May 2022 Book Bracket

I decided to go ahead and include one book that I actually finished in June; this way, I could have an even number of titles for the bracket this month.

Hoppity Hare's Adventures, by Geraldine McCaughran

This short book covers one adventure, Beatrix Potter-style, embarked upon by the eponymous character.

Why I picked it up: I originally picked it up at the Friends of the Library bookstore, having seen its series (Brambledown Tales) recommended long ago on a Facebook group I follow. I wanted a short book that I could read on my lunch break.

My impressions: Not having read much Beatrix Potter, but knowing a bit about her works, I had the feeling that this was a book that could be enjoyed by those who enjoyed Potter's Peter Rabbit tales. It was short and appropriate for young readers who can read more than a picture book, but are not full-fledged readers yet. Simple plot, but solid, and including unique characters. It's not something I'll read again just for my own self, but it could be a good before-going-to-bed book to read with kids over a week or so.

Happiness, God, and Man, by Cardinal Christoph Schonborn**

This collection of essays by a modern Catholic Cardinal explore a variety of subjects, including the nature of happiness, the lives of several influential Austrians, and fictional works by Gertrud von le Fort and C. S. Lewis.

Why I picked it up: I wanted an audiobook that wasn't too long; this one's title piqued my interest.

My impressions: This book had some positive aspects as well as some that I did not appreciate quite so much. In fact, the topics were of variable levels of interest to me, so if I had had a physical copy of this book, I might have ended up skimming some sections. However, it was also interesting to get a mix of topics in what I'm calling a collection of essays. There was at least one section where the cardinal dove into some Thomistic theology and I, not having a great head for philosophy, couldn't tell you what was in it. However, I was very invested in the sections that dealt with the authors von le Fort and C. S. Lewis, having read multiple works written by both authors. In fact, these author-focused sections at the end were my favorite parts. I don't know if I'd say I'd recommend the entire collection outright, but I definitely think some sections would be interesting to different readers - and the question of what makes for happiness is a universally relevant one that many people could benefit from considering.

The Island of Two Trees, by Brian Kennelly

Three children are sucked into their father's imagination to fight the evil tree and army that have taken over his story.

Why I picked it up: I think I'd seen this book recommended on a Facebook page, or seen it advertised by a Catholic publishing company. In any case, I think I bought it from a $5 TAN Books sale.

My impressions: I appreciate the effort that the author has put into creating a story like this - I do - but it's not a book I see myself rereading or necessarily recommending to others. One of the parts I liked best was a mythic-feeling origin story of the two trees mentioned in the title. Aspects of this book reminded me of "The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe". The author seemed to try to incorporate Tolkien's view of fairy tales (re: "On Fairy Tales" essay by Tolkien) into how the imaginative world of the story operates. However, the characters sometimes sounded pretentious or like they were trying too hard; I can't say the writing was excellent. Interesting, yes, but not refined or memorable in the way that the prose of many classic children's tales are. I feel bad that I can't give it a higher recommendation since the work is clearly a very Catholic one, but it's not going to become a classic. I think children who like fantasy stories could enjoy this book, but I wouldn't recommend it to older readers.

Toward the Gleam, by T. M. Doran**

Imagine what would happen if a major Tolkien/Inkling fan said to himself, "You know, Tolkien would make a great main character in a book that has him discovering an ancient treasure and taking on great personal risk to prevent it from falling into the wrong hands." That's this book.

Why I picked it up: I thought I remembered seeing the title in an Ignatius Press catalog; it looked like some sort of fictional work, and as I was in the mood for a fictional audiobook, I listened to it.

My impressions: Definitely an interesting book and a unique way to pay homage to a beloved author, but definitely not a "must read/listen to" in my estimation. I enjoyed the story well enough, although the beginning was a bit slow and one or two parts were a little hard to follow. The difficulty following could very well be the result of listening to, rather than reading, the book. I felt like some sections were far too long and unnecessary, such as Tolkien having a lengthy philosophical discussion with a random philosopher living off the land in the wilds of Scotland. As a professed Tolkien fan, I didn't need the author to lay out the differences between the worldviews that battled each other in the novel. One of my favorite parts of the book involved a character who was worked in slowly - mentioned first as a name, then as a "new" character, then with a story thread that pulled together the villain's past with the current storyline. I disliked some parts of the novel too, such as how Tolkien was tempted by one of the characters, his conflicted resort to lying throughout the story, and how he dispenses of the villain; I felt these were not true "what if" representations of the man (yes, fictional story, but I thought the author took too much liberty in these areas). I also disliked that this story made Tolkien's own creations seem like they were not as much his own work as they were in reality - he had a true storytelling genius, and a part of me feels that genius was denigrated in how the story depicts him composing them. It was cool to see him meeting several contemporaries and having some of their dialogue sound close to what I imagined their actual style might be like, but those encounters also felt a little forced. This book would be fine for adults and probably mature high schoolers to read, but likely to be appreciated best by Inklings fans. 

P.S. A word of warning about the audiobook; many of the narrator's voices for characters were fine, but the voices he adopted for the female characters drove me halfway to distraction. I liked C. S. Lewis' and GKC's voices, though.

Bracket Play

Well, I wasn't too impressed by the works I read this May. The first round was easy to determine, with the two children's books falling to the adult works (unusual for me, but it is reflective of the works). The cardinal's book ended up winning overall because I really enjoyed some of the essays, particularly the ones about C.S. Lewis's space trilogy and Gertrud von le Fort. "Toward the Gleam" had its mix of pros and cons, but it wasn't enough to beat out the other work.