Prue Sarn's Words of Wisdom

Precious Bane by Mary Webb
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I discovered this book through a newsfeed of some sort, investigated it in Amazon and Goodreads (over 4 stars for both), and decided to give it a try.

Precious Bane was first published in 1924. The setting is Shropshire, England after the Napaleonic wars. I tell you this because I struggled with understanding some of the conversations at first, as the language used was representative of the time and people. Once I got to know Prue Sarn though, I was pulled into the story. There was a lot of descriptive narrative, and I skimmed through much of this as I was always eager to get into the heart of the story.

Prue was born with a hare-lip, and this caused her to be looked at with suspicion in the community. In fact, many thought her cursed and no-one ever expects that she will marry. Fortunately, Prue does meet a Prince Charming, although I will let you find out how this all comes about. .

What spoke to my heart throughout this book was Prue's innocence and wisdom. For example, regarding her hare-lip:

"It seems to me that often it's only when you begin to see other folks minding a thing like that for you, that you begin to mind it for yourself. I make no doubt, if Eve had been so unlucky as to have such a thing as a hare-lip, she'd not have minded it till Adam came by, looking doutfully upon her, and the Lord, frowning on His marred handiwork."

or, consider this, after an acquaintance remarked on the deformity:

"'A great affliction.' But afore she said it I'd forgotten it, so I hadna got it. I was out of the cage till she put me in again."

Isn't this just true? We ourselves, make the person with a handicapped more disabled because we insist on looking at the outside instead of the inside.

When Prue met her "maister" (the one she loved), she ponders:

"Times I wonder if heaven will be thus, a long gazing on a face you canna tire of, but must ever have one more glimpse."

Such a beautiful thought.

When her loved one was in danger, this is Prue's thought:

".. .it always seemed a strange thing to me that the Mother of Jesus could keep her hands off the centurion, and it could only have been because her Son had given orders afore. But indeed if it had been me, I think I should have forgot the orders."

I'm in danger of quoting so many things from this book, but I'll end with this one:

"There was a mommet once called Judas, and if he had started away from his set part in fear, we should none of us have been saved. Which is all a very strange mystery, and so we must leave it."

Indeed! These are the gems that kept me drawn in to the story. I'm very glad to have discovered this book.

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Three In One: A Story of a Bird, a Woman, and a Man

H is for Hawk by Helen Macdonald
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This was a really excellent memoir. The author was really vulnerable about herself and the impact her father's death had on her life. She just pretty much lays it all out there. For me, that would be tremendously hard to do.

Additionally, the way Macdonald writes about birds of prey and their habits, was just so interesting and fascinating. Hawking seemed like a romantic sort of hobby to me, but it is really a lot of work for the owner. The building of trust between human and bird is a tenuous thing.

There's another layer of the story which is basically an autobiography of T.H.White, author of "The Once and Future King". The way she ties his story to her story was done pretty much seamlessly.

Her language is lovely:

"Looking for goshawks is like looking for grace: it comes, but not often, and you don't get to say when or how"

I highly recommend this book to the avid reader.


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A Satisfying Tale

Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore by Robin Sloan
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Webster: penumbra: something that covers, surrounds, or obscures :shroud (a penumbra of secrecy) )a penumbra of somber dignity has descended over his reputation — James Atlas.)

Until this very moment I had no idea what Penumbra meant, but after reading the last line of this book, I decided it had to mean something, and, what a perfect meaning it is.  It only adds to the smile of satisfaction I had when I read the last line of Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore.

I enjoyed every minute that I spent with Mr. Penumbra and his friends. What a mysterious place this bookstore is, and what curious people come to borrow the books from the “waybacklist”. Indeed, Mr. Penumbra’s bookstore is two bookstores in one. There is the bookstore that sells your “normal” books, and there is the “waybacklist” bookstore with books that engage and entice your curiosity. To tell you more would take away from the enigma that is Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore.

You will learn about Penumbra and his bookstore through the voice of Clay Jannon. Clay’s respect and affection for Mr. Penumbra and his friends grows throughout the story. Clay’s friends are intrigued by the bookstore and use their creativity to unravel the riddles that surround the bookstore. They are unique inidividuals who connect with each other through their relationship with Clay, and Clay’s relationship with Penumbra.

Some books just engage us from the first page all the way through to the end. I often speed through a book to find out what’s going to happen next! In my impatience, I will skip to the end and then go back and finish the book. Somehow, I innately knew that reading Penumbra in that way would ruin the story. I didn’t even want to rush through, but instead enjoyed each moment on the page in calm anticipation of what would happen next.  Mr. Penumbra’s 24 Hour Bookstore was an entirely satisfying read.

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Bookstores, Readers, Mystery and Romance!

The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry by Gabrielle Zevin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

A friend lent me this enjoyable book. It had charm, improbability, mystery, sadness and happiness. This is a book for readers.

Remember books and bookstores? I must confess I don't visit them so much anymore, but the author descriptions remind me what special places they are. I love the motto of The Island Bookstore: “No Man Is an Island; Every Book Is a World.

Recent research keeps pointing to the fact that readers have more empathy for those they meet on their life journey. Readers enter into another world, and become a part of it, and are changed by the story. You will see this transformation take place in at least one character in the story. Good stories entrance readers and that was certainly the case for me. I felt at home with the characters and the story.

Most chapters begins with a note from A. J. Fikry with a reference to an actual book--it's a sort of mini book review. I love it when an author weaves real stories/authors into stories and will be adding books to my to-read list. Some examples are Diamond as Big as the Ritz, The Girls in Their Summer Dresses, and What We Talk About When We Talk About Love. As I was reading, I saw these mini reviews as a charming intro to the chapter, however, when you finish the book, you will discover they have a much deeper meaning.

For a lovely afternoon interlude pick up a copy of "The Storied Life", and enter another world.


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Courage

The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I agree with other reviewers that this book is a departure from Kristin Hannah's usual style. This book is more serious in nature, and I do hope that Hannah will do more historical fiction in the future.

Everyone exhibits courage in different ways. For some, it might be radical courage, that can put you in harms way. For others, it may be a quieter, hidden kind of courage. Both can get you killed in Nazi Germany.

This book primarily focuses around two sisters, Vianne and Isabelle. Isabelle is a firebrand, and Vianne is more timid. Isabelle is eager to be somebody, to do something, to strike a blow against Hitler for France. Vianne is reluctant, she has a daughter to protect. Their differing personalities put them at odds with each other, but in the end, both sisters play courageous parts in protecting friends and strangers during the difficult occupation of France by the Nazis.

The Nightingale is based on the historical role brave women played during the War with Germany. Courageous women (and men) took serious risks to defeat the evil that was over-running their country. Courage is a commodity that is needed in our current world. I wonder what sort of courage I would exhibit if I was placed in a difficult circumstance, whether it be a war, or just speaking up for the right. Many cruel and terrible things happen in our world today, and it seems to me that I, and most others, are mostly silent. As I pray each day, courage is a virtue that I know I personally need more of.

Although The Nightingale is fiction, you will be drawn into the lives of Vianne and Isabelle. Their story will keep you captivated throughout.  



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A Must Read!

Leaving Time by Jodi Picoult
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I cannot recommend Leaving Time highly enough. This is the kind of book I always look for. The one that beckons you to ignore every other thing in your life but finding out what happens next! In fact, because I couldn't keep my eyes open past 11:30 pm, I indulged in my bad habit of reading the end so I wouldn't go to bed not knowing. Although this never ruins a book for me, in this case I would not recommend it.

Jenna's mother, Alice, disappeared from the elephant sanctuary where they lived when Jenna was a toddler. Jenna is desperate to find her. So desperate, she hires a psychic and an alcoholic detective to help her. Jenna searches for clues on the internet, and by reading her mother's research on elephants. As a result, you will also learn a lot of fascinating information, in particular as to how elephant's grieve.

As usual, Picoult weaves all this factual information into the story expertly. It becomes a seamless part of the life of Alice and Jenna. Picoult's prose is also lovely:

You have to understand--there is a romance to Africa. You can see a sunset and believe you have witnessed the hand of God. . . In Africa, there are iridescent blues on the wings of birds that you do not see anywhere else in nature.. .When you are in Africa, you feel primordial, rocked in the cradle of the world.

or

It was almost as if there was a tear in the fabric I was made of, and he was the only color thread that would match to stitch it back up.

I had read the prequel to this story, Larger Than Life, some time ago. This novella gives you a little more background information on Alice, but is not necessary to the story. It is however, what made me interested in reading Leaving Time.

Treat yourself to a reading weekend and pick this book up soon!


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Shame, Fear and Life Choices

To See the Moon Again by Jamie Langston Turner
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

My favorite Jamie Langston Turner book is Some Wildflower In My Heart, and that hasn't changed. However, I did enjoy this book.

The writing style of To See The Moon Again was very similar to Wildflower, and I enjoyed that. The main character, Julia, referenced books she had read, and music she enjoyed. That always makes me stop and record the title name, or music selection so I can investigate further. It's fun to me when a title is mentioned that you know and have read. It helps me connect with the character.

Turner is a good author. I like how she turns a phrase--for instance

Shame and fear--they made a debilitating pair

or

. . . guilt is an irresistible thing humans latch on to and carry around like precious cargo.

The story itself revolves around Julia, who has tightly buttoned up her emotions because of an incident in her past. She chooses to go through each day by putting herself in a box and protecting her heart and emotions from actually participating in the world. Along comes her niece, Carmen. Julia wants nothing to do with Carmen, but feels she cannot decently ignore her. (Carmen has her own issues, and these are woven skillfully throughout the tale.) Eventually Carmen chips away at that box, and Julia begins to see that she could choose to live and open up herself to the world.

The ending was not quite satisfying to me. Perhaps Julia and Carmen will show up again in a future story and we can get reacquainted with their lives and see how they progressed.


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