Book Bracket for October '25
Fun fact: two of my October books have "April" in their titles. What do you know! Although one of the worst months for picking up and putting down books, it still ended up being a good completion number - 10 for this month - and a good experience, since I wasn't tied down to finishing a lot of books that I wouldn't have ended up being glad that I pushed all the way through to the end. I was also pleased with how many books were physical copies that I made it through this month.
Across Five Aprils, by Irene Hunt; narrated by Terry Bregy**
Jethro experiences the Civil War, but from his farm home in Illinois, while older family members leave to fight.
Why I picked it up: I obtained this book a while back, I'm sure because I saw it recommended on some reading list at some point. I feared this children's historical fiction would be too sad for me, so I never picked up the copy. However, when I found out it was available for free via the Audible subscription, I figured this was an easier way to try it out than it would be to make time to pick up the physical copy on my shelf.
My impressions: I'm glad I tried this one out, because it ended up being sad in parts, but not depressing overall, and I really enjoyed the gravity of the moral quandary he found himself in. I heard recently - maybe on a podcast - that someone didn't like WWI or WWII stories unless they were "homefront" stories, which looked at the lives of noncombatants back home. After listening to this one, I can absolutely understand the appeal. There were references to the war, some descriptions the gore of battle, and reports of the deaths of loved ones, but it felt a bit more distant - it wasn't the main character seeing the carnage himself. I'd also not thought much of what the homefront would look like in a civil war, in which family members might end up on both sides of a battle, so it was interesting to me throughout to receive that perspective. I compared it mentally with Rifles for Watie, and in the final reckoning, I believe I like this one the better of the two. I recommend this book for middle school and older, but more mature younger elementary readers might be able to handle some of the sadder and more violent parts of this book.
Boy of the Painted Cave, by Justin Denzel
Tao, a young teenager of prehistoric times with a crippled foot, lives in disfavor on the peripheries of his clan, but befriends the local wandering shaman and hopes to learn how to paint animals on cave walls - a role given to those honored, not outcast, in his community.
Why I picked it up: This one, like many children's historical fiction books, just found its way onto my to-read list one day. I was shocked to find it at a library sale in Nebraska in the summer, and decided I wanted to make some inroads on the books sitting on my shelves.
My impressions: This book was alright, but I didn't get the atmospheric sense of a different time and place I expected from this story. Sure, there were wooly mammoths walking around, as well as other extinct creatures, which is fun, but other elements felt like they could have hailed from early Britain or another society that, though ancient, was situated within a more recent past. In any case, I was interested by the story, but spent some time thinking that all the clan's taboos were probably more or less the fruit of the imaginings of the author...since, these times being prehistoric, we don't have written records about what the societies were like back then (although I'm sure some could be known from archaeological artifacts). On a side note, this book reminded me that, long ago, I'd read another book about a prehistoric teen and I was bothered that I couldn't remember the name. And yet, a little Google research one morning brought up the title! That was pretty cool. This book would probably be fine for middle school readers and above, as well as more mature younger readers, but it would probably be good to know there's discussion of demons, taboos, and practices that wouldn't align with Christian morals, such as some people leaving crippled kids in the wild to die, and finding a wife in a raid on another clan, etc.
The Last Mapmaker, by Christina Soontornvat
Sai, an apprentice mapmaker, hopes to work around the limitations of her social status and home life by joining an exploratory voyage to seek out uncharted land.
Why I picked it up: I saw this book in passing at some point, and then my nephew read it and said it was pretty good - or something like that. I was curious, and wanted to give it a try.
My impressions: This book had some good elements, but it also had some that didn't work as well for me. The author had a simple way of creating the feel of a whole society by a simple, tangible sign of family origins, which was some very efficient world-building. I came to understand the main character very well early on, as well as other characters throughout the book. The slow reveal of different characters' motivations helped push the story along and was well-done. The elements that didn't work so well for me included the use of (made up) curse words and some bathroom humor insults. Several characters were born out of wedlock - not uncommon in books for teens and adults, but something I'd be sensitive to if I had kids reading it. The family drama may also have detracted from the action/adventure element that I love so much - at least action and adventure were present. I wished that one loose end about a father could have been tied up. This is a second book that I've read in a few months that has been fine with leaving a father's whereabouts unknown at the end, and that doesn't sit well with me unless the intention is to have another book that completes that storyline. I feel like it implies a father isn't necessary, that it's alright to have them off and doing their own thing beyond the peripheries of a child's life. Well, that may be overthinking on my part, but that's my current take on the situation. This book had some good elements to it, specifically characterization and motivation, but I don't feel it's one I'd actively recommend. Middle school and above could read it, but with caution on some of the elements listed above.
The Shadow of His Wings: The True Story of Fr. Gereon Goldmann, OFM, by Fr. Gereon Goldmann
This autobiography details the life of Fr. Gereon Goldmann, a Franciscan seminarian who was drafted into the Nazi army and even into the SS, and how he lived out his Catholic faith in the face of persecution and roadblocks to ordination.
Why I picked it up: My husband and I had to be out of town for a series of surgeries and were blessed to find housing with a local woman. She is a bookworm, and this book - which had been on my to-read list for a while - was on her shelves. I ditched the 15 or so other books I'd brought to dive into this one when I was having trouble getting sleep a few nights before the first surgery.
My impressions: If you have read and enjoyed Fr. Walter Ciszek's He Leadeth Me, this might be a book you consider looking into. It didn't have the deep impact that Fr. Ciszek's book had on me, but it felt similar, in which it follows a young man as he lives out his priesthood through some nearly unthinkable conditions. I was uncomfortable with some of the ways Fr. Goldmann obtained the Holy Eucharist to distribute to the sick and dying, as well as his involvement in an attempted assassination on Hitler - I'm pretty sure that's not morally sound activity - but I always had the sense he was doing the best he could in all the situations in which he found himself. Some of the story gets dark at times - not surprising, considering how much action he saw in the war, and the horrors of prison camps he endured - but he has a remarkable story that shows the hand of God very clearly at work, and His Will being accomplished through the faith, prayer, and suffering of many individuals and consecrated religious upon Fr. Gereon's behalf. I loved also his special connection with St. Therese of Lisieux, a beloved friend of mine, too. I probably won't ever read it again, but those adults and possibly high schoolers with an interest in World War II stories, especially of how individuals act when placed in situations that are antithetical to peacefully living out one's faith, may want to consider this book.
The Cabin Faced West, by Jean Fritz
Ann is having trouble adjusting to pioneer-settler life in the wilderness west of the mountains, but learns how invested she has become when a big storm strikes and she has the chance to go back East for the winter.
Why I picked it up: This one had been on my to-read list for a while...and it was at the library sale in Omaha!
My impressions: I am trying to pay attention to the craft of a story, and this one is well-written. The tension of being far West and yearning for what was left in the East plays through the entire tale. There's not much plot, but I really enjoyed this tale in spite of that. The story is situated solidly in pioneer farming life, with simple but effective characterizations. I loved a touching part in which Ann basically almost loses it and decides she's going to have a fancy tea party, and her mother joins in the moment. I recommend this book as an excellent example of writing and also as good historical literature for colonial and pioneer America.
Peacemaker, by Joseph Bruchac; narrated by Sean Taylor-Corbett**
This take on the legend of Hiawatha comes from the perspective of a young man, Okwaho, who nurses a desire for revenge when his dear friend is kidnapped by a warring tribe - but the arrival of the Peacemaker and his message changes everything for the warring Iroquois nations.
Why I picked it up: This was an Audible freebie and I recognized the author. I thought the book would be about the transformation brought about by the preaching of the Christian message of peace.
My impressions: Well, I made an assumption about who the peacemaker would be, and I was wrong. Good aspects of this book include the perspective of a youth who has been affected by life as it has been and has a stake in seeing changes happen - it makes the situation more compelling. I enjoyed the relationship between the main character and his friends, and the characterization of different people who join in the action. Native American folk tales have a flavor all their own, and there were plenty of them sprinkled throughout the book. The message of peace was beautifully proclaimed and pursued. My biggest area of discomfort with this book was the origin story of the Peacemaker, a savior figure who shared a tale about his birth from a virgin mother and his great grandmother's three attempts to kill him because she was convinced he - an infant - was evil. One weakness of the book was that there was conflict, but not really driving action for much of the book. The conflict was resolved by a show of unity and peace talks, which works well for the story, but it had a lot less climactic energy than the story's opening scenes. The uncomfortable origin story of the Peacemaker prevents me from recommending this book to any and all readers, but it could be good for getting a sense of what life may have been like in a war-torn Native American society prior to the arrival of Europeans.
100 Cupboards, by N. D. Wilson
A fantasy tale about a boy who lands with his aunt and uncle in a little nowhere town in Kansas, but finds adventure - and especially danger - behind the cupboards in his attic bedroom, which connect with other worlds.
Why I picked it up: I thought some children's fantasy might be a good break from the spiritual, academic, and taxing fiction works I've been reading lately. There's not much children's fantasy in my house that I haven't already read, and I didn't want to pick up another historical fiction novel - at least, not right then.
My impressions: This book had exciting parts, cool other-world fantasy parts, and some definitely creepy or scary parts. It concludes well and the climax felt like it had the right pacing, although the book definitely sets up for a sequel - not all is concluded. I felt that the story took a while to really get going - at least, as far as the fantasy element was concerned, but it makes sense insofar as getting a good sense of the main character and the way he needs to grow into the adventure. I did have to put down the book about halfway through - just for a day - because some of the scary parts were getting to me a bit, but I was brave for the remainder of the book. One downside was that I noticed the story's conclusion left me with more of an impression of being disturbed by the darker parts than of being delighted, filled with wonder, or excited to read more. I don't think that makes the book bad or not worth reading, especially since the good characters are good and wholesome, and the evil characters are recognized and fought as such. There's a lot of good in this book, but it's not the level of The Hobbit or The Chronicles of Narnia, the latter of which is a much closer comparison to this book. Upper elementary and middle school readers could definitely enjoy this book, but I'd just want to make clear that there are some pretty scary parts in it - at least, there were for me.
Stolen Focus: Why You Can't Pay Attention--and How to Think Deeply Again, by Johann Hari
A journalist investigates a variety of reasons why we, individually and as a society, might be experiencing more fragmented attention than ever before - and what we can do about it, as individuals and a collective.
Why I picked it up: This one has professional interest for me, dovetailing with the issue of overexposure to screens. I borrowed this one from a family member to read during my convalescence.
My impressions: Oh, there's a lot of food for thought here, with some of it perhaps needing a grain of salt, and some of it having too much detail regarding matters related to sex, and the possibility for there to be areas that were not considered - but the parts that the author researchers are deeply considered. I appreciated that, not only did Hari explain some of the research he cited, but the talked about when an issue was controversial in the minds of experts and the reasons why. It was like having a lot of stats and research from The Anxious Generation but in a format that was much more approachable. Hari looked at screens and social media, but he also considered our diet, pollution, trauma, sleep, changed reading and play patterns, the ADHD diagnosis epidemic, and desirable or different states of attention. For the screens/social media chapters, I felt like I was having my eyes opened again - social media sites are free because of the advertisers who pay for my information, which helps them create a profile to better target me. Screens keep you up late not necessarily because the blue light is like daylight, but the shutoff of that powerful light simulates sundown, when people usually have this burst of energy to get stuff done before bed - at least, that's the explanation he gives. There were some political and moral issues on which the author and I would disagree, but for the most part, he writes compellingly. He ends the book with a list of websites to visit so readers can add their voice to the collective projects that are trying to hold Big Everything accountable. While I really liked learning about these topics, I was made uncomfortable by how often issues related to sex came up, and the detail that came with them. These moments happened throughout the book and often enough that I can't really recommend reading this book - reader beware.
The Ides of April, by Mary Ray
A murder mystery set in ancient Rome leads a slave on the run and a soldier on leave into a plot that is deeper than they can handle alone.
Why I picked it up: I was going to read another book by this author while in NE, but it looked like it was a sequel to this one, which I don't own. I don't think now that it would have made a difference, but on my first trip to the library, this was one of the five books I checked out.
My impressions: It's fun to read a murder mystery - and I think the ones for middle grade readers or young adults might be more my speed than mysteries written for adults (unless it's Sherlock Holmes mysteries). It was a unique setting - ancient Rome - but that alone, and the peril the murder posed to the slaves of the household, helped make the stakes high. It was an exciting read! I really appreciated that this wasn't a murder mystery that just happened to take place in Rome 62 A.D. - the action is integrally tied to the time and place. The characters seek justice and desire to save the innocent, but the way they go about it is sometimes problematic - lying, deception, etc. There's a character who commits suicide to save another's reputation, so that also was concerning, as was the ending, in which a main character ultimately decides to save his marriage, but only after considering divorce and thinking about how easy it would be. Much of the book would be fine for middle school readers and even upper elementary, but some of the topics of concerns might make this book appropriate to have check-ins and discussions about, or to wait until the reader is mature enough to know the views expressed by characters are reflections of Roman beliefs of the time.
What We See When We Read, by Peter Mendelsund
From what I gather, the author designs book covers. This is his reflection upon how we imagine characters, actions, voices, buildings, and more when we read.
Why I picked it up: I came across this one on the local library's app, but I picked up a physical copy on a library trip during which, on a whim, I decided I needed to check out five separate books, none of which are the ones looking accusingly at me from my shelves (and floor) at home.
My impressions: This man must have spent a lot of time thinking about how we imagine things described in books, because I felt like there was a depth and level of observation here that wouldn't be possible without intense dedication. This is not a scientific overview, and as such, I feel fine not agreeing with everything he said. However, it is a good closeup of how he and others build an image based on a read description. He talks about narrator perspective like a camera angle, which is, in fact, how I think about narrator perspective (first, second, third person), but he gets away from that a bit, so my opinions ended up diverging from his. He talks about imagining a house, but I fault him with failing to tackle landscape descriptions. Oh well. I feel like I learned many separate, individual factoids about writing from reading this book, such as character facial are usually pretty nebulous if you sit down and really think about your mental image. We usually hear voices far more clearly than we imagine faces or houses. The way an author describes specific features, and only those features, can have a lot to say about the character. The author spent quite a bit of time talking about Anna Karenina, from the titular book, and some other works that I've never read and probably will never be comfortable reading, so that wasn't my favorite. This book is a fast read because it is so illustration heavy (makes sense), but at least one picture had a nude image or two in an illustration. This book could have some good takeaways for writers.
Noteworthy Book
Castle, by David Macaulay
This author/illustrator walks through the process of building a fictional castle based in research of how real-life castles were constructed.
Why I picked it up: I needed a boost of encouragement to feel better about the ratio of books started and completed to books put down, so I picked this one up. I'd bought it several years ago at a local bookstore and never read it, although I tackled this author's book about creating the book Cathedral just earlier this year, in the summer (or was it last summer?).
My impressions: This is a great book for anyone who loves castles or medieval times. It makes me want to pick up some of the author's other works, many of which I find are in my local library system. There's one spread that explains how toilets worked in castles; I know there were little figures seated on the toilets in the illustration, but I didn't look closely, and the figures were small, so I don't know if there was too much showing or not. Minus that uncertain detail, I'd recommend this book to any kid who wants more medieval castle stuff - although they'll appreciate the pictures a lot more, I think, if they can read the accompanying text.
Bracket Play
Another high-number book month, so the first round was structured in such a way that weaker books were matched with much stronger books to make the decisions easier. Of course, I had to have the two books with "April" titles battle each other. Two nonfiction books, a fantasy book, and two historical fiction works made it to the next round. Of the nonfiction books, it was easy to decide the Catholic book about a Franciscan seminarian staying true to his faith in Nazi Germany would win over a book about how we picture book descriptions, although the latter book had some interesting reflections. The Cabin Faced West had a bye, and the other historical fiction work about the Civil War, Across Five Aprils, won its battle with the modern fantasy work 100 Cupboards. Jean Fritz's children's historical fiction about life in the wilderness after the Revolutionary War ended up winning the penultimate round because it was so well written and enjoyable; Fr. Gereon's book was understandably tough to read at times.
In the final round, it was the two children's historical fiction books that dueled for the win. The Cabin Faced West took the prize home this month. It was atmospheric, enjoyable, and really tight writing. It was worth looking for for a long time and very rewarding to finally have tracked down and read.
Books Attempted and Put Down
Owls in the Family, by Farley Mowat
A Canadian boy and his friend find some owls and take them home as pets.
Why I picked it up: This book was on a recommended list somewhere - maybe Honey for a Child's Heart. I think I'd put it on my to-read list and then decided I didn't want to read it after all. Well, I got to look at our hostess' collection of books and recognized that one as being a title I'd been interested in in the past.
Why I put it down: I have too many other books I want to get to in the near future. It seemed like a very chill and homey kind of book - a story about kids having (mis)adventures with fun animal friends - but it didn't strike me as a book I needed to keep reading. I bet it would be a great book for upper elementary readers, and maybe even a decent read-aloud, but I just wasn't into it this time.
The Secret Library, by Kekla Magoon
Dally grieves the passing of her grandfather, especially since her strict, business-minded mother doesn't understand her - and discovers a connection to a magical library that allows her to travel to different times.
Why I picked it up: It was recommended to me by someone and I wanted to read it because of that connection.
Why I put it down: It had a decent start, but then LGBTQ+ content surfaced. I probably could have pushed through it, but I don't appreciate authors pushing this agenda, especially in books written for kids. There are plenty of other books I'd like to try. I don't recommend this one.
The Tigress of Forli: Renaissance Italy's Most Courageous and Notorious Countess, Caterina Riario Sforza de' Medici, by Elizabeth Lev; narrated by Edita Brychta**
This biography covers the life of a remarkable and powerful Italian woman during the Renaissance.
Why I picked it up: This one was recommended by a friend, and as it was written by the same woman who wrote an impactful book about post-Reformation Catholic art and its importance, I was excited. I used an Audible credit on it ages back and finally started listening to it.
Why I put it down: The book got very detailed about a disturbing event of a sexual nature and I was not ready for it. It was enough to make me just put it down. Hopefully that was the worst to be found in the book, but I don't want to keep trying it.
The Ascetic of Love: Mother Gavrilia 10th February 1897 - 20th March 1992, by Nun Gavrilia
This book is part biography and part collected letters and writings of an Orthodox saint, whose life sounds in many ways like the life of St. Mother Teresa of Calcutta.
Why I picked it up: I have a lovely Orthodox friend in a book club and asked her recommendation for a book to read about an Orthodox saint - this was for the summer reading challenge for a local book store. This is one that she said her husband had enjoyed.
Why I put it down: The main reason is that I couldn't finish the book in time and I'd like to get around to reading others. This woman led an interesting life, and it's worth pondering how God works in the lives of His servants, Western and Eastern and Protestant. I read through the first 100-some pages and learned about most of Nun Gavrilia's life, but it was slow going. Most of the rest of the book looked like it would be a collection of letters she'd written or conversations she'd had throughout her life. I believe it would have been instructive, but it just isn't for me at this time.
The Lost Library, by Rebecca Stead and Wendy Mass
A book told from the perspective of a fifth grade boy, a cat, and a ghostly librarian, in which Evan plunges into the mystery of how his small town's library burned down - and tries to prove that his father didn't cause the accident.
Why I picked it up: I thought that this book might be on a Battle of the Books list for a family member, and since I'd mistakenly reserved it at the library, figured it would be worth a try.
Why I put it down: I was unsettled by the realization that some characters in the books were ghosts. I think it's probably leftover uncomfortable feelings from reading Greenglass House, but I'm really not super comfortable with ghost characters. I did skip to the end to find out what happens, and I think that I would have been fine if I'd just pushed a little more and ignored the discomfort, but I'm a little fragile right now with health things and figure that it's fine - there are plenty of other books laying around that I want to get to reading anyway. I think the ghost element is harmless enough and this book would be fine for upper elementary and middle school kids to read, but it wasn't a good fit for me right now.
God or Nothing: A Conversation on Faith with Nicolas Diat, by Robert Cardinal Sarah*
A Catholic cardinal from Guinea discusses his life, experiences of different popes, and his thoughts on faith in a conversation with journalist Nicolas Diat.
Why I picked it up: This one had been on my to-read list, and it was available through the Formed app. I started it on a roadtrip to visit my younger sister's religious order.
Why I put it down: This first 20% or so of this book was good - it was about Cardinal Sarah's life, and his thoughts on the popes who were Vicar of Christ during his life. However, I was struggling to keep going about halfway through the book because there didn't seem to be tons of structure - it seemed to be more questions and answers about Cardinal Sarah's views on the faith and the struggles the Church faces today. I think he has a lot of good things to say, but I was not up to reading it through cover to cover.
Giants in the Earth: A Saga of the Prairie, by O. E. Rolvaag
A family of Norwegians immigrates to the wide open plains of the Dakotas and stakes a claim with just a handful of other immigrant families, and they must learn how to thrive - or just survive - in the madness-inducing flatness of the country.
Why I picked it up: This one is for a book club. It looked like it had potential.
Why I put it down: The wife was getting kind of (or clinically, diagnosably) depressed, and I was wondering when she'd snap out of it. I looked up a synopsis online because I'm recovering from surgery and thinking I need to be more careful with what I read...and I don't think things necessarily look up. Bummer, but good to know now instead of trying to push myself further into it.
How to Destroy Western Civilization: And Other Ideas from the Cultural Abyss, by Peter J. Kreeft**
Catholic philosopher professor looks at the philosophical shortcomings of today's secular society and the way they counteract our ability to live freely and fully in God's love.
Why I picked it up: I recently learned that Ignatius Press has a free app and you get access to one ebook, audiobook, and movie a month - at least, that's my understanding.
Why I put it down: I could have pushed through to the end, but I wasn't really enjoying this one - so why make myself finish it? I think there's a lot of Kreeft's work that I could appreciate in future, but this one wasn't doing it for me right now, and that's okay.
