three, when I received 64 shots in the space of 8 days. Knowing the origin of the fear doesn't help me lessen it. The imprint has been made.

On Wednesday, I had to have a filling removed and refilled. I suppose if I had my druthers, I'd have chosen the laughing gas, the path of least resistance. However, after such anesthesia left Nick Allen (the brother of my good friend Laura's husband) in a horrible physical state (unable to care for himself - a mere shell of his former self), my mother is quite adamant that I choose the shot route.

Alas, the shot route terrifies me. Even though I had a filling refilled just a few years ago, with little pain, I still grow apprehensive and nervous. I worry that the assistant won't get the numbing agent in the right place. I worry that the shot will hurt. I worry that something will happen and I will suddenly feel the drill biting into the inside of my tooth.

Now that it is all over, I can breathe a sigh of relief. The numbing agent worked (although I don't think she put it on the side where the shot was injected) and the shot was relatively painless. I say relatively because it wasn't entirely painless. It was uncomfortable and a bit sharp and I did moan while they did it (Sean prayed last night that I wouldn't scream and so embarrass myself - ha). They waited a good long time to allow the medicine to completely numb half of my face. The drilling was uncomfortable because of the pressure and having to keep my mouth wide open. But, as I said, I survived.

In the aftermath of every medical crisis, I feel embarrassed at my low level of pain resistance, embarrassed at my queasiness in the face of shots, embarrassed at my general childishness in reaction to the necessary intervention. Sadly, I don't think a change will come. I won't wake up tomorrow and be better able to handle such things. Instead, I am vowing to brush my teeth even longer and take care of my teeth and body more aggressively, so as to avoid any further need of medical intervention to keep me whole.

How about you? Do you have a pathological fear of something? What would you change, if you could change one thing about yourself?

Book Review: How the Heather Looks

My blogging friend, Catherine, of A Spirited Mind, brought this book to my attention. I was intrigued by the content of the book, in addition to the sad story Catherine provided of the author's life after this glorious experience of a family trip to England to research and seek out the background locations for their favorite works of children's literature. (To discover more about the author's difficult life read Catherine's post or Bodger's own book about her life, The Crack in the Teacup. Even the Amazon listing of her book tells a good deal about her sad, but inspiring, story.)

The very title of this book beckons me in: How the Heather Looks: A Joyous Journey to the British Sources of Children's Books. Who wouldn't love taking their children on a trip with the express intent of finding the magical places from their beloved storybooks? It would be a dream come true for me to take my children on such a trip. Then again, it would be a dream come true if my children expressed the magical awe for books which the author and her children share. Sadly, only one of my sons has a voracious appetite for books, but even he doesn't evidence the command of literature which Bodger's 8 year old son seems to have.

I must say, I felt a bit sad that most of the books mentioned were ones I was familiar with but had never actually read (or if, perhaps, my parents did read them to me in my early years, they have since vanished from my brain). It would have been so much more meaningful if I had more familiarity with the children's literature she mentions. I enjoyed reading about their excursions and their desperate attempts to find the sources of these timeless tales. Indeed, I was amazed at the author's ability to recall the events with such clarity (since she was writing well after the fact and including bits of information she had gleaned after their trip). It was an easy read and certainly engrossing. A perfect book for anyone who loves England and loves children's books.

For me, I found myself thinking of the wonderful tour I was able to experience with the Wheaton-in-England program. Not only did I have the company of many other Anglophiles and bibliophiles like myself, but I also had the opportunity to immerse myself in the literature while coming in contact with the specific locations. We visited Shakespeare's Stratford-upon-Avon, the Bronte's Haworth moors, Dickens' locations in London and Rochester, King Arthur's environs of Winchester Castle and Glastonbury's Tor, Milton's Cottage in Chalfont St. Giles, Wordsworth's Lake District and C.S. Lewis' house and grave.  It was a grand opportunity and I feel especially blessed.

I have read several books recently which would inspire such a trip: Major Pettigrew's Last Stand (the area of Sussex, England), Maeve Binchy's books set in Ireland, and especially the detailed journey in The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry (what fun a walking tour like that would be). The other day, I saw a Groupon for an eight-day trip to London, Paris, and Rome. Oh how I wish I could convince my husband to take that trip with me to celebrate our upcoming 25th anniversary. It would even count as research for a follow-up book to one of my young adult novels. Alas, he's not a bit interested in travel (or in spending the money) and I'm a bit hesitant to tackle it on my own. For now, I'll have to settle for books which take me on journeys like this, through the lands of endearing fiction.

In reading several other blog reviews of this book, I chanced upon a comment which referenced a similar book to this one, Christina Hardyment's The Canary-Coloured Cart: One Family's Search for Storybook Europe. At Hardyment's website, you can see she has written many books of this flavor. Another one which sounds interesting to me, is her book titled On the Writer's Trail. Clearly, I have further books to look into for my vicarious journeys.

Book Review: The Rosie Project

After hearing this book mentioned by two different individuals, and knowing that the main character is a man with Asperger's Syndrome (something I've been interested in for quite a while), I couldn't keep myself from reading The Rosie Project. It was a wild ride, to be sure. I loved the main character, in all his quirkiness.

Don Tillman is a highly intelligent, socially-awkward, genetics professor. He has always had difficulty relating to others, but wants to secure a life partner. Therefore, he employs the steps his logical mind suggests, and creates a sixteen-page questionnaire for women to take, indicating their suitability as a wife. In his Wife Project, he is looking for someone with attributes akin to his own: highly organized, non-smoker, intelligent, prompt, and efficient.

Enter Rosie, a highly-unsuitable person who is recommended by his best-friend as a wild card, since she didn't even complete the questionnaire. Don writes her off immediately (she smokes and drinks, is chronically late, and is a mere bartender), but is quickly sucked into her own project, The Father Project. Rosie is trying to determine the identity of her real father. Who better to help her than a geneticist, with access (albeit, illegal use of the access) to a lab.

Their attempts to finagle DNA samples are hilarious. The relational dance between the two characters is mesmerizing. I loved watching the scene unfold where Don assists Rosie in bartending for a medical class reunion in order to obtain more samples. His particular personality is so well-suited to the task at hand that he is stunning. Although the ending is a bit of a stretch (could an "Aspie" really make the changes necessary to win the girl?), I wouldn't have wanted it to end in any other way.

As this love story progresses, you will find yourself rooting for Don and laughing at the mess he often makes of it. With resilience and determination, these two characters prove that love may not always follow the path we envision. I'll be pleased to see this light-hearted romantic comedy turned into a film (it was originally written as a screenplay and then honed into a novel, and has been optioned by Sony Pictures).

Book Review: Major Pettigrew's Last Stand

How to describe this book? I loved it for it's fictional setting in the country village of Edgecombe St. Mary, on the southern end of England. I loved the main character, Major Pettigrew, for his quintessential British air of refinement and honor. I loved the story line about the growing romance between Major Pettigrew and a widowed Pakistani woman, Mrs. Ali, whom everyone else seems to see as an outsider. It was a delightful trip into a world of British culture and a universe of powerful pulls of love.

The story begins with Major Pettigrew reflecting on the recent death of his brother. While it is true that he is mourning the loss of his only brother, it is equally true that he anticipates the reunion of his treasured gun with its mate (bequeathed by his father to his brother with the spoken understanding that it should always remain in the family and revert to whichever surviving brother). However, the will fails to secure the second gun back into his rightful ownership.

Alongside this disappointment, Major Pettigrew must deal with his profit-seeking son. Jasmina Ali is dealing with her own stubborn and sullen nephew. Then there's the uproar in the village over the Major's budding interest in someone as lowly as a foreigner who is a shop-owner.

The characters are colorful and interesting. I could imagine the setting quite clearly, having been privileged to visit the southern tip of England in my travels (and even visited a similar site to one mentioned in the book, where many have jumped to their death). The book focuses more on characters and setting than on plot or action, but the story does move along at an amiable pace. If you love all things British or love stories of relationships across nationalities, this will be an enjoyable read.

As this video shows, it is often best when a writer decides to merely write something they themselves would love to read, rather than trying to fit into the mold of what might sell:

Book Review: The Public Library

What a fabulous coffee-table book! The Public Library: A Photographic Essay, by Robert Dawson, is both a tribute to the wonderful world of public libraries and an argument for their preservation and appreciation. I loved the stunning photos and the interesting accompanying essays. The entire time I was perusing this book, I was thinking about how much this book would appeal to my friend, Amy (a fellow blogger and writer who happens to be a proud librarian and staunch defender of the public library).

Pair beautiful photography with earnest writing about the importance of books and libraries and you've got quite a hit, in my opinion. Robert Dawson, over a span of eighteen years, toured the United States accumulating a wide collection of photos of public libraries. In these photos he captures the essence of the beauty of general access to literature. The photos include big and small, rich and poor, elegant and dingy public libraries across our nation.

The essays (by authors like Anne Lamott and Amy Tan) were equally inspiring. I especially loved the spunky essay, "How Mr. Dewey Decimal Saved My Life," written by Barbara Kingsolver (despite the final few paragraphs where she railed on about evolution and the dreadful consequences of the horrid people who believe in "Special Creation" - her premise about the pitfalls of censorship was valid). It presented a true, oft-experienced, lesson on how reading can make a significant difference in a person's life. I also loved the letters sent by Isaac Asimov, Dr. Seuss, and E.B. White to the children of the library in Troy, Michigan.

When I came upon photos of libraries in El Paso, Texas, and Key West, Florida, I wondered to myself whether my relatives who have lived in those locations ever frequented those edifaces and how often (surely they don't go to the library as frequently as I do, but what a shame if they ignored them altogether). The photos made me want to visit various libraries, the way Bob Hostetler visits various churches in his Desperate Pastor blog. Libraries are a certain kind of sanctuary to me.

While I checked this book out from my public library (a place I am so tremendously grateful for, despite having to pay almost a hundred dollars yearly for the privilege of its use since I live in another town, where we have no town library), it is a book I would happily own and place on my own coffee table. That is, if I had a coffee table. Alas, I don't. Instead, I present it here with a recommendation to seek out your nearest public library and see if they carry a copy of this fine book. If you love books and libraries, you may just run out and buy it for yourself.