November Book Bracket 2022

The craziness of life continues, but audiobooks and lunch breaks help keep reading a part of it.

Taggerung, by Brian Jacques

This book by prolific young adult serial author Jacques follows a skilled warrior otter, kidnapped and raised in a vermin clan from infancy, after he leaves to pursue what is right and learn about his origins.

Why I picked it up: I was stressed by work and had a mild craving for a children's book from my childhood. It had been a while, but dipping into it again initially was filled with all the comfort I was hoping for.

My impressions: I still think that this is one of, if not the finest, book that Jacques wrote. It's not quite the straightforward adventure that the other Redwall tales are - there are no major battle sequences, the main bad guy is a coward to the core, there is no Abbot or Abbess - but those elements all worked in this particular story. The Juska clan code was well-developed and contributed greatly to the world-building. It was also interesting to have the main character tracked by a group of the enemy, and to see the power dynamics playing out amongst them. The main character is rather flat, but some of the other characters have solid depth. The mystery being solved at the Abbey was not robust - certainly one of the weakest riddle sequences in the series, and therefore a weak element - but it served well to show how one character was right for taking on a certain role at the end of the book. The ending was great - an enemy shows up at the Abbey's door and almost jumps into a battle, but the evils of war are providentially held at bay. As a speech-language pathologist, I appreciate that one of the characters is shown struggling with stuttering and overcoming it (although not with the best research-backed therapy, though!). It is a dear, delightful book, and children who can handle violence and death in fantasy fiction could appreciate this adventure - hopefully as much as I do. Warning: there are some seers who cast omens and a character with a weird healer persona that some could find uncomfortable if they're sensitive about that.

Saint George for England, by G. A. Henty**

This historical fiction book follows Walter Somers (spelling?) as he battles for England against the French and wins honor and renown.

Why I picked it up: I've read people recommend author G. A. Henty for years and I think this was the first work of his that I encountered on Librivox.

My impressions: The first several chapters are pretty good - story driven, with all the trappings of history to help make it feel more real. However, by the middle of the book, the author spends a lot of time describing battles pretty flatly. Yes, there are some escapades the main character and his man-at-arms get into that are more interesting and related to the story, but they are episodic and feel like they take back seat to the battles at times. I guess I would say that the "historical" part of "historical fiction" weighs a little to heavily on the tale. I like action, but the fighting was not necessarily page-turning...it felt, perhaps, a bit more like "stick-to-the-facts," if that makes sense. The denouement was a bit long and not as compelling as it would have been if the tale had perhaps ended earlier, but the author did a good job of tying up loose ends. There may be a more nationalistic attitude present in the work than there typically is in modern writing, but that is also fitting for the story. It was certainly an interesting read considering that I had put down "Joan of Arc" prior to listening to this work and that I've picked it up again after finishing. If I'm correct, "Saint George for England" describes an earlier part of the Hundred Years War between England and France, and from the "other side", so it makes me curious how a French author with a similar attitude would have written the account. I think those who enjoy adventures and tales of knights could find some parts of this enjoyable, but it's not necessarily the quality of story that I like to read.

Twenty and Ten, by Claire Huchet Bishop

This very short tale (short novella, long short story) tells of twenty fifth-grade French students who help hide ten Jewish children during the second World War.

Why I picked it up: I caught a library sale with my fiance while we were visiting his hometown and this looked like a pretty good find. I read it when I did probably because it was taking forever to read books (due to limited free time) and this looked like a children's book with potential.

My impressions: This was a very fast read - I basically finished it in a day, and probably would have in just a matter of hours if I had read through from start to finish. It was short, sweet, to the point, and interesting. Things at the end were tied back to the opening sequence, which was some pretty tight storytelling in that respect. I wouldn't say this is a sad book, but there are some moments of tension, especially around the climax. I wouldn't say it's perfectly written, but it's a great read if you're short on time and just want to soak in a different time and place for a bit. This book would be fine for children and even for adults who just wanted a light read.

Be Healed, by Bob Schuchts

A therapist, through a Catholic lens, discusses what it takes for us to be truly healed of our wounds, and not just treat the symptoms.

Why I picked it up: This book came up at a retreat I went on in January. Eventually, after hearing people mention it enough times on the podcast the author cohosts, I ordered it and started reading.

My impressions: This is a great book for people who seek healing - especially from a Catholic perspective, but I think Christians can find good in it, as well, in spite of some more Catholic-specific topics, like sacraments. I can't say my life has been radically changed from it yet, but there's some very good stuff in this book. I was intrigued by the real-life stories and appreciated that there are prompts and questions for meditation. I would recommend this book to Catholics in general, but perhaps more specifically for those who are actively seeking healing.

Bracket Play

Four books makes for a nice, neat little bracket! "Taggerung" and "Be Healed" both won the first rounds easily, although "Twenty and Ten" was very good. Bob Schucht's work ended up taking the prize because it invites people into deeper relationship with God and can be an instrument of healing. I love Taggerung, but at the end of the day, I don't think it's going to change people's lives like I suspect Schucht's work can.