November 2023 Book Bracket

I was quite pleased with how many books I ended up reading - and it resulted in a nice, balanced bracket of eight books!

Ben Hur, by Lew Wallace

This epic tale follows a well-off Jewish lad in Roman-occupied Jerusalem who is sent to the galleys for an accident and tries to find his family, recover his hereditary possessions, serve and a long-awaited mighty ruler.

Why I picked it up: I was assigned to read this book for a book-discussion group of which I am a part. I originally accidentally picked up an "abridged adapted" version from the library, and in a foolish full-blown reaction, promptly picked up the unabridged version.

My impressions: This was a hard book to read (unabridged and unadapted) because the author, frankly, is too verbose (like me in this review). It sometimes drove me bonkers. But, I figure that, if I'm going to go to the effort to read a book this long (skimming some parts, yes), then I can give it a review as long as I like. The book certainly does have parts that are more interesting, and it was neat to see how events were originally portrayed, as opposed to the excellent movie adaptation starring Charlton Heston. I had the sense that a lot of research and perhaps even experiences of places in the Holy Land helped shape the narrative and make it more realistic. However, there was quite a bit that I didn't like. I don't think the portrayals of Mary and Joseph were fair - in St. Joseph's case, I thought it was quite unflattering, and that made a trying, slow beginning even more difficult. I didn't love the beginning, which was a creative reimagining of the Gospel Infancy narratives, but I appreciated and liked the same approach when it came to the Crucifixion of Christ at the end of the book. I didn't think it very believable that one of the Magi would have a daughter who believed and acted so differently than himself, but perhaps it goes to show that no one inherits their parents' spiritual growth - everyone has the need to develop their own relationship with God. I thought there were some parts that didn't ring true with a Christian narrative. First, Ben Hur somewhat achieves revenge against the Roman who wronged him, and there's not really anything in the narrative to indicate that there would have been a better path to follow. Second, the story ends with Ben Hur's family and fortune restored and increased, and him about to use it to help persecuted Christians in Rome. Granted, he always held his wealth with the intention of using it to serve the Savior, but when I think of the absolutely radical way the first Christians sold all their possessions to give to their community, it felt like not enough was being asked of me, the reader, to change my life. I don't think there's anything wrong with reading this book, but if someone decided they wanted to take on the 600+ page project, I'd say 1) consider if you might not just be satisfied with the Charlton Heston movie, which is excellent and (in my opinion) better, and 2) if you do read it, consider researching if there's a good abridged version out there that only cuts out some of the unnecessary verbiage, as opposed to cutting out entire subplots or adapting the actual writing.

The Christmas Book, by Francis X. Weiser

A priest explains the history of Christmas celebrations and traditions.

Why I picked it up: This book made it onto my to-read list within the last year or two and I decided it would be fun to try leading up to Christmas this year. I actually read it before Advent even started.

My impressions: I realized, upon perusing the table of contents, that there would be very little in the way of meditation upon theological truths - it would pretty much be an explanation of how traditions and celebrations came to be. However, there's nothing wrong with that - just don't pick it up if you want something in the way of Advent spiritual reading. So, once I knew what kind of book it was, I was very excited because the desire for Christmas is hitting differently - harder - this year than I think it has just about any time before. I really enjoyed learning about where things came from, and a few comments here and there helped provide some perspective on how, even if a few elements here and there can be traced back to pagan feasts, they have been reinterpreted by Christians over the ages. I was fascinated by how crazy some things seemed to get in history when Puritans tried to erase this or that feature of Christmas celebrations. It was also interesting to learn about how the Protestant Reformation put an end to many beautiful traditions, at least for a time, if not permanently. I'm hoping to skim through the book again and dedicate a whole blog post to this book. It wasn't necessarily life changing, but there were some interesting things in it that I don't want to forget. I would recommend this book to any Catholic or Christian who wants to learn more about the history of where we get certain Christmas traditions from. It should be good for any high schooler and older, but perhaps even middle school-aged students, as well.

No Turning Back: A Witness to Mercy, by Fr. Donald H. Calloway

A priest recounts his wild youth, subsequent conversion, and entry into a religious order.

Why I picked it up: This book has been on my to-read list for years. I finally decided I needed to read it and picked it up from my local library.

My impressions: This was a good book. Parts of his wild youth were difficult to read, just because he made so many decisions that hurt himself and those in his life. But, those lows helped me appreciate his story even more because of their stark contrast with his life when he converted. I remembered watching a video about his conversion story in high school, but it was an even more intense experience to read about it. No Turning Back was a great book for me, personally, to read because of the Fr. Michael Gaitley books I read about mercy earlier this year. It also reminded me that I need to reencounter Mary and I think helped me pick up a book about her soon after finishing this book. I liked looking at the full-color pictures at the end of the book and remarked several times to my husband something along the lines of, "How is it possible that these are all pictures of the same guy?" This is a powerful conversion account and a concrete example of the efficacy of prayer and the fact that God works miracles in our own day. I'd recommend this book to Catholics and even Christian adults who could use a true account of conversion to love of God; I don't recommend it to high school students because some of the content is pretty heavy - however, some high school students might be able to handle it. As I have found, so often "appropriate readership" depends on the individual person.

The Reading Life, by C. S. Lewis

This book is actually a compilation of excerpts about reading from other essays, major works, and letters by C. S. Lewis.

Why I picked it up: This book first called to me from the shelves of a local bookstore, where I used my self control to not impulse buy it. I then impulse checked it out from the local library.

My impressions: This book is fine, but I'm glad I didn't buy it myself. I appreciate the sentiments expressed in this work, but much of the time, I found myself thinking either, "I've already read this essay, so I'm going to skip this excerpt," or "Hmm...I wonder if I shouldn't just go and read the full work instead." I went ahead and finished it (but skipped some decent portions), but I think there is a case to be made for just going and reading the full works. As great as the excerpts are, I wonder how much I'm losing from the quotes being taken out of context. It's a fast read and pretty light, so it could be a great book for readers who just want all the key things C. S. Lewis ever wrote about reading, but it's not necessary to buy for a bookshelf. If you have other nonfiction C. S. Lewis books in your possession, it is quite possible it is already at least partly already in your possession.

Here's an out-of-context quote taken from the introduction, by the way: "In the case of good books, the point is not to see how many of them you can get through, but rather how many can get through to you." - Mortimer Adler, quoted in The Reading Life

The Vanderbeekers and the Hidden Garden, by Karina Yan Glaser**

This sequel to The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street follows the Vanderbeeker kids during the summer as they secretly create a community garden - with many shenanigans - to encourage and celebrate their brownstone neighbors after Mr. Jeet suffers a second stroke.

Why I picked it up: I was excited to learn from browsing Audible that there's a whole Vanderbeeker series, and it wasn't long before I sought out a new audiobook and found this one through my public library system.

My impressions: This was a sweet book. I like that this series bridges the gap between plotless summer-in-the-life-of books and strong plot-driven adventures. It's jsut a story of the shenanigans a the kids in a family get into, and the trouble they stir up, but there's also a reason for doing it - there are problems to solve and conclusions to reach. I have to admit that when the kids didn't make the best choices, it was a little uncomfortable - but I feel that way just about any time someone does the forbidden thing or clearly decides to do something that's a bad idea. But, it was cool to see the siblings working together and growing their friendcircle. I remember that there were some aspects of the first book I didn't love - starting off with a discussion where the kids thought a divorce was coming, describing the interesting clothing of a passing character, imagining violent things while doing activities - I didn't really pick up on any of those things in this book. It seems that the Vanderbeekers may not be churchgoers on Sundays, but that's really the main thing I noticed, and that wasn't even said outright (besides those poor decisions, like using other people's items without permission). We got to see some good character development and selfless acts within the family, and that was really lovely. My hopes for the series are cautiously rising. I think anyone who enjoyed the first book in this series would like this one, too. It is a book that's probably best to read only after the first one has been read, because references are made to events that were explored a bit more fully in the first book. It can still likely be read and enjoyed, but it'd fit better after the first book.

Saintly Creatures, by Alexi Sargeant

This gorgeously illustrated picture book contains the general stories of 14 saints or blesseds and, in particular, an episode from their lives which involve animals.

Why I picked it up: This is a pricey Word on Fire book that I've had my eye on all year. I finally ordered it (but from Amazon since it was out of stock with WoF) and then read before I wrapped it up to give to one of my godchildren (Yes, I sometimes read the books I gift to others before I give them.)

My impressions: This was a grand little book. I loved the illustrations. In fact, when I noticed that the haloes had designs on them, I went back through and looked at them all again to see how they differed. I also loved that the stories were short - the whole account usually took about three or four sides of paper, and that includes the illustrations. I think that the book does a great job of including animal stories without making it the focus. Or, maybe, it does a great job of making it the unifying theme of the collection, but the animals were never the focus of the entire story. Each one made sure to spend time talking about the whole saint's life, which was beautiful. I learned about several saints I'd never heard of before, including St. Germaine and St. Werbergh. I think this book would be great for young readers, maybe second grade and up (depending on reading fluency), although this book looks like it would be perfect for reading aloud as bedtime stories - or just because. It's a book that's on my list of books that I'd like to own eventually.

Christmas Remembered, by Tomie dePaola

Famous picture book author/illustrator Tomie dePaola describes about a dozen or so Christmases he enjoyed during his life.

Why I picked it: This was part of me craving all things Christmas, hearing somewhere about great Christmas books (Read Aloud Revival podcast?), and putting it on hold at the library.

My impressions: This was a delightful little book. It's apparently dePaola's first book for people of all ages, but it's incredibly readable. It features classic dePaola illustrations (which have never been my favorite, but are still cool) and a lot about his life. I was surprised to learn he was very Catholic, at least in his younger years, trying out life as a Benedictine novice, and living at least as a while as a Benedictine Oblate. He went to school for art, taught art, and lived in or visited several very different places across the country. I think my favorite parts were at the beginning, especially when he was describing candy. This book had all the cozy-Christmas-feelings I was looking for, and it was a quick read, too. I think this book would be great for anyone to read, young or old, or to read out loud as a family.

Redwall, by Brian Jacques

Young Matthias the mouse follows the path of his hero, the warrior Martin, as he recovers a legendary sword and defends his home, Redwall Abbey, from conquest by the rat Cluny the Scourge.

Why I picked it up: I wanted to share this delightful book, which had such a big place in my childhood, with my husband, so I read almost all of it out loud to him - he read a chapter here and there.

My impressions: This was sure a fun book to share with my husband! We read a special edition that had full-color pictures sprinkled throughout and had a different-looking map. I will say that Jacques has not really developed his style in this first book and has some features that are inconsistent with the rest of the series, but the shortcomings of style do not change the fact that it is a fantastic story following the classic hero's journey. There are a few moments of swearing that involve real swear words and a name that is rather uncomfortable considering its origins, but it's a great book for readers who love adventure, good versus evil, battles, and strategies.

Bracket Play

Truly, I knew which book was going to win this month before I even started on the bracket. Fr. Donald Calloway's story is just crazy and amazing and had me thinking about mercy again this year. I had a great conversation with someone about it, and mentioned to her that it gives me hope for everyone we pray for who seems far from God. It reminded me that miracles happen in our own day and that God wants to work powerfully in our lives. It was beautiful.

The weakest books were Ben Hur and the C. S. Lewis quote compilation The Reading Life. The second Vanderbeekers story was good and wholesome, but didn't necessarily stand out to me as a brilliant book. One book that could have made it to the second round but couldn't because the competition was so good was Tomie dePaola's Christmas Remembered, which gave me many happy, cozy, Christmas-y feelings as I was reading it. But it over half of the books that I read could easily have made it to the second round, that itself indicates that I read some pretty good books this month.

The second round battle between The Christmas Book and Saintly Creatures was the most difficult of this bracket. I almost gave the victory to Saintly Creatures because I said I'd like to own it, and I did not say that with The Christmas Book, but I feel like I've had aspects of The Christmas Book stick around a bit better and get me thinking more than Saintly Creatures. I mean, I dedicated a whole blog post to it, going through it chapter by chapter! In the end, either book would have ended up falling to No Turning Back by Fr. Calloway, but I wanted to make sure Saintly Creatures received an honorable mention.

Books Attempted and Put Down

Unwrapping the Greatest Gift: A Family Celebration of Christmas, by Ann Voskamp

Why I picked it up: I think I heard this one was recommended by Read Aloud Revival for Christmas and I was in the mood to pick up Christmas-y books from the library.

Why I put it down: This book, in spite of having the word "Christmas" in the title, is all about the Jesse Tree and is therefore definitely more of an Advent book. The main reason I put it down was because I wasn't feeling it. My husband and I are doing an Advent wreath this year, and the Jesse tree doesn't seem quite as feasible because the tree I usually dedicate to that purpose is actually our mini Christmas tree this year - and it is a very cute little Christmas tree. I think it would be a great resource for those who want Scripture passages, illustrations, and reflections all in one place, but it wasn't what I needed. There are plenty of other books I'd like to be reading, and it's possible someone is waiting for this one to come back in at the library. It'd be nice for it to be available to someone early in the Advent season rather than halfway through.

Advent 2023

 My Plan for Advent 2023

This year, I decided to brainstorm writing projects for Advent. It seemed a fitting next step to go ahead and make a small post about what I intend to do this Advent season to prepare for the coming of my Lord.

Listening Patiently Rather than Interrupting

Over the last several months or so, the Lord has revealed one of my faults to me: I am an interrupter. Regardless of the reasons for why interrupting is so appealing to me, it is something that I have decided I should work on. This will help me practice patience and self-denial.

When I fail, I think I'll try to return to my conversation partner's original comment, ask them to continue, and then try to make a quick prayer to ask Jesus to bring good out of my shortcomings.

Regular Prayer

I've gotten away from making sure I say a Rosary every single day - I say it most days, but I miss it now and then. It will be good to sacrifice extra sleeping time to make sure that special time of prayer happens.

I have also had a bad record of getting to adoration regularly. I'm committing myself to trying harder to get to adoration every single week. This will require some planning and discipline.

My husband was probably more excited about getting the Advent wreath out than I was, and was instrumental in making sure we started it tonight. What a blessing for me to have such a wonderful helpmate!

Limiting Facebook

I almost forgot this one. Per tradition, I take Advent and Lent to get away from social media a little bit. I haven't done great today, but the goal is to start out making sure only 5 minutes of my day goes towards Facebook - and let's add Pinterest, too, now that it's become more of a thing over the last year or two. I hope to reduce the time by a minute every week and/or by limiting myself to every other day. It'll make more time available for prayer and those other projects I want to get to.

YouTube Adult Formation

Our parish priest is offering Advent adult formation via his YouTube channel. This season's focus is on the prophet Isaiah and Padre Pio. I have no ideas about where this will go, but it sounds like a pretty epic mashup to me.

Reading

The main book I'm focusing on reading this Advent is Walking with Mary by Edward Sri. I began it almost a month ago, but took breaks from it here and there. I think it's one of those books that it's going to be good to read a small portion of, and then let it percolate for a while. I'm sure there will be more Christmas-y reads coming too (besides the ones I already finished), but this seems like a fitting book for this season. After finishing it, I might try to find another Mary-focused one, or move on to a different spiritual work, like the Rule of St. Benedict.

Writing Project(s)

Writing strikes me as an important way to engage with ideas, to get things out of my head and keep some minimal creative juices flowing, even if it's not fiction. I did consider trying to write an Advent story this season, but I don't think I have it in me this year. 

I was struck by the lack of lists of "5 Books You Should Read This Advent", or at least, lists that had fictional literature on them instead of strictly spiritual works. I am very much in favor of fantastic spiritual reads for Advent and all other liturgical seasons, but I think it would be lovely to have some Advent-y books out there that feed the spirit through stories. I have some ideas of books - and even music - that I can write about, but we'll see what I have time for. I requested one writing assignment from my husband and received several excellent ideas about writing project ideas for Advent, so I'm just going to have to see what sticks and what I have time for.

Considering The Christmas Book

Considering The Christmas Book, by Fr. Francis Weiser

I finished reading this book recently - it was a pretty solid comfort read for a woman who is, surprisingly, craving all things Christmas much earlier than usual.

While it was just what I needed, it's not necessarily a book I'm itching to purchase and have in my possession forever more. There were quite a few things that I found interesting or wanted to remember, so I figured I would do a deeper dive into it here and record those thoughts.

Introduction

I appreciated that the first thing that the author did was start off the book with Bible passages describing the story of Jesus' birth. Weiser put first things first.

Chapter 1: Gospel and History

The author shared a number of interesting facts in this chapter, including that the B.C./A.D. dating system probably is off by a few years and that Christ was born in one of the caves around Bethlehem - something that is reflected in Ben Hur, a fictional book predating this one that I finished recently. He discussed the term "firstborn" as being one applied to the first child of a couple, even if "he might be the only child the couple ever had" (pg. 21).

There were also some quotes I took especial note of:

"The expression 'good will' in the Gospel does not primarily mean the good will of men toward God or each other, but the good will of God toward men, that is, His love, benevolence, kindness and mercy. The exact sense therefore is, 'and on earth peace to men possessing Divine good will.'" (pg. 22)

"The Gospel does not report that the shepherds brought presents to the Christ Child." (pg. 24) I think this quote struck me because there's something about the idea of coming to Jesus with nothing to offer him, but he still loves us anyways and desires to give himself to us.

"What is the original meaning of our popular greeting, 'Merry Christmas'? When this greeting was originally used, the word 'merry' did not mean 'joyful, hilarious, gay,' as it does today. In those days it meant 'blessed, peaceful, pleasant,' expressing spiritual joys rather than earthly happiness. It was thus used in the phrase, 'Merry England.' The well-known carol, 'God rest you merry, gentlemen,' is an excellent example of the original meaning of 'merry.' The position of hte comma clearly shows the true meaning (that the word is not an adjective describing 'gentlemen'), and therefore is not 'God rest you, joyful gentlemen,' but 'God rest you peacefully, gentlemen.'" (pg. 30)

After this chapter, I didn't write down any other particular quotes. But there is still lots to mull over!

Chapter 2: Origin of the Feast

There's no official record of the actual day of Jesus' birth. So, we ended up with the 25th after persecution of the early Christians stopped and the Church decided on that date. It appears that Jesus' birth had been celebrated on different days in different places previously. Something interesting: "The fact that December twenty-fifth was chosen, does not seem to rest so much on historical findings, as in the great desire to replace the popular pagan celebration of the winter solstice by the festivities of a truly Christian holiday." (pg. 32) So, if you hear someone say that Christmas is just a Christianized pagan festival, that person is wrong. It seems the date of celebrating Jesus' birth was intended to overshadow pagan festivities, but it didn't somehow grow out of it. It was always its own celebration and always distinct from pagan cults. Now, the term "Yule" does have pagan origins, as it refers to "solstice", but as the book states, 

" While it is certainly true that some popular features and symbols of our Christmas celebration had their origin in pre-Christian Yuletide customs, Christmas itself - the feast, its meaning and message - is in no way connected with any pagan mythology or Yule rite." (pg. 34). 

I really liked the author's summary at the end of the book, after he explains origins of purely Christian Christmas symbols as well as those that were Christianized from pagan practices:

"In tracing these many and varied Christmas customs back to their original source, however, it should now be evident that they are all based on the fact that Christmas is the celebration of our Lord's Nativity. Even the remnants of ancient pagan feasts and customs which survived have been transformed into a completely Christian symbolism, all of it now an integral part of this great feast which is celebrated in countries all over the world today." (pg. 174)

Chapter 3: Christmas in the Middle Ages

Interesting legends noted: all nature celebrating at midnight of Christmas, animals falling to their knees at that hour, bees waking up to buzz musically, plants bowing, birds singing all night, and animals talking like humans. St. Francis of Assisi (not surprisingly) advocated for kind treatment of animals at Christmastime. There were also superstitions noted in this chapter - while it's obviously not okay to believe in or practice superstitious things, it was just interesting to know that people did those things back then.

Chapter 4: Decline and Revival

This chapter discussed that, after the Protestant Reformation happened, Christmas celebrations were effectively almost completely blotted out - at most, in some places, it seemed like a service and sermon were the order of the day. In other places, the customs survived. But in England...oh boy, I came to realize that, whenever Puritans came up in this book, some pretty wild stuff happened. 

"In England, however, the Puritans condemned even the reduced religious celebration which was held in the Anglican Church after the separation from Rome. They were determined to abolish Christmas altogether, both as a religious and as a popular feast." (pg. 44)

They went so far as to legislatively ban Christmas, impose a day of penance and fasting on December 25th, and command that business be held as usual. There were literal riots in response, and while the public celebration of Christmas slowly petered out in England, people still sometimes celebrated it privately at home. Sadly, when Christmas came back, it was just a hollow shell for a while - it had no religious meaning and focused on externals, such as good cheer and good food.

This part really struck me because many beloved Christmas songs - some of which are very dear to me - express those exact same sentiments. Bing Crosby's "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas," for example, is a beloved holiday tune for me, but in a way, it reinforces a very world-centered approach to Christmas. It's all about the coziness of hygge and hot chocolate and feeling good and being close to family and friends. There's nothing wrong with these external trappings, so long as they stay external trappings. But in our de-Christianized culture, these are actually the heart of what seems to be known as "Christmas" these days. A generalized "goodwill" towards all is the finest fruit modernity can distill from the theologically rich celebration that Christmas ought to be.

Anyway...back to the book. Even in America, the Pilgrims made a point of working on Christmas Day.

Chapter 5: The Midnight Mass

Not much to note here - we have midnight Mass on Christmas because that's traditionally (not necessarily historically) when Jesus was born.

Chapter 6: Ancient Hymns and Carols

One of the main things I learned is that hymns are generally solemn, and carols are generally festive and simple - although nowadays, "carol" has become an all-encompassing term for Christmas songs.

Hymns I want to look into: 

- Jesus refulsit omnium

- Corde natus ex Parentis

- Agnoscat omen saeculum

- O Gladsom Light

- In hoc anni circulo

- Dies est laetitiae

- Flos e radice Jesse

- Psalmus in Nativitate

Chapter 7: Carols for Every Mood

I was fascinated to learn that carols can be organized into categories:

- Nativity carols: focused on the Nativity itself

- Prayer carols: addressed to the baby Jesus

- Mystery carols: Medieval, about legends

- Shepherd carols: focus on the shepherd episode, including receiving the message from the angels (so "Angels We Have Heard on High"?)

- Noels: have "Noel" or "Nowell" in the refrain ("The First Noel")

- Macaronics: written partially in Latin, partially in the vernacular

- Lullaby carols: Either Mary or the worshiper is imagined to sing this to Jesus ("Away in a Manger"?)

- Companion carol: The singer imagines himself/herself as accompanying the shepherds, or being one, and addresses one or all of the Holy Family

- Dance carols: dancing accompanied by carols; but banned from churches because all dancing was banned in churches by a church council (Toledo); some dancing still happens today, but not in churches!

- Epiphany carols: tells of the Magi account ("We Three Kings"?)

- Star carols: like Epiphany carols, but different; in essence, simplified Epiphany plays

- Christmas yodeling: carols that incorporate yodeling; Austrian in origin, different from what the author terms "the modern hillbilly type so familiar to American radio fans" (pg. 77).

The author did a good job of finding hymns in other languages and providing small snippets of translated sections. It is interesting to hear the sounds of the carols of non-English-speaking nations by looking them up online, and to read the lyrics and see how similar the sentiments can be to those we express.

Chapter 8: Familiar Hymns and Carols

After the Protestant Reformation, Christmas carols made a comeback in the 1800s. It was kind of weird to learn that some of the most familiar carols of our day were written by non-Catholics (and pretty prominent ones, at times), but I think it's also cool that these songs can be an ecumenical bridge. It was also interesting to learn some songs were originally poems that were then set to tunes of famous classical compositions (Joy to the World), or had music composed to match them (Luther's "From Heaven Above I Come to You" and G. K. Chesterton's "The World's Desire"). St. John de Brebeuf wrote the first American carol, and it was composed in the Huron language (Jesous Ahatonnia) - that's cool! Many carols that the author mentions the history of were popular when this book was written over 50 years ago, and it's neat to see that they're still popular ones today.

Carols I want to look into:

- Tu scendi dalle stelle

- O, thou joyful Christmas time

- O come, all ye children

- While shepherds watched their flocks by night (Nahum Tate)

- Rise up, shepherd, and follow

- Gesu Bambino (semi-partner song to Adeste Fideles)

Chapter 9: Nativity Plays

Much like dance carols, nativity plays were once performed in churches, but due to abuses, were eventually banned from those holy places. However, these plays were able to grow and develop outside the church buildings, surviving even to the present day.

Chapter 10: The Christmas Crib

The nativity of Jesus has been depicted since ancient times, but the Nativity Scene as we know it was instituted by St. Francis of Assisi. The ox and ass are traditional parts of the Nativity Scene because, while they're not mentioned in the Infancy Narratives in the Bible, they are mentioned separately in the books of Isaiah and Habakkuk.

Chapter 11: Symbolic Lights and Fires

"In medieval times it was customary to represent Christ the Lord by a burning candle. This custom is still preserved in the liturgy of the Church, as for instance, the Easter candle, the last candle at the Tenebrae services of Holy Week." (pg. 111)

Placing lighted candles in the windows is an Irish tradition and was a coded way of trying to announce to hidden priests that a practicing Catholic family lived there and would love to have a secret Mass celebrated on Christmas. They also left doors unlocked to make it easy for the priest to enter. Unfortunately, it seems they lied to the British to mask what they were doing, but the tradition suddenly has meaning for me. We've never lit candles in the windows in my family, and I don't have plans to start, but now I think it's a beautiful thing to do because of the history behind it. The Yule log has been Christianized, but yes, it had a pagan origin.

Chapter 12: The Christmas Tree

Not much to note here. German in origin, spread elsewhere.

Chapter 13: Christmas Plants and Flowers

Some plants have pagan origins, but were given Christian meanings and persist in decorations to this day, while other plants never had pagan origins but were given special meaning when used by Christians to decorate for Christmas.

Chapter 14: Breads and Pastries

It was cool to learn about traditions from different countries, but nothing particular to note.

Chapter 15: The Christmas Dinner

I sure do love holiday food! It seems Europeans went all-out for Christmas food in the old days, and even had turkey after it was brought from Mexico after 1550. I was interested to learn that wild turkey is not very appetizing, but what we eat today is the result of breeding and improving domesticated turkeys. It makes sense, but it's not something I thought much about.

Chapter 16: The Battle of the Mince Pie

I told my husband about this. Mince pie was apparently one of the targets to be banned by the Puritans, because it had acquired symbolism - it was rectangular and represented Jesus' cradle (the manger), and sometimes a little figure of baby Jesus was placed on it and removed before consumption. "The eating or non-eating of mince pie thus became a test of orthodoxy on either side." (pg. 150). However, "Ironically enough, the Puritans also won their victory. For the Catholics and Anglicans, while campaigning for the very existence of the pie and winning the struggle, had gradually neglected its shape. By the end of the seventeenth century the pie was made in circular form; the figure of the child had disappeared, and, after the smoke of the battle cleared away, both parties felt contented with their respective victories: the Catholics and Anglicans rejoiced in having save the pie, the Puritans in having changed its form." (pg. 150)

Chapter 17: Saint Nicholas

The legend of Saint Nicholas is recounted here.

Chapter 18: The Significance of Exchanging Presents

Interesting, learned about why it's called "Boxing Day", but not much to note.

Chapter 19: Santa Claus

Santa Claus is a kind of result of the Protestant Reformation - Saint Nicholas celebrations were banned in many places, and "the Christmas Man" was substituted. Santa Claus is a corruption of "Sinter Klaas" from the Dutch, who continued to remember St. Nicholas, even if the actual details of his life were not as well recalled. Our Santa Claus kept some aspects of St. Nicholas, and some of Father Christmas (the Christmas Man??). The author definitely had some opinions about the practice of talking about Santa Claus.

"It has been suggested by many who have the welfare of children at heart that Santa be restored to his original Christian meaning. That would not mean changing the modern story but simply adding historical facts and some legends concerning beloved St. Nicholas to present-day Santa Claus lore. It is believed that if, at the very beginning, children could be told the historical facts about Santa Claus and his life, and the spiritual meaning of the legend, it will never cause them to be disillusioned or utter the erroneous statement, 'There is no Santa Claus.' The rest of the story, containing the fairy tale, will then be regarded as a rather charming addition to the legend of St. Nicholas." (pg. 166)

I'm not convinced, but it's interesting to hear this priest's take on it.

Chapter 20: Cherished Customs Old and New

I learned about some Advent traditions as well as greeting cards. As noted above, I liked the concluding paragraph.

Conclusion of My Thoughts

This was a fun book to read. It came at the right time in my life, I appreciated it, and now I've recorded my thoughts on it. I think it's a fun, light read, and lots of people would probably enjoy reading it. I bet some parts could probably be updated, but I enjoyed it and couldn't pick out anything that I'd necessarily change.

 October 2023 Book Bracket

I started or sampled tons of books this month, but finished comparatively few. I also had an unusually high number of books going at once, especially at the end of month. I didn't finish as many books as I would have liked, but I expect many of my ships to come in in the next month.

The City of Ember, by Jeanne DuPrau**

Lina and Doon have lived in Ember all their lives, but with food running low and the lights in danger of going out, they join forces to try to save the city - or find a way out.

Why I picked it up: This book has come up over the years as a work to look into, and I finally decided to give the library audiobook a listen.

My impressions: I loved this book all the way until the last chapter. Then the post-apocalyptic events that were hinted at before became more evident, and it didn't make me feel too great. The story up until then was a great sort of treasure-hunt and slow uncovering of corruption in the city of Ember. It was a well-built world, in more than one sense, and I appreciated that a culture and traditions had been developed to help fill this underground city. I think this would be a great read for any reader that would read at this level, upper elementary and older. I hope to read the remaining three books in the series sometime, but I'm not sure that I'm in the right place for that right now.

The Face of God: The Rediscovery of the True Face of Jesus, by Paul Badde**

A German journalist investigates a mysterious cloth in the out-of-the-way Italian town of Manoppello and concludes it is the original image depicting the face of Jesus.

Why I picked it up: I was looking for an audiobook to listen to and I guess I checked the Formed app in the absence of other things to listen to through the public library system.

My impressions: This is a true-story account of one man's discovery and sharing of what he believes to be the original Veronica veil, arguing that it was stolen when the current St. Peter basilica was built and somehow transported to the town of Manoppello. The first chapter was perhaps the most exciting one, because it contained in summary the essence of what would unfold in the rest of the work. It did drag at times, but it was interesting to learn about and reflect on. The image at Manoppello is an item that, much like the Shroud of Turin, a Catholic may choose to honor as having had contact with Jesus, but in the case of this image, this is based on personal deductions and some (perhaps) circumstantial evidence. It was interesting to learn about for another reason: I heard a talk at the Midwest Catholic family conference in which the speaker recommended a devotion to the Holy Face. I don't think I'd necessarily recommend this book to others to read, but it's good for is someone is interested in learning about the subject.

Mara, Daughter of the Nile, by Eloise Jarvis McGraw**

A plucky slave plays a dangerous game as she navigates multiple intrigues playing out at the highest levels of ancient Egypt's kingdom.

Why I picked it up: This audiobook was available on Audible and not as easily available in other places; my sister-in-law mentioned how much she loved it and I looked forward to listening to it.

My impressions: The part of this book that stood out to me the most was the vitality of the characters. Mara was memorable and such a fun kind of feisty, but she was not the only one who was easy to remember. I thought that the political intrigues were interesting and forwarded the plot well, probably because it tied in so closely with the personal motivations of the characters. I personally thought the romance - which was clean - was still a little too much for me, at least when I listened to it this time around - too much description of grabbing of wrists, power imbalances, and thinking of a handsome fellow or lovely eyes. I would say that, if I were more easily able to skim some of parts I wasn't feeling as much, this would definitely have been a hands-down more enjoyable book than the author's other work I listened too earlier this year, The Golden Goblet. I think girls would probably enjoy this book more than boys, but I think there's a great political intrigue plot that boys would enjoy.

Searching For and Maintaining Peace, by Father Jacques Philippe

A Catholic priest outlines in a short work why peace of heart is necessary in the spiritual life and how to try to achieve it.

Why I picked it up: It was time to reread it. This is a regular reread for me, usually making an appearance on this blog several times a year.

My impressions: Excellent, as always. I won't have it compete in the bracket just because it's competed before and it would have won if I'd put it in play this time.

Bracket Play

The bracket was a bit unbalanced this month, but I couldn't let Searching For and Maintaining Peace compete because it would have easily won...again. This is another month where I feel guilty that the religious book (The Face of God) didn't win...in fact, it didn't make it past the first round. I just felt that The City of Ember was a book I'd be more likely to recommend to others, and it was, overall, a more pleasurable listening experience. I decided it was good enough to beat Mara, Daughter of the Nile, because there were some elements (namely, the romantic bits) that I didn't appreciate as much. I can't say that this month's winner is a stellar read, but I'm hoping I'll have some books of higher caliber to compete next month.

Books Attempted and Put Down

Remarkably Bright Creatures, by Shelby Van Pelt**

An octopus in an aquarium befriends a worker and helps her get to the bottom of an emotional mystery (I think?)

Why I picked it up: I saw the title was a book club pick for a local group and one of my friends said she really enjoyed it. It sounded interesting to me.

Why I put it down: I could tell pretty early on that one of the characters struggled with pain from losing a child and, this month, I just didn't need that sort of book.

Sundry Other Audiobooks

There were at least two or three audiobooks that I sampled and started and then stopped. Some of it was because I didn't need that sort of heaviness in my life, and others were because I was initially curious but not willing to pay for a credit for an audiobook that I wasn't that invested in.

 Tolkien and Allegory

I picked up a book and very quickly put it back down. It goes by the title Finding God in The Lord of the Rings, and it's written by Kurt Bruner and Jim Ware. It is a book that provides some Christian meditations on The Lord of the Rings. I think I remember trying to start it before, and this is the second time the attempt has ended in failure. Part of me is bummed that it didn't pan out, especially since it's such a short book and it would have been nice to get it knocked off the "haven't read" collection in my possession and added to the book bracket for this month.

Alas. I'm not actually that troubled, as the thought comes to mind that, you know, there are an awful lot of other books about The Lord of the Rings out there that I'd much rather read.

All that aside, I read enough of the book to find something to write about. Here is the quotation of the part that inspired this little reflection:

"The Lord of the Rings is not, as some have suggested, a covert allegory of the gospel. Tolkien clearly denied that idea. We must not turn this wonderful adventure into something it was never intended to be...Tolkien was telling a story, not proclaiming a message. His Christian worldview pushed itself up of its own accord. It is not our goal to declare Tolkien's intentions, but rather to explore the inference of his imagination, an imagination that could not help but reflect Christian themes." (Introduction, pp. xiii-xiv)

Oh boy. Oh boy.

My Frustration

My frustration with this assessment of Tolkien's work is that, I think people conflate the term "allegory" with any deeper meaning in a work of fiction. 

I will concede that Tolkien very clearly stated that his work was not allegory, and that, depending on your definition of allegory, that could shape your perception of the work. I will NOT concede that there is only one definition of "allegory." 

While is seems that some people, like Bruner and Ware, believe allegory means any sort of message that is deeper than the bald face of the adventure itself, there are definitely definitions of "allegory" that mean different things. The best take I've ever encountered on this subject is that there is such a thing as a formal allegory, where specific characters are supposed to have exact counterparts in a moral message (for example, in Medieval plays, there was a character named "Everyman" who was meant to represent, literally, every single human working out his or her salvation on earth), and there's no way that Tolkien could have meant his work to be this formal allegory. I'm not sure who stated this idea, but it may have been Joseph Pearce.

So, problem solved. There can be deeper meanings in LOTR because allegory can have differing definitions. This is not the end of my reflection, though. I'd like to take the lines quoted above and dig a little deeper into why it's problematic.

A Problematic Line of Thinking

I've complained to several people recently that I'm tired of Catholics referencing Tolkien's essay "On Fairy Stories" as one of the end-all-be-alls in exploring creativity as a gift from God, but here I am, about to reference that exact work. I should have known this would happen, and you shall now call me "The Pot" for having called the kettle black and doing that which I have criticized.

Tolkien talked about fairy tales, or "fairy stories," as he calls them, having elements that reflect Gospel truths, not least of which is the "eucatastrophe," or the unexpected happy turn of events when things looks least likely to end well, which is a sort of representation of what happened with the Resurrection. When it looked like all hope was lost for man's salvation, for God had been killed, He rose from the dead and defeated the final enemy. Tolkien certainly makes use of the "eucatastrophe" in LOTR, and it will probably be one of the finest examples of such a device in literature, no matter how many Catholic fantasy authors pay homage to it or try to recreate it in their own works.

I have spent time outlining all this information about eucatastrophes because it directly contradicts the idea stated by Bruner/Ware that "Tolkien was telling a story, not proclaiming a message." If the eucatastrophe of Gollum biting the finger from Frodo's hand and resulting accidental destruction of the Ring is not, in essence, a proclamation of the tale of the destruction of sin and death and the salvation of the world through Jesus' death and resurrection, then I don't know what proclaiming a message would look like. The sharing of this story is evangelization, in its own subtle way. It doesn't contain the entirety of catechesis, but it sure sums up some of the essential points of Christian faith.

Even if I'm completely wrong, I find it hard to believe that people who definitely don't believe there's deeper meaning to LOTR would take the time to write a book full of reflections on said non-deep-meaning work to help readers encounter God. The Christian ideas they draw from LOTR are not there in spite of Tolkien's attempts to keep the story surface level. Rather, they are there because Tolkien is a masterful writer who wove in so many of the things he had to say about sin, suffering, death, life, and redemption in the light of revealed Truth.

September 2023 Book Bracket

September Book Bracket

I was surprised and quite pleased at just how many books I read or completed this month, especially considering that school was in full swing and half the books were physical texts.

 

Frodo's Journey, by Joseph Pearce

This work of literary criticism explores the themes found beneath the surface in Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings.

Why I picked it up: This book was for my brother; it came in late, so I figured, what's another week or two? I want to read this. 

My impressions: This book is more like a collection of essays than an actual analysis of Frodo's journey from Hobbiton to the Cracks of Doom. The essays are good for taking a look at what is going on allegorically (yes, I mean that), even going into what kind of allegory Tolkien was working with. The beginning was quite strong, and Pearce does a fine job of pointing out connections between the story and different aspects of the Catholic faith. However. This is a book by Joseph Pearce. That means that there's going to be a lot of connecting of dots that maybe have no connection at all, and making claims based on circumstantial evidence or pretty close meanings of names in different languages or even the sound of certain syllables or letters used in certain names. That aspect of his writing bothers me - but the overall themes that he points out are pretty solid. All in all, this book is good for the Catholic fan of LOTR if they are able to swallow the extra, unsubstantiated content that Pearce includes.

The Lord of the Rings, by J. R. R. Tolkien**

The epic trilogy following Frodo and his company as they attempt to save the world from the evil Sauron by destroying a powerful ring.

Why I picked it up: My book-club-of-two gal pal agreed to make this the next book we'd read...which made sense, since our last two books were the previous two in this trilogy.

My impressions: This series is beautiful. the careful writing immerses one in the world, but the story is the real draw. It hits all the right notes, speaks timeless truths, and keeps me coming back for more. Everyone should at least try reading this book once in their life.

The Mindful Catholic, by Gregory Bottaro

A Catholic psychiatrist explains mindfulness and makes a case for why Catholics should practice it.

Why I picked it up: Someone offered to get it for me because the author was coming to speak at my alma mater.

My impressions: Unfortunately, I can't give a clear account of my thoughts on the book alone because the experience was influenced both by the talk given by the author as well as a word of warning from my spiritual director - apparently, this book is raved about by some, but frowned upon by others because it could be dangerous to those who are not well catechized. In any case, I found the explanations of what physiologically goes on in the body during stress responses to be very good, as well as descriptions of mindfulness exercises and what mindfulness is...mostly. What wasn't so great was that the book felt like it said it wasn't just another self-help book, when in reality, I think it kind of is. I tried some of the exercises, and I don't know if they were really that helpful or not - I probably should try it more consistently before I reach that conclusion...if I can be convinced that it is, in fact, okay for Catholics to practice it. I'm not convinced there's a hard-and-fast answer (see https://www.catholic.com/qa/mindfulness-meditation-and-the-church for more information). I certainly disagreed with some of the author's views in his talk, which he may have gone into in greater depth in one of the appendices, but I decided not to read that section. I don't recommend this book to others - there's enough gray area to make this a book I'm not comfortable telling other people they might want to read it. In its place, I'd heartily recommend Fr. Jacques Phillipe's Searching For and Maintaining Peace - which I'm rereading right now myself.

The Vanderbeekers of 141st Street, by Karina Yan Glaser**

The five Vanderbeeker children dedicate themselves to convincing their landlord to like them and renew his lease of the brownstone to their family.

Why I picked it up: I deferred my hold through the library for this audiobooks at least three times before I decided I just needed to make time for it when it became available to me again.

My impressions: This was a pretty great book, minus three things. The first is the opening scene, where the parents are breaking the news to their children that they have to move, and the kids assume they're about to learn their parents are getting divorced. This doesn't end up being the case, but it felt almost as if the exchange is maybe supposed to be a little funny? Or to show that the worst possible scenario isn't happening? In any case, it struck me as very sad and not the right note for the start of a book that really ends up being pretty great in most ways. The second thing is the use of "fudge" as a replacement word for a certain term, and the third is a seemingly underlying condolence of vengeful thinking or seeking vengeful retribution, with one instance of a child imagining she's stabbing someone's eyes as she uses toothpicks in a science project. Other than these three things, the book is very enjoyable. The kids are all well-developed in their personalities, and we come to love their home and neighbors almost as much as they do. It was cool to have a story set in a very urban city, in a very urban home - having a multi-family brownstone residence is quite a different setting than most books of this type that I've read, where the story takes place in a single-family home There is some obsessing over middle school dances and miscommunication between the older girls, and a boy of interest to one of them, but the book doesn't focus on middle school romance. One girl gets very upset with a sibling, and I don't agree to her shunning of the erring sibling until they reconciled - I think the parents should have stepped in and facilitated that more quickly, but I don't really know anything about parenting. This might be a great book for reading aloud as a family, especially around the Christmas holiday.

The Reluctant Dragon, by Kenneth Grahame**

When the villagers call in St. George to battle a dragon that has moved into the area, a shepherd's son must negotiate peace by means of a fake battle to save his friend, the dragon, who has no interest in anything but quiet living.

Why I picked it up: This book has been on my to-read list for ages and I kept seeing recommendations for it in different places. I was tickled to find out this short story is actually in the public domain, so I listened to it via Librivox.

My impressions: To be entirely honest, I don't get the appeal of this story. I think it's one of those stories that is delightful if you encounter it as a kid, but it didn't do much of anything for me. The characters were likeable or silly enough, depending on who they were, and there was a plot, but neither was exciting enough to draw any real investment from me. It was nice to check it off my list, but it's not one that I'm going to be telling anyone they need to read. I think the only concerns anyone could have about the story is that St. George is depicted as using some unidentified choice words with his horse, and the dragon is depicted as a good guy. Michael D. O'Brien would probably not approve of the taming of the dragon image, but I don't think there's anything actually problematic with this story. It should be fine for any readers wanting to pick it up.

Consoling the Heart of Jesus, by Fr. Michael Gaitley, MIC

This book contains a do-it-yourself Ignatian-style retreat on how we can learn to love and console Jesus' Sacred Heart.

Why I picked it up: I read another book by Fr. Gaitley earlier this year, You Did It To Me, and at some point I decided I needed to read this book for spiritual reading.

My impressions: Well, it was a Fr. Gaitley book! So there were some parts I didn't love, like the ultra down-to-earth, conversational writing style and some of those acronyms to help aid memory. However, there were also some great stories and takeaways. The main ideas I wanted to remember were jotted down in my prayer journal so I can come back to it later. It was a great refresher on being reminded of my need to trust in Jesus, and it taught me a lot. Some of the Ignatian-inspired meditations were great for imagining and praying through. This is a book where, if you actually want to get something out of it, does need to be treated as a retreat resource or meditation material. You have to try to meditate at some points if you hope try to gain something by reading it at all. I read only the first half of the book because that was the actual book part - the rest of it was appendices. This could be a good read for the people who would benefit from the topic (mercy, consoling Jesus) or enjoy Fr. Gaitley's books. It could be good for high schoolers as well as adults.

Bracket Play

The first round winners had an easy time of it. Fr. Michael Gaitley's work on consoling Jesus' heart definitely outstripped the psychological work on why Catholics should use mindful practices; the fictional work about a family about to be ousted from their home definitely had more heart and interest than the disappointing The Reluctant Dragon; and the original work The Lord of the Rings (which I said earlier would be judged as a whole work in just one month, instead of each of the three books being judged separately in individual months) blew Joseph Pearce's insights on that same work out of the water.

Bene. Tolkien's work, effectively, had a bye since there were six works, rather than the 8 that would have made a balanced bracket. Fr. Gaitley's book had some moments of real impact for me, so I had it winning over the Vanderbeekers book. However, the overtly theological book lost to The Lord of the Rings pretty easily. My only qualm was that a fictional book took the prize over a theological work, but the fantasy is definitely worthy of the prize. It's an incredible work that can reach so many more people than a theological book, which would likely be most appealing to those who are already Catholic. Everyone should at least try out The Lord of the Rings as a read sometime in their life, even if they don't like or finish it.

Books Attempted and Put Down

Gaudy Night, by Dorothy L. Sayers

Harriet Vane decides to return to her alma mater for the British equivalent of homecoming week, only to discover there's a mystery to be solved.

Why I picked it up: I've heard this book recommended for ages from different people; I heard a synopsis that made it sound pretty interesting; Dorothy Sayers is the focus of this year's local Inklings Festival.

Why I put it down: The tone was getting me down. The book was over 500 pages long, and I was in a state that I didn't want to keep pushing my luck. Besides, I was assigned Ben Hur to read, and I figure just one 500+ page book is plenty to attempt at any time. I could see myself coming back and maybe trying it again someday (once I've become that tough-minded reader I keep imagining I'll mature into), especially since I don't think I really gave it a true chance, but it's definitely not the book I need in my life right now.

Litrerary Crit Comparison

 Literary Criticism: The Narnia Code Versus Frodo's Journey

I came to a conclusion recently. Not all literary criticism works the same way.

In the space of a month, I had the joy of reading some literary criticism on works by some of my favorite authors. One was a reader-friendly version of a dissertation on C. S. Lewis' The Chronicles of Narnia series, and the other a collection of essays addressing themes in The Lord of the Rings by J. R. R. Tolkien. Although I love the works of both authors deeply, I found that reading the commentaries about their works was a completely different experience. It wasn't different because the subjects were different. My experience as a reader was so varied because of the style the commentators took. 

Style?

What do I mean by "style"? I think there are several different things I mean by it in this case. Writing style, overall structure, and presentation of evidence are perhaps three different things I mean by this one word. I'll break it down a bit.

Writing Style

Really, this is probably the least dissimilar of the three elements I'm looking at today. There is a too-heady, dense way of writing, and an easy-to-read way of writing. Michael Ward, in his Planet Narnia, was very much guilty of the too-academic language that made me abandon the project of reading his original work. Joseph Pearce, in Frodo's Journey, has a pretty readable prose, although I found his belaboring of alliteration and even some wordplay distracting at times, or even annoying. Ward's prose was much better in The Narnia Code - which was excellent - but I found the personal stories of how he developed his theory a little out of place. I think I perhaps prefer a bit more of the style where the commentator just sits down with the work and talks about it, not bringing much of himself into the review, at least directly.  Pearce plays with that line a little bit when he makes claims that such-and-such an element obviously refers to this, or can't help but remind one of that, but I appreciate that he leaves out the personal stories of how he came to his ideas.

Overall Structure

There is a time and a place for short essays that are somewhat linked together, but I think that structure is best employed when lots of authors are talking about various facets of the same story. I don't think it served Pearce well in Frodo's Journey, as it left me wondering why it bore that title when the personal journey that Frodo makes is mentioned so little throughout the work.  think Pearce did a bit of a better job in Bilbo's Journey, but I read that ages ago and can't be sure that most of the work truly was focused on Bilbo and his development as a character.

Ward's organization worked much better in The Narnia Code; he  gave background information, stated his claim, and then proceeded to systematically walk through how his ideas could be interpreted as playing out in Lewis' series. I'd argue that there were still some flaws with structure, but it made sense to me as a reader and helped get me interested in hearing what he had to say next.

Presentation of Evidence

Both Pearce and Ward had trouble substantiating claims. They used circumstantial evidence and speak from a place of authority that one could contend they may or may not truly hold. There was a slight difference in how they made their claims, though. Ward carefully laid the groundwork for establishing why we can probably assume things - it's not the strongest or best claim, but he tries. Pearce, on the other hand, has no problem with stating things are self-evident that are not necessarily so for the reader. I think I appreciate a more - shall we say - humble attempt at literary criticism. But, how far can we trust that, seeing as it is an absolute amateur making her critique of two published authors who are well-known in the world of Inklings scholarship?

Overall Effect

I'm going to end my rambling, not-well-organized brief critique with a thought on the overall effect the two works of literary criticism had on me. Ward left me wanting to reread the original series sometime, but with his book handy for me to reference. Pearce left me kind of glad I was done with his work; it's not fair to say if it would have had me wanting to reread the original series, though, because I am in the midst of finishing up listening to an audiobook version as I write out these thoughts. 

I often enjoy reading literary criticism, but I want what I read to point me back to the original work as well as keep me coming back to itself to get those ideas again.

August 2023 Book Bracket

This month started brings us a majority of audiobooks, but a respectable showing for a month in which work starts back up.

Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, by Grace Lin**

Minli, a daughter of poor farmers, is inspired by her father's stories and sets off to ask the Man of the Moon to change their fortune.

Why I picked it up: This one made it onto my to-read list and I thought I might listen to it while I was on my honeymoon.

My impressions: This is an award-winning book, and I can see why. The story is interwoven with many tales that, in the end, almost all connect with each other. Every tale has something to do with the action and provides a rich background against which the main storyline takes place. The writing was absolutely beautiful in some sections, with one part - about sleeves, of all things - really touching me. Intriguing characters traveled through a fairytale landscape, with a satisfying ending to boot. There are some (religious?) practices mentioned in the book that wouldn't line up with Christian religion - such as trying to learn what one's fortune is - but good and evil are otherwise easy to detect. I think this book would be appreciated by most mid- or upper-elementary students, especially if they are alright with a story that doesn't have to be supper fast-paced from the start. 

Northwind, by Gary Paulsen**

The Viking orphan Leif survives plague and travels north in his canoe, learning to survive the wild bays and even, at times, the open ocean.

Why I picked it up: I was in need of an audiobook while I scrubbed at what I discovered was a filthy kitchen floor.

My impressions: This fictional account has an interesting layer of culture or lore, but it fails to rise beyond the mere basics of a youth surviving in the hostile wild on his own. While it deals with themes of leaving behind a testament, being part of a community, and honoring those who have been good to us, its lack of plot keeps it from being a truly great book. I found some parts of it very realistic and wonder-inducing - such as navigating a deadly whale feeding ground and traveling up the learning curve on how to deal with bears. The Scandinavian setting and plague origins adds some fun (and, at times, depressing) flavor to the story. I did fast forward through some of the sadder portions, but most of it was fine to read. I think this book would be fine for most middle school readers - and probably some younger readers who could handle some of the stickier content. I don't remember if it had much in the way of non-Christian religious practices.

The Golden Goblet, by Eloise Jarris McGraw**

Ranofer, an orphan in Thebes, struggles to figure out how he can still pursue his dreams of becoming a goldsmith as he tries to elude the beatings of his abusive half-brother.

Why I picked it up: The kitchen floor needed more cleaning and I wasn't into my usual podcasts.

My impressions: This was a pretty good book. It had some darker elements in it - specifically, a physically abusive parental figure who, in this book, was a much older half-brother. As difficult as this content might be for any child to read, it added reality to the motivation of characters and helped flesh out Ranofer's character - his day-dreaminess, his painful longing to pursue a craft he loves, his moral shortcomings and his failure to trust his friends at times. It was so interesting to learn about Thebes and its Egyptian culture - at least, so far as I knew, it sounded like it had the ring of veracity. The story had an immersive quality - we get to dive deeply into Ranofer's personal life, as well as the culture that shapes his experiences. I think this would be a good book for upper middle school readers who could handle some of the trickier elements listed above. There is some explanation of religious practices, especially regarding the treatment of the dead and mention of offerings to priests, but I think it's pretty clear that these are the practices of a very different religion than what Catholics and Christians practice.

The Narnia Code, by Michael Ward

This reader-friendly version of a dissertation explains one scholar's popular but unproven theory that C. S. Lewis based each of his Chronicles of Narnia books on the qualities of the celestial bodies, as they were understood in Medieval times.

Why I picked it up: I was intrigued by the premise of Planet Narnia, Michael Ward's dissertation, but was bored and frustrated by the dense, challenging academic language. I decided it was worthwhile to pay $3 for an interlibrary loan so I could read the layman's language version.

My impressions: Yes, this book was worth reading and it makes me want to flip through the larger work it's based on to see if there are more connections Ward makes between Lewis' books and the planets. Ward seems very convinced of his own theory - and it has me thinking that I wouldn't be surprised if he hit on the key - but it doesn't mean he's found the definitive explanation. I did a very little bit of  online research, but it seems that there's not a real way to prove Ward's interpretation is the correct one, short of finding an undiscovered disclosure that Lewis had made to someone that this is what he'd done with his work. This book was a pretty quick read and one that I wouldn't mind owning myself sometime, especially since I think it'd be a cool activity to read the applicable chapter and then reread the original work. I felt like the really interesting chapters were sort of trapped behind the paywall of the first two or three explanatory chapters, but overall, it was a good read (even though I had to skip through some of the chapter on The Last Battle, which I still find rather depressing). I think this would be a great book for any high-school-aged or older fan of The Chronicles of Narnia to read at some point. I bet that even younger readers could appreciate at least parts of this book, too.

The Two Towers, by J. R. R. Tolkien**

The members of the Fellowship face adventures separately in war-threatened Rohan and in the wilds leading to Mordor.

Why I picked it up: My galpal in our reading club of two finished the book and I needed to get it done!

My impressions: Tolkien is a brilliant writer. I love the story. I can't say enough, so I'll say just a little here. I very much enjoyed listening to the audiobook version, narrated by Rob Inglis. I think just about everyone should read this, even though I know it's not everyone's cup of tea.

Bracket Play

The main note that I'd like to make is that I removed The Two Towers from competition. I think I said earlier that I'd have the books of The Lord of the Rings trilogy compete as a single entity when I had finished all three - and besides, I don't think it's fair to make the other books compete with it. It would have been the winner, without question.

So, for the bracket play amongst the more evenly matched works, we had all the rounds decided easily enough. I liked Where the Mountain Meets the Moon better than the survival tale Northwind. It would have been a close enough battle if Lin's book had to face The Golden Goblet, but that wasn't the case - McGraw's tale lost easily to The Narnia Code, which ended up winning the championship against Where the Mountain Meets the Moon. In spite of the lack of decisive evidence to back the author's case, I loved reading The Narnia Code and found it exciting to read. I learned a lot from it and it makes me want to reread the original Chronicles of Narnia series with Ward's book near at hand.

Even though I listened to three books that were not as high on my to-read list this month, at least two were somewhere on the list. I had been meaning to get to The Narnia Code after Planet Narnia proved to be a disappointing reading effort, so I'm overall pretty at peace with what I read in August.

 July 2023 Book Bracket

I was surprised by how many books I read or listened to this month, considering that I was on my honeymoon for almost two weeks.

The Prayers of Jane Austen, by Jane Austen; Introduction and Commentary by Terry Glaspey

Jane Austen, famous Regency era novelist, composed three long-form prayers that have been preserved.

Why I picked it up: I needed to read a book that was less than 150 pages for the adult summer reading program. This was also on my shelf of books that I wanted to get to sooner rather than later, and it was a wedding gift from one of my best friends.

My impressions: The prayers were beautifully written, and would be worth being read by anyone. This book was not what I expected. I knew it was short, but I didn't realize until I was reading the introduction that it had only three prayers in it. Every other pages had a page-sized illustration, and the font of the prayers was big, so a fast reader who wasn't taking time to reflect would have this book finished in no time. This is a book where I appreciated both the introduction and the commentary, although I felt they were interchangeable and might as well been combined and placed at the beginning. I'm not sure where the illustration came from, but I thought some of them might be public domain line illustrations used in older editions of Austen's novels. In any case, I really loved the illustrations because they placed my imagination so firmly in Austen's time. It reminded me that it was a woman of a particular time who wrote these prayers. And yet, I feel that these prayers are universal ones. The language used is high and formal and not what many people today would use, but the needs and meditations and praise expressed are all elements that I think would resonate with any Christian of any age. This is a fine little book, and likely to be enjoyed most of all by Jane Austen fans of any age. But any Christian would likely find something in it to ponder.

100 Things to do in Wichita Before You Die, by Vanessa Whiteside

A Wichita, KS resident recommends 100 things to do in the city.

Why I picked it up: The only reason I'd ever feel the need to pick up this book would be because I needed to read a book for the adult summer reading program and I wanted something easy and fast.

My impressions: I think this book is good for anyone looking for something to do in the city of Wichita, KS. If you're not looking for something to do, though, or already know the city well, I'm not sure that this is the book for you. This book is indeed a pretty quick read, with each recommendation taking up only a page (or, in some cases, two) and containing a larger-than-usual font. There are a few restaurants listed that sound interesting to me, but other than that, I'm not really taking note of anything that I feel like I need to do. A few recommendations are already dated because the business listed has gone out of business - and the book was copyrighted just last year. So, I can't say that I'd recommend this book to anyone except someone who needs to know what to do during their week vacation in Wichita.

Egg and Spoon by Gregory Maguire**

Fairy tale and history collide when Russian peasant Elena sets out to save her brother from conscription in the czar's army and finds the world is far more full of magic and wonder than she ever imagined.

Why I picked it up: This book was a duplicate on my list of "to read" books and, rather than use an Audible credit on it, I learned I could pick it up as an audiobook on disc from my local library.

My impressions: My main takeaway was how impressed I was that I could enjoy most of a story that was about depressing poverty and loss. Some of the writing was just lovely, and it was wonderful to see how well the author worked magical fairy tale elements into a story that started out as solidly falling within the late 19th or early 20th centuries. I didn't love all of it, though. It took a long time to get used to one personality-packed character from Russian folklore, and I can't say that I ever came to love this character (I'll leave out details to avoid spoilers). It seemed to take a while for things to really start happening in the story, but that may be an impression influenced by my inability to listen to this audiobook on 1.5x or 2x speed. There was a magic-wielding character I didn't find too concerning, although I didn't love that a monk seemed more interested with scientific or philosophical knowledge than with God, of whom there is almost no mention in this book. There were external and internal problems that were resolved, and most (but not all) of the threads were tied up in a slightly sad but mostly hopeful and very satisfying ending. I think this could be an enjoyable work of fiction for maybe some upper elementary or high school students, as well as adults. It may not be everyone's cup of tea, however - I think this one depends very much on personal interests and taste.

Between the Forest and the Hills**, by Ann Lawrence

The fading Roman town of Iscium, in Britain, prepares for war after the young Falx saves a British girl from the wilderness.

Why I picked it up: I needed to use up one more Audible credit before my membership ended and I wanted to pick a book that I didn't have access to at the library but was on my to-read list.

My impressions: This book reminded me strongly of Rosemary Sutcliff's Roman-Britain books, especially The Eagle of the Ninth. This book did not have as strong of a plot, but still enough danger looming in the unknown to maintain my interest. There was a strange character that didn't quite fit in with the historical fiction genre the book mostly falls under, but wasn't enough to make the book what I'd call a fantasy. It led to some anachronisms that left me uncertain of how well I really liked the story. I enjoyed the distinctness of many characters, as well as how the author revealed their motivations and growth to the readers, but a few of them ran together for me. The children helped create the best parts of the story. I liked the treatment of miracles in this largely Christian Roman society, but not the treatment of angels. Mid-elementary readers will probably enjoy reading this book, as well as older readers who have an interest in stories about this era in Britain's history.

The Seashell on the Mountaintop: A Story of Science, Sainthood, and the Humble Genius Who Discovered a New History of the Earth, by Alan Cutler

This nonfiction book gives the story of Nicolaus Steno, an adept doctor-cum-scientist who set the groundwork for what would later become the field of geology.

Why I picked it up: This book had made it onto my to-read list thanks to a course I audited a few years back. I'd received it as a gift for my birthday and felt in the mood for some nonfiction reading that wasn't too dense.

My impressions: This was just the sort of lighter-but-still-containing-substance nonfiction work that I had been craving. The author, a geologist, did good research and helped me make sense of the philosophies popular in Steno's time, the religious disputes of his world, the stage scientific research was at, and the cultural milieu of the time. Steno was an interesting and obviously brilliant man, achieving mastery in anatomy and easily switching to studying the earth and making great progress there. He gave it all up sometime after he converted and became a priest. It was hard to read about his lack of success in evangelizing as a bishop; it is one of those cases where a devout person might lionize Steno's holiness, but Cutler is an impartial observer...or perhaps Steno is deemed unsuccessful by human standards, but saintly in what matters to God. It was helpful to read the afterward, in which the author explained his resources, the gaps in his knowledge, and Steno's canonization process which has led him to be beatified (termed a "Blessed") by the Catholic Church. I enjoyed reading the book - while it didn't have the most gripping content in the world, I did find it interesting and I couldn't really think of any particular parts that dragged for me. I would recommend this book to anyone looking for the sort of nonfiction that one might find on a display table at Barnes & Noble, especially if they're interested in science or in getting a perspective on what the intellectual life was like in Europe in the aftermath of the Protestant Reformation. High schoolers might appreciate this, but I think those in college and/or adults would likely find more to appreciate.

The Ordinary Princess, by M. M. Kaye

Princess Amy is gifted with ordinariness by a fairy at her christening, which eventually leads to her abandoning a sumptuous castle life and making her way as a kitchen maid in a neighboring kingdom.

Why I picked it up: A few months ago, my husband agreed to let me read him this book, which he bought me for our first Christmas as a couple and is a favorite of mine.

My impressions: I read this book to him and it is a fun one for reading out loud. A short book, with some funny characters and illustrations sprinkled throughout, this is actually probably the ideal read-aloud. We talked about it as we read it, and I found in this read-through that I appreciated that Kaye will sometimes stand fairytale conventions on there heads, but the fracturing of tropes isn't the point of the story - the story is the point of the story. Kaye is subtle enough to make the twists on convention charming instead of jarring or mere "how would the story play out if I changed [x]?" This is a brand new story - not a retelling of a different one. As always, I enjoyed reading this book, and it was fun to hear my husband's reactions. "I loved it. I thought it was awesome." - My husband. He was close to calling one element of the story, but enjoyed learning that he didn't quite nail it on the head. I think many readers would appreciate this one.

The Knights' Tales, by Gerald Morris**

The careers of four of King Arthur's knights are reimagined and retold for younger readers (or, in my case, listeners).

Why I picked it up: I think this one made it onto my to-read list at some point and I discovered it was an audiobook in my local public library system when I went through my list to see which library carried it.

My impressions: I haven't been the biggest fan of King Arthur tales (it's always preemptively sad knowing how things end for Arthur), but this was a pleasant romp through a fictional England. I found that all four knights - including Sir Lancelot - were virtuous fellows who had interesting adventures. I will note that one knight engaged in deception to defeat a specific enemy, but good always wins over evil. At least one tale - Sir Gawain and the Green Knight - was based on a traditional tale, but so changed that it was kind of like a new story. The audiobook was well done and helped the world come to life. I think children would appreciate this work, but I found it pleasant too. 

The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle, by Avi

The solitary girl passenger on board a ship in the 1800s must navigate lies, mutiny, and loyalties on her way home to her family.

Why I picked it up: Eh, it was the one sitting on the shelf that seemed interesting at the moment. I bought it at a local $1 bookstore because I think it was on my list of books to read.

My impressions: This book was a Newbery honor recipient the year it was written, but not the overall winner. I'm glad it didn't win, and - SPOILERS AHEAD - I'll explain why.

It took a bit for me to get invested since the building of anticipation was a bit formulaic rather than effective at the beginning (multiple people warning Charlotte to stay off the ship, sailors refusing to go towards this particular ship, etc.), but I did find myself reaching for this book and wondering what would happen next, especially in the last 20%. Avi did a fine job of building distinctive characters, building up an understanding of some motivations, and adding some nice twists, but the individuality of the characters wasn't enough to overcome the discomfort I felt at their decisions. The main baddy was shown to be manipulative and cruel, but everyone else proved to be deceitful in their own ways. No one was truly noble. Specifically, almost all the ship's crew swore upon a Bible during the trial and refused to say everything (spoke truly, but withheld information with the intention of attaining a certain purpose), and all participated in covering up voyage information (attempted mutiny) that could have landed them all in legal trouble. However, the worst part was the ending (big spoilers here). It really bothered me that Charlotte ran away from home. Regarding her character and the story's development, it made sense why she did: she returned home to a stuffy life and a family that showed it cared more about propriety than about loving her. However, I hated that the message of this book is, apparently, that when you have an adventure that puts you at odds with your parents and makes ordinary life seem boring, then running away to the sea is the answer. It just kind of hurt that the conclusion of the story is the destruction of the family bond in favor of...well...a crew of criminals to some degree or other who are all men. She's thirteen. This book was written for kids - I'm guessing mid-elementary to middle school - but I wouldn't recommend it based on my concerns listed above, as well as the use of the word d--n in a few places, if that's the sort of thing you're worried about. At the price of $1, it's not a book I'll feel bad about sending on to Goodwill. The Dark Frigate is a much finer book, and relatively comparable in setting and adventure style, so go read that one instead.

Bracket Play

The first round for the bracket this month went easily enough, with weaker fiction and nonfiction titles being paired with the stronger ones - although I could have seen The Knights' Tales making it to the second round under different circumstances. The Ordinary Princess was a bit of a pickle this month - I love it, but I've read it before multiple times and it may have won before. I felt like I owed this book a win to the finals, but would've felt a bit bad about having it win yet again. Egg and Spoon was a strong contender with lots of great qualities, but not one that I can see myself coming back to over and over again, like Kaye's book. So, Ordinary Princess rightfully won over Egg and Spoon, but I had to give the overall win to The Seashell on the Mountaintop. It was a little rough having to choose this one over Prayers of Jane Austen, which I reviewed quite highly this month, but, if only for the sake of variety, I do like to see a nonfiction do well in a bracket once in a while. It was a very good book and provided great insight into the ideas shaping the world at a particular time and place in history.

Books Picked Up and Put Down

Planet Narnia by Michael Ward

An academic outlines why he thinks the Medieval conception of the heavens is the unifying theme of C. S. Lewis' Narniad.

Why I picked it up: I'd put this one down in the spring of last year because it was too academic. When I saw it sitting on my sister's shelf, I decided it was time to dedicate some time to it this summer.

Why I put it down: The perfectionist part of me really really really wanted to get this book in. But it's just too academic. As much as I want to say I read the whole academic treatise on the planets and their influence on Narnia, I just don't have the time or the will power to do this. I feel a bit better about putting this one down, though, because I fully intend to check out the kid-friendly The Narnia Code by the same author on the same subject. I comfort myself by reminding myself I read the academic work Tolkien's Modern Reading by Holly Ordway - you can definitely have academic prose that isn't dense as a jungle to get through.

Love and Responsibility, by Karol Wojtyla

Pope John Paul II lays down the theology and/or philosophy behind sexual love.

Why I picked it up: It was recommended to me and I found out I'd never actually sat down to read it, although I've often encountered the ideas from this book since high school.

Why I put it down: Honeymoon and the approach of school starting with so many other projects to complete helped me realize that I couldn't realistically finish this book right now. It was so dense that I had hardly made any progress on it.