December 2022 Book Bracket
Well, it looks like this is the month of audiobooks! I haven't had much time to sit down with physical books due to finishing the details on wedding planning, but audiobooks have helped me keep up with my "reading". I am looking forward to my end-of-the-year summary, but it's very possible that that won't be happening until after the wedding next month.
*It looks like it was well after the wedding before I was able to finish this post. But that means that I'm closer to doing my end-of-year book review!
The Dark Frigate, by Charles Boardman Hawes**
English orphan Philip Marsham runs away to the sea, but finds himself in a difficult situation after boarding a ship.
Why I picked it up: I wanted a children's book and this one had been on my list; it was a Newbery Medal-winning work from 1923, meaning that it was available for free in the public domain. The Librivox recording was narrated by one individual and was good quality.
My impressions: This was a great sea-going adventure and had me ready for similar tales when I finished. I thought it took a while for the main character to make it to the sea, where the real action begins, but his landbound adventures were interesting, too. It was cool to see Philip make poor choices from time to time and still really like him as a character; I sometimes dislike seeing important characters have failures of judgment. Even after the climax, the author went to the trouble of tying up loose ends from earlier in the narrative. There's some wistfulness in the story that doesn't always come through in children's literature, but it's well done in hinting at "what might have been". I think this is a great story, particularly for those children and adults who enjoy adventures. There are some difficult moments for making moral choices, but the hero sticks to trying to do the good. I can't remember, but it is possible that, with pirates playing a role in the story, there may have been some colorful language.
Joan of Arc, by Mark Twain(**)
This fictional narrative chronicles the life of Joan of Arc through the experience of a close companion.
Why I picked it up: This book had been on my to-read list for a long time and I finally decided I needed to read it. I read most of it by physical book, but finished it via Librivox audiobook.
My impressions: I hate to say this, but I didn't love the book. It was interesting and had some fantastic writing by Twain - very unlike in subject to his other works - but I never reached a point in the book when I was just eating it up. I think, perhaps, that Twain treated Joan with too much hero-worship; she seemed distant to me. Sweet, innocent, with a will as hard as iron and a beautiful devotion to God, but Joan didn't seem relatable to me. I think that was my main issue with it; she was just too good. Isn't that silly of me? I imagine most saints are so close to God that, if I met one in person, I probably wouldn't feel like I could approach them - but in my life, I find the opposite is true for many saints - many are relatable and approachable and would be easy to talk to, I think. There are some great characters and I enjoyed seeing how a fictional narrative was built up around her story and helped flesh out what I imagine would have been bald historical facts. I think many people would enjoy this book or find it a worthy read, but I can't say that I'm planning to read this again.
I, Juan de Pareja, by Elizabeth Borton de Trevino**
Juan de Pareha, born a slave, serves a Spanish painting master and becomes an integral part of the family's life.
Why I picked it up: I looked at what audiobooks were available through the public library system's app and this one struck me as having good potential - Newbery Medal winner and under the "children's literature" (as opposed to just historical fiction or juvenile fiction) label.
My impressions: This was a great book. One got the feeling of what it could have been like to live in Spain during Medieval or Renaissance times, and what it would have been like to be a slave. THAT was an interesting and fresh take - one hardly, if ever, sees main characters of Renaissance tales who are slaves. I really appreciated that, while some Catholic characters are painted as very much less than perfect, there were several saintly characters mixed into the tale, too. This author did her research and seemed to have a good grasp even of what are necessary conditions for the sacrament of reconciliation to take place. The writing was beautiful, drawing on art and painting, as is proper. There was a gypsy character who was depicted as a non-virtuous person, so there was some concern about harmful stereotyping. This tale is based on historical persons, but as the author notes in the afterword, she took some liberties because of what is not known about the people described. This is a great book and I'd recommend it to just about any kid who was old enough to read at that level and was interested.
Good Masters! Sweet Ladies! Voices from a Medieval Village, by Laura Amy Schlitz**
Medieval life is explored through monologues and dialogues of young folks living in feudal England.
Why I picked it up: This was another audiobook of another Newbery Medal-winning book available through the public library system app; this one was on my to-read list.
My impressions: This short work provided great snapshots into characters. It had the feel of Medieval times, although some of the characters seemed a bit Chaucerian and a little too over-the-top to be quite real. I was a bit bummed by the number of characters who seemed to have no problem with some dishonest work or sleight-of-hand, but again, I reflect this is perhaps a Chaucerian way of looking at the world - not afraid of showing the darker side of humanity. I appreciated some of the historical footnote-ish interjections that explained some elements that might be less familiar to young readers, but the explanations felt slightly biased - again, maybe it was the focus on how terrible people (specifically Christians) could be that made me feel a little threatened. Items discussed in these explanations included the abuse of Jews (although the author noted at least one pope spoke against anti-Semitism and banned certain cruel practices, which I appreciated), the Crusades, and pilgrimages (seemed maybe a little skeptical about healings). But, the characters were so full of life and hopes and fears and feelings and motivations. This could be a really cool little work to read, but with the caveat that some historical details might be good to discuss with kids in more depth.
Kilmeny of the Orchard, by L. M. Montgomery**
Eric takes over teaching at a small school on Prince Edward Island and, after he falls hard for the sweet, retiring, mysteriously mute Kilmeny, must overcome several obstacles to win her.
Why I picked it: I needed another audiobook, and this one was available through the public library.
My impressions: This is a solid fluff read, and unusual for L. M. insofar as the main character is not a female...but that doesn't keep the story from being equally about Kilmeny. The characters are for the most part pretty flat, and the attitude toward one adopted character was downright racist, but other than that glaring flaw, the audiobook was mostly an easy listen-to. It was like listening to a simpler, more direct version of Anne of Green Gables or Emily of New Moon or probably many of L. M.'s tales. That's not to say whether it's better or worse, but at least for me, I appreciated that it was a one-novel tale that cut out pretty much anything unnecessary to the tale...although a few of L. M.'s trademark soaring descriptions of nature might have snuck in. I also had a bit of natural interest in the story once I found out Kilmeny was mute, but for inexplicable reasons. If you can ignore the racist bits about one character, appreciate L. M. Montgomery's works, and don't want anything with too much substance, this book is probably right for you.
Book Brackets
It was hard to see that every book I "read" this month was actually an audiobook. "Joan of Arc" was a partial exception insofar as I read the first half of the book in a physical copy before I decided it was getting too hard to scrounge minimal reading time out of my work lunches. I arranged the bracket so that "The Dark Frigate" and "Joan of Arc" would beat out their competitors; but I enjoyed all these books I finished this month. Twain's work also took the second round, but couldn't beat out "I, Juan de Pareja". This was a great book, beautifully written, and very balanced and sensitive regarding its portrayal of Catholicism - yes, there were troublesome characters, but also wonderful and holy and humble ones. It's a book that I am glad to have read and would recommend others read as well. Also, it has the bonus of not being quite as painfully sad as Joan's tale, I think.
Books Put Down
Two Years Before the Mast, by Richard Henry Dana, Jr.**
A sailor chronicles what ship life is like for the common sailor.
Why I picked it up: After "The Dark Frigate", I was ready for some more adventure on the high seas!
Why I put it down: Shortly after I started this audiobook, I realized it was very long and it would likely not have any plot. There are so many more books I want to read, so I figured it was okay for me to let this one pass and remove it from my "To Read" list.
When You Trap a Tiger, by Tae Keller**
This recent Newbery Medal-winner follows a meek girl, her mother, and her sister as they move in with their grandmother, who immigrated from Korea to the U.S.; and tigers from grandmother's tales start showing up in the area.
Why I picked it up: Newbery Medal winner; accessible audiobook through the public library; looked and sounded interesting.
Why I put it down: I didn't love the writing style, which struck me as being a little darker and gloomier - there wasn't joy and wonder. I wasn't enjoying it, so I looked up a synopsis and I'm glad I called it quits. It would have been a pretty good time investment to listen to the whole thing with a small chance of enjoying it later on in the story. I've run into this situation before - just because the book is an award-winner doesn't mean I'm going to love it.
Stargirl, by Jerry Spinelli**
A girl new to high school realizes that she will be happiest not by fitting in with the crowd, but by being herself.
Why I picked it up: I'd seen this book recommended on a list somewhere and had foggy memories of maybe liking "Maniac Magee" by the same author; I was in need of an audiobook and figured I'd give it a try.
Why I put it down: It was one of those stories I could tell I wasn't going to enjoy. I didn't like the tone, or the catty high school attitudes, or what seemed to me an unrealistic, school-wide, long-term obsession with an unusual student. I ended up reading the Wikipedia summary and I'm glad I stopped listening. It's a book with a message that some people probably need to encounter, but I don't need it in my life.
