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.

Reading Summer 2024

Changes to Next Summer's Plan

I went over the summer reading ideas with a friend tonight and had some great ideas for changes to make to next summer's reading challenge.

1) Fewer book-reading items: I think I had so many reading items in reaction to the library's lack of reading items. 

2) Instead of a bingo set up, have levels. So, if someone accomplishes 1 item, they're at the first level. If the complete 3, they're at the next level, etc. I'll have to think about this and see how to fine-tune it.

Changes to Activities and Set-Up

I realized that with over 10 book-reading options in my last post, there was little likelihood of anyone younger than 18 years old actually completing all 25 tasks.

Instead of a bingo set up, I think it would be worthwhile to have a tiered system. That way, we can still have a way of tracking who gets tickets (and how many), but people don't have to do all the super hard things to get a bingo.

Tier One:

1) Set a goal for yourself for this challenge

2) Read a book of the Bible and meditate on one passage

3) Besides the Bible, make a list of the 5 most influential books you've read and write a paragraph about why they impacted you

4) Check out a book from the library

5) Find a comfy spot and read for 30 minutes at the library

Tier Two:

6) Read one book that you've been meaning to read or was recommended to you

7) Watch a movie based on a book

8) Read a graphic novel or children's book

9) Visit a local bookstore

10) Listen to a podcast episode about a book, work of literature, or author

Tier 3: 

11) Attend a book discussion (or 15-minute bookish conversation)

12) Read or watch one of Shakespeare's plays

13) Read a chapter book less than 150 pages

14) Listen to an audiobook

15) Read an essay

Tier 4:

16) Read a book published in the last 18 months

17) Library scavenger hunt (to tour the library)

18) Read from a magazine or journal publication for 15 minutes

19) Reread a book

20) Read for 30 minutes inside a local coffee shop

Tier 5:

21) Memorize a poem that is at least 12 lines long

22) Read a book to someone else (can be a picture book)

23) Read a book-length auto/bio/hagiography

24) Make a recipe of a food from a story

25) Write down 10 quotes from the books/content that you read over the time of this challenge

I could see there being potential for alternatives; for example, we could just let people pick 5 things and for every 5 items they complete, they get a ticket. However, I don't love this idea because it could allow people to breeze through a few levels without really pushing themselves to read much at all! And that would make moot the idea of a summer reading challenge. 

There are still 10 book-reading activities, but I tried to make them manageable and provide options (3-6 of them could end up being very short books, indeed). I know that it probably is really overwhelming to look at this list and think about what it would take to do all 25, but I think it's important to have actual reading activities in a summer reading challenge. I would also say, in the spirit of keeping this a challenge, no double dipping (except, of course, in the case of reading things at places, etc...that makes sense).

I want people to read widely, but I also want people to read quality works. If a participant thinks they're going to be reading all books that just aren't good for them, that would be a discussion we can have...but it's also good to read outside our preferences. I think I'll work on having really good descriptions and/or resources and/or recommendations available.

It would be important to get the information out early so that people can plan, too. I could possibly see that, for people who wanted to try to get the whole challenge completed, maybe we say they can start reading ONE book early, maybe May 15th or so. The idea is to have three whole months (or in the case of over-achievers, 3.5 months) to attempt this challenge.

Six Month Reflection

Not long after I got married in January, I realized that I wanted to be more conscientious about what I chose to read. Now that I'm halfway through the year, I think it would be good to consider how I've been doing in the last four or five months since I determined to make some changes.

Summary

In my original post, I bemoaned the fact that I'd read or listened to a lot of fluff that I didn't love in 2022. I recognized a desire to read better quality books and decided that 50 books read in 2023 was my goal. Next, I listed books that had been listed on my to-read list multiple times, followed by books I knew I wanted to get to this year, and finished with books that were being read at the time or waiting patiently on the shelf.

So, How am I Doing?

Fluff

Let's start by look at the quality of books I'm reading. My gut feeling is that I'm doing better on reading better-quality or more desirable books overall. However, after looking at the monthly lineups, I noticed that January was a weak month, and February was a little "fluffier" than I'd like to see. I recognize that while June had some great reads, I've been getting into more fluff and less interesting reads because I'm participating in a summer reading program that isn't conducive to improving my reading game. January was the month before I'd created my resolution, though, so I'll give myself a pass there.

I've reached a point where I'm starting to wonder if I should consider more children's books "fluff" for my standards. There are a lot of interesting-sounding ones out there, but I think there are fewer that impact me like some of my more serious reads.

Book Count

It looks like I read or listened to 26 books during the first half of 2023. I am happy to see this number because it means that I'm already just over halfway to my reading goal. However, I know that August is usually a low-book month for me, and I've had an autumn slump develop the last few years. I've finished two books in July already, but with a long honeymoon coming up, I don't think I can bank on getting a lot of titles read before summer ends. I think my goal is achievable, but it's also possible that I will miss it. In any case, about 25 books in half a year is nothing to be upset with.

Titles on the Lists

I had listed 29 books or documents in my February post:

Of my targeted reads - which I guess I consider highest priority for the year - I've read one. The Betrothed was fantastic and I'm so glad I made it a priority to read this year. I hope to pick up Love and Responsibility from my alma mater after vacation, and I've been floating around the possibility of starting up Planet Narnia again. I'm not sure that I'll keep Three to Get Married as a priority because I think that some marriage books don't benefit me with where I am right now in life - yay for being a newlywed!

So, there's one. Of the multiples on my list that I've been wanting to tackle, I've read two and most of a third one. I'm having trouble finishing the audiobook Made for Love, but it was nice to get Shadows and Images and Egg and Spoon off the list.

That gets me up to four. Of the books sitting on my shelf or that were being read at the time of the original post, I've finished five. That gets me to nine total, which is about 30% of the books on the list. They also comprise about 32% of the total number of books I've read this year. I honestly don't think I'll get to too many more of the books on the list, but it's nice to have focus to what I'm reading. 

Conclusion

I'm not doing too bad. I like this system and have concluded I'm generally reading less fluff and more of the books I actually want to get around to reading. I'm looking forward to seeing how this more intentional method of picking books is going to play out during the rest of this year.

 June 2023 Book Bracket

Alright: summer has begun! And that means that it is time to get some quality reading time in! Especially since I'm not planning a wedding this summer! Woohoo! (And that is more than the quota of exclamation points for one post.)

Books Read

The Wild Robot, by Peter Brown**

A brand new robot stranded on an island in the Pacific Northwest must learn how to "survive" in the midst of wilderness and wild animals.

Why I picked it up: It has been on my "to read" list for a long time since a student at a previous job first talked about it and said I should read it. It also meets the criteria for the summer adult reading program for listening to an audiobook. 

My impressions: I didn't think this book was going to do too much for me. It looks like all the other flash-in-the-pan books that find their way through the Scholastic book fairs at elementary schools these days...a quick read, but not much substance or enduring power beyond the current fads of publishing.

I think I might be wrong.

The fact that it was a read-aloud in a classroom at a different school should have tipped me off, but that isn't always a good indicator of a book's quality.

I think this book might have the elements of becoming something of a beloved childhood favorite. It may not quite reach "classic" status, but there was a lot to recommend this book. First of all, it was a survival story. Second of all, it wasn't your typical survival story. It was an artificial-intelligence-endowed robot that has to adjust to a life in the wilderness when it was designed for work in a civilized setting. The robot has to learn, and the animals adjust to life and grow in their relationship with the robot. There is an exciting climax, and the ending doesn't resolve the problem - it sets up nicely for a sequel, which - happily - is already out as an audiobook and is reserved on the waiting list for me. Speaking of audiobooks - I listened to the audiobook version and really appreciated the good job the reader did. She had a range of voices, all of which worked. She had an excellent robot voice that wasn't boring or too monotonous. The audiobook started with music, which was a little too much for me, but that quickly faded out and I was able to appreciate the story. 

Back to the story itself: this is very clearly a book that has to be modern, as it is about an AI-endowed robot, but it still had a pretty timeless feel to it. It was an interesting twist to have the robot abandoned on a Pacific Northwest (I'm guessing) island instead of a desert island, and it helped make it feel familiar and yet foreign simultaneously. This story doesn't shy away from animals facing death, but it has a nice balance of happy, exciting, and sad moments. There were some points where I found the tone of narration was an issue: the author directly addresses the "listener" (or probably "reader" for the print version) several times to make a point or emphasize something being unusual and I thought that that was a poor choice. It reminded me that Tolkien regretted his tone in The Hobbit, reflecting that he spoke down to his readers when he did that. The author several times says that robots can't feel emotions in the same way that humans can, but that the robot felt something "like" gratitude, for example. I understand the reasoning behind this, but for the robot to be endearing to the reader, I think it has to basically feel emotions - otherwise, it's just a machine and it's hard to care about a machine that doesn't really care. I spent a lot of time on these two shortcomings, but they are really minor when considering the whole scope of the book's overall solid qualities.

I would recommend this book to students at this reading level - maybe third or fourth grade at the earliest (for advanced readers), but also still good for middle school readers. I think a good number of adults would appreciate this book, and that it would be a good read aloud for a family.

The Betrothed, by Alessandro Manzoni

A young couple, told on their wedding day that they can't wed yet due to the threats of a powerful noble, must endure many trials as a result of this interference and disasters of a larger scope.

Why I picked it up: This was a book I was determined to read this year! I tried last year, failed, and renewed my goal this summer.

My impressions: Think of this as an Italian version of something like The Count of Monte Cristo or A Tale of Two Cities or other Victorian novels of that sort. It's set in the 1600s and, as I learned from Google research, is very well-researched itself - to an annoying degree at times. In fact, it was the overlong explanation of historical documents quoted and treated in the first chapter that prevented me from making progress in my first attempt to read the book. I found out that, once past the first chapter, things improved...at times. There were still slow bits, but many gripping parts to help the story along. I cried, I cheered internally, I couldn't resist flipping ahead once or twice just to figure out what exactly happened in one or two instances. It was a great book even with its flaws. It's one of those books that had me telling my husband about it as I came to new passages that gave me cause to reflect - more thoughts on this book will be in a separate blog post. I've already recommended it to two people today (the day after I finished reading it), and I would recommend this book as a solid contender to take on other literary classics of its type. I read in an article that this could be a good book for a betrothed couple to read, but it is one that is definitely better for me now that I'm already married. There are some pretty heinous deeds committed by ruffians, as well as a character with an extremely checkered past (her story troubled me), so I don't know that I'd necessarily say any high schooler is ready for it; it's a book for a more mature reader. But it is excellent and I think it'd be great if more people read it.

Jack Zulu and the Waylander's Key, by S. D. Smith and J. C. Smith**

This fantasy adventure, part 80's Stranger Things and part The Magician's Nephew, follows some middle schoolers as they discover a portal to fantastic realms and beings, with the fate of the universe at stake to boot.

Why I picked it up: I've read the Green Ember series by this author; fell into Audible Prime for one month with two credits; and was curious about it.

My impressions: It's a pretty good children's fantasy story for it's type, but it is a take on a type, not its own thing. The characters were full of life, the story was engaging, and I got concerned about the choices the main character would make for a while, but I can't say this story has the originality I'd want. I understand wanting to write new stories with an old soul, but...the old soul books have tropes that are somewhat predictable. I don't know if I can give a fair assessment of the story since I found such strong echoes of Lewis' and Tolkien's fiction in it. I think some kids would love this book and some adults enjoy it, but others - myself included - may not be swept away by it. It's not a bad book, and I'm somewhat curious about what happens in the story next, but it's not one that I'm planning on rereading.

The Wild Robot Escapes, by Peter Brown**

The Wild Robot, Roz, is refurbished and sent to work on a farm, from which she attempts escaping back to the island where she originally lived in a community of wild animals.

Why I picked it up: I enjoyed the first auidobook so much that I put the second one on hold through the library. It came in sooner than I expected.

My impressions: This book was well written and stylistically in line with the original...but it just wasn't as good. This wasn't a survival story as much as it was an escape story. It had many of the characters we came to know and love in the first book, as well as many new ones, and a satisfying ending - it doesn't set up for a third book. It's kind of nice to have a story line start in one book and end in the next, especially in an age when everything seems to have to be at least a trilogy or a tetralogy or longer. I will say that I didn't find the climax quite as compelling as in the first book, but it was still good. I wasn't a big fan of how the father farmer is portrayed - it's another one of those books where the kids are more understanding or aware or intelligent in a certain way than the parent(s) and therefore go behind the parents' backs to accomplish something. It was also noteworthy that Roz lied during refurbishment to preserve herself and engaged in other deceptions to escape. Another interesting character employs a bit of deception late in the book as well. How "bad" these acts are is difficult to state...I suppose there are some ethical questions that will come up more frequently depending on how AI is applied, but I have my thoughts on the subject now (although I won't go into them in detail). The main character is well developed and so lovable for a robot. The author did a great job portraying a realistic look inside her decision-making skills as a programmed entity. It was a neat book and probably a good read for anyone who enjoyed the first book, so long as they're aware that there are a few things (noted earlier) that might be worth discussing.

Mandy, by Julie Andrews Edwards

Mandy, a spunky orphan, secretly refurbishes a quaint little cottage behind the orphanage's orchard wall and tries everything in her power to keep the place her own.

Why I picked it up: I remembered writing it on my "to read" list long ago. It came up recently somewhere in one of my Facebook groups, and when I found out my local library system carried it, I put it on hold.

My impressions: This book was both sweet and stomach-turning in spurts. It was lovely reading about how Mandy turned the dilapidated little cottage into a delightful quasi-residence by beating back the weeds, cleaning out the house, and planting flowers. It was painful to read about the measures she took to ensure it remained a secret: lying, stealing, sneakily borrowing items, and refusing to confide in anyone. It is an interesting painting of a person - one who is selfish and willing to do whatever it takes to have her way, but also a child who is hurting and lonely and longing for a home and family so strongly that her desire comes out sideways. The author does well to not really justify Mandy's actions, but sometimes implies how such a child comes to express herself in an unhealthy way. It ends as a story about an orphan should, so the ending hits nicely, as well. SPOILER HERE: It makes a smaller resolution post-illness-climax extremely important because it shows Mandy recognizing her selfishness and trying to not let it affect others when she has to return to the orphanage, which I thought was a good move - especially since there was quite a bit of story left. This book didn't have a strong plot, but it had more than those stories which just follow a season or year in the life of a child or group of children and the everyday adventures they have (sorry, E. Nesbit - not my style). It was a sort of in-between story. So, Mandy is a conflicted character. She's a heroine who makes lots of poor decisions, but I think it's pretty clear that the narrator isn't condoning those decisions when they are made, making this book one that I think would be appropriate for elementary-age readers. It has many sweet moments, so adults might appreciate the story, too. 

You Did It to Me, by Fr. Michael Gaitley

Father Michael explains the importance of the corporal and spiritual works of mercy and outlines in detail what specific things Catholics can do to perform those work of mercy.

Why I picked it up: I needed a book to read in the mornings after I meditated on the Mass readings for the day and I saw my husband had all the Fr. Gaitley books in his possession; I hadn't read this one yet.

My impressions: This book has brought the works of mercy more to the front of my mind. I can think of several situations in which I've tried to do an act of mercy because of this book, or consciously thought about making an act I already do an intentional work of mercy. Thinking of those examples reminded me to pray for the poor souls in Purgatory just now. In that way, this is a good book to read. It is straightforward, extremely practical, and conversational. I feel bad about saying this, but I tend to not appreciate Fr. Gaitley's more conversational style of prose. A small chunk of the last part of the book was dedicated to lengthy appendices that I chose not to read; the main content of the book was good for me. I think this is a good book for those who feel like they may be stagnating in their faith life a bit; as in, they're not necessarily falling away from God, but they're not doing anything particularly faith-nurturing from day to day. It's also a great book for those who need practical applications for what they read, as well as the details of how to make it happen.

Ragweed, by Avi

Young country mouse Ragweed catches a train ride to a city, Amperville, learns about city mouse life, and clashes with a cat duo that want the mice element rousted from their city.

Why I picked it up: I needed to read a librarian-recommended book for the adult summer reading program and I wanted an easy read.

My impressions: Yeah, I wasn't too impressed with this book. There were some annoyances - a weak plot that didn't draw my interest; the main character picking up city slang and saying "like" every five words; a strange half-developed love triangle in the last part of the story...but I think what really prevented me from liking the story was I didn't develop any emotional attachment to the tale. I didn't particularly like the characters, although they were all distinct and Avi sometimes walks the reader through characters' backstories and motivations. They were there, doing things, and the problem was solved because main mouse was just a bit more clever - or desperate - than the others. The one part of the story that I really liked was one in which a little girl researched mice for a school project and brought home books - some nonfiction, but several fiction, with Redwall being one of the fiction works! Redwaaaallllll! Although the story ends with Ragweed heading to the forest, and that sounds infinitely more interesting than city life, I'm not really that interested in trying to track down any sequels or related works. This book might be appreciated more by a younger reader, but I wouldn't recommend it as anything some has to read.

Relish: My Life in the Kitchen, by Lucy Knisley

A young cartoonist grew up in a family of food lovers and created a memoir of her life, as depicted through memories of food.

Why I picked it up: Summer reading program requirement and it was the best recommendation I had from a Facebook book suggestion post. 

(Seeking a recommendation was actually a very funny experience. I went to a FB group that usually has amazing book suggestions, especially in children's literature, which I love. 

This is part of what I posted:

"Any recommendations on an enjoyable, not-too-demanding graphic novel? I enjoy a bunch of British authors (CSL, Tolkien, Austen, etc) and definitely like children’s books, too!"

This is some of what was recommended:

4 books about World War II or those who survived it

1 book about the Great Depression

1 book about growing up in a refugee camp

1 book about if a famous superhero had been raised in the U.S.S.R. instead of the U.S.

1 book about a girl living in the Middle East and the influences of political ideologies and Western culture

The Walking Dead (in jest)

I did not see how the wording of my suggestion question implied anything other than a request for something lighthearted and easy, but here we are, looking at recommendation for reads about the generational impact of war or serious politico-economics.

There were also some books that fell outside my scope of interest, although they met the criteria of what I was hoping to consider. And, there were actually looked interesting enough to me to add to my "to read" list! 

Bea Wolf

Queen of the Sea

Works by Ben Hatke (Zita the Space Girl being one, I think))

My impressions: I think what I liked best about the book were the illustrations of food - it all looked delicious! The author had some fun reflections, like how her chocolate cookies differed from her mother's, and how she didn't write off fast food just because it was unhealthy (after all, some of the best gourmet food, she points out, is pretty unhealthy, too). I didn't find this book particularly life-changing...it was what I expect most illustrated food-based memoirs would probably be. I decidedly disliked Chapter 5 because it involved some more "adult" content. I also found parts of the book sad that the author probably didn't intend to be so - those parts being about the divorce of the author's parents and how that affected her. The book has me looking forward to going out to eat somewhere fancy sometime to relish the delicious food, but also questioning how much I really enjoy fine food when my palate is so uncultured. I wouldn't recommend this book to other people, as I see it mostly as "fluff" reading, and certainly would recommend that no one younger than an adult read it, but I also recognize I'm more on the sensitive side.

Bracket Play

It's been a long time since I made it through eight books in a single month. I definitely have to thank the inventors of audiobooks for that accomplishment.

Really, it was a straightforward bracket, even with there being more competitors than usual. I knew going into this bracket who the winner would be. All the same, we'll walk through the bracket. The original Wild Robot book beat the sequel - as original books so often will do. The new young adult fiction Jack Zulu lost without a fight to the classic, The Betrothed, while the unimpressive graphic novel fell to the spiritual reading work by Fr. Gaitley. Mandy easily beat Ragweed in the first round, but fell promptly to Fr. Gaitley's work. The Wild Robot was a fine book, but nothing compared with The Betrothed, which I've been recommending to other people all month. Manzoni's classic beat the spiritual book, but I have no qualms about that sort of thing this month - The Betrothed is just that good of a book, and it provides lots of content for meditation and spiritual reflection to boot.

It was really satisfying seeing the bracket fill up this month. Some of the books are more "fluff" than I would like, but I was reading them with the intention of achieving prizes for a summer reading program. I don't intend for this to be the case every summer, and I am already putting out feelers for an idea I have for next summer.

ASRP Review Part 2

 Activities for the Adult Summer Reading Program

Today, I'm going to take some time doing an inventory of the enjoyability and feasibility of the activities included in my local adult summer reading program. Then, I'll consider what I would prefer to see. Maybe I'll do my own reading program next summer.

Library Activities

Read a Title Published in 2023

This isn't a bad idea. I don't like it because it means I have to find a book that looks interesting to me, hopefully doesn't have too many sketchy parts, and has been published...in the last six months. That is extremely limiting. I'm sure that there are books that have come out in the last year or two that have found their way onto my to-read list, but keeping it to only the last six is pretty limiting. The books I know I'm interested in I'd probably have to buy because they would probably not be at the library. The 2023 books that the library carries are probably not interesting to me.

I'd keep this activity, but with a change: read a book that has been published in the 12 or 18 months.

Visit a Local Bookstore 

I appreciated this one. It is not specifically a reading activity, but it is certainly related. I love going to Eighth Day Books, so I hope that I can make this one happen. I also like that it supports any number of small local businesses.

Keep this activity!

Let a Book Teach You a New Hobby 

Nope. I have enough hobbies and if I want to pick up a new one, I'll get the books I need in my own time, not because it's on the bingo sheet. I could stretch the meaning on this one and take up origami or something for half a day, but I'm not interested in even that minimal level of effort.

I would get rid of this activity.

Complete a Lesson in Mango Languages 

This is one resource that our local library system makes available to patrons for free. I actually do intend to do this one because I'm going on a trip to Europe this year, but that's the only reason I'm okay with this one this time. I don't plan on doing more than the minimum for this one, but you never know.

I would get rid of this activity, helpful as it is this year.

Take a Tour on the History Walk 

So there's apparently an app (through the library, of course) that gives a guided audio tour of certain parts of Wichita. This is the last one that I have to complete to get my first bingo, but it's hard to make time for it. And go through the hassle of downloading the app and figuring out where to go. It's a good idea in theory - get people to explore their city, advertise a library perk, go out and move - but it's not working for me.

I'd get rid of this activity, too. I might be more amenable to it if there was a tour to take of the library or something book related.

Read a Book by a Local Author 

This was another activity that limited the list of potential reading material. I was surprised to see just how many people from my city are published authors, but it still made for a small pool of reading options. I'm picky, but since I've been frustrated with how hard it is to get a bingo, I decided to find something that hopefully complemented my interests and was a quick read. I lucked out with the quick read part - there's a book about 100 things to do in this city, and each item is about two-thirds of a page of large print. A few stretch to the second page, but it's fast. I feel like I already know my town pretty well, so it's not as thrilling as it could be, but it's getting the job done.

The only reason this one works is because we have a decent number of authors hailing from out city. I like the reading aspect of this activity, so I'd say keep it, but expand it to authors from the state. I think that would broaden the range of potential materials quite nicely.

Leave a Book Review on Our Hotline 

I had to look up more details about this one. It looks like the library-sponsored podcast takes book recommendations on a hotline. So, one calls the number, states some information, and gives a 1-2 sentence recommendation about why they recommend the book. I didn't pay enough attention to the podcast episode I listened to to know if they actually air these recommendations, but I'm assuming that's what they do, not unlike the kid's recommendation portion of the "Read Aloud Revival" podcast.

I did it just now. I typed out the essence of what I wanted to say and stupidly gave my last name. What was I thinking? Anyway, I recommended Manzoni's The Betrothed - no surprise there, as I've been recommending it to pretty much everyone I've talked to about books! I did one take and gave the information requested by the recorded voice. I hope I never have to hear myself say it on air - I'm pretty sure I'd feel self-conscious about my voice and the whole thing, really.

I see how the possibility of being featured on a podcast could be appealing, but it doesn't do much for me. I'd much rather see an activity where you recommend a book to someone else.

Listen to One Episode of Read Return Repeat 

This is the podcast sponsored by my library - another sort of advertisement for little-known library entertainment, I'm guessing. I listened to an episode. That's it. I'm not subscribing to it or planning to listen to it.

I was about to say I'd get rid of this activity, but changed my mind. I think it'd be better to change it to listening to a podcast episode either about books or featuring an author.

Do an Act of Service 

I think I see why they have this one - acts of service are good. But it's fluff. It doesn't necessarily have to have anything to do with reading.

I'd get rid of this activity.

Earn Genius Level on the NYT's Spelling Bee 

This activity is one that is free through the public library system - great if you want to spend time on word games, kind of frustrating for those who don't. I completed this one without Googling what other words could be, but this would probably be an easy activity to cheat on.

I'd get rid of this one, too.

Attend a Library Adult Program 

Nope. I don't want to go to an adult program. I mean, it would be fun to learn how to make pickles or bring a handcraft to work on with other handcraft enthusiasts, or even take a class on how to make things with Cricut. But I don't want to dedicate time to going somewhere and doing things when I'd rather be at home with my husband or hanging out with friends.

I see why this activity is here. But I'd still get rid of it.

Read a Book to Someone Else 

I like this one. It could be as simple as reading a picture book to a kid. The only downside is that, if you live alone, it's going to be really hard to do this. 

This works for me, so I'd keep it, but I feel bad for people who don't have anyone to read to.

Check Out an Item from the Library 

This was the free space item, and I thought it was brilliant! It makes sense that a library reading program would have you check out at least one thing from the library. 

Keep this activity!

Watch a Movie on Kanopy 

Library service advertisement! When I looked up Kanopy on the Google, it said that this is a site for watching what I think they called "art movies." When I hear "art movies," I think of movies that are artistic and serious and depressing and not likely that I'll enjoy. Harrumph. However, I did discover that there's a movie on there that looks interesting - The Secret of Kells. I do look forward to watching it sometime...assuming I don't run out of time.

I'd change this activity to be something like "Watch a movie based on a book."

Visit a Local Museum 

I think there is some reading of signs to be done at museums, but I don't really see what this has to do with a reading program.

I'd get rid of this activity.

Read a Book Less Than 150 Pages 

I liked this category a lot. I felt like it recognized the need to have reading in a summer reading program, but honored the fact that adults aren't going to have tons of time. It would have been easy to pick up a picture book (and I still might), but this seems like an activity that's very doable.

This activity is a keeper.

Listen to an Audiobook

As someone who already listens to audiobooks, this worked well for me. It's not reading, but it taps into literacy because of exposure to language and storytelling. This activity would probably be harder for someone who isn't tech savvy, but it's easy for me to get into the library app (and this was a library advertisement activity that didn't bother me). 

I'd keep this activity.

Prepare a Recipe from a Library Book 

I'm already prepping food. I'm gonna use one of the ten-ish cookbooks I have at home. I don't want to go to the trouble of checking out another one from the library.

I'd get rid of this activity. Or actually, I think I'd change it. Make a recipe from a book.

Submit a Short Story/Poem to Library Publication 

This is another advertising activity, in my opinion, but I don't find it too egregious. However, I think it might be asking for a little too much. It's one thing to take in a book - it's another entirely to come up with an original composition.

I think I would ditch this activity.

Visit a "New to You" Library 

I both liked and disliked this one. I think it's a fun idea, but what happens when you've visited all the libraries close to you and you have to drive out of town to find one? This could end up being a lot of trouble...and if the library is in a system that you're not a part of and is far from you, it would just be a tour - it wouldn't be realistic to check something out.

I'm not sure that I'd keep this one. Strangely enough, I think I'd like to change it to something that's actually a bit more restricting. In our area, we have multiple colleges and universities - I think it would be fun to have people see what sorts of books are available at a local university, and then get a community library card, if warranted.

Attend a Book Discussion 

This one was easy for me because I cohost a group that meets to discuss books. This one works for me, and I talk about books informally, so I think I'd keep this one...although maybe I'd make it so you could just talk about books with someone. I'm not sure.

Graphic Novel Time 

This one had mixed results for me. I think with the right book, I wouldn't enjoyed this, but it wasn't my favorite. On one hand, I think graphic novels are a quicker read. On the other, I'm not sure this is my cup of tea. But that's the beauty of a summer reading program, isn't it? Getting you outside of what you usually do?

I think I'd better keep this one.

Take a Class on LinkedIn Learning 

No. No interest and it's in a good spot to skip on the bingo card. I suppose I should actually look up what some of these classes might be.

I just did. Still no. These are all classes that have to do with professional stuff. I don't generally enjoy professional development for my own specific field as it is. I don't want to spend extra time on stuff that I don't need and don't find fun.

As a firm believer that a summer reading program should be fun, I hereby declare that this activity is far too useful and not leisurely enough to keep.

Read a Librarian Recommendation 

This was an interesting one. I was delighted by how the librarian recommendation system works in our library system, and it was cool to learn that there is such a thing. You enter what genre you're interested in, maybe some specific topics or similar books you've read, and presto - just later that day, I received emails (I put in two requests) with about five book recommendations. I didn't actually end up enjoying the one I picked all that much, but it was a cool experience.

I'd keep this activity, or change it slightly to allow for anyone to recommend a book to you.

Take a Tech Class

This was one of my least favorite activities. It was one of the ones that made me feel like the library is just trying to advertise its non-literary services. I'm planning to not do it. I don't need to take a tech class, and the upcoming one that I could find on the library calendar is about Mac computers. I own a PC, not a Mac, so not only would the class take up time that I could be spending on other things, it would be useless information for me. 

I would definitely get rid of this activity.

My Summer Reading Program Lineup

Of course, I now have to record what I think would be good for a summer reading program.

Ideally, I'd have it be like the reading program of my childhood - every 20 minutes of reading gets you closer to a prize. However, as that would be too easy, I'm going to keep the bingo format. I've heard the Read Aloud Revival host, Sarah Mackenzie, speak with podcast guests about their reading programs, and the bingo setup is not too far off the mark.

Keep:

1) Visit a local bookstore

2) Read a book to someone else

3) Check out a book from the library

4) Read a book less than 150 pages

5) Listen to an audiobook

6) Attend a book discussion (or 15-minute bookish conversation)

7) Read a graphic novel

Only 7 of the original 25 activities remain mostly intact.

Change:

Another 7 activities remain, some more recognizable than others.

8) Read a book published in the last 18 months

9) Library scavenger hunt (to tour the library)*

10) Read a book by a Kansas author/author from your state

11) Read a book recommended by someone else, and recommend a book to them

12) Listen to a podcast episode about a book, work of literature, or author

13) Watch a movie based on a book

14) Make a recipe of a food from a story

Add:

I want there to be more reading-based activities. so I hope to bulk up on those with these additions.

15) Reread a book

16) Read a book that's over 100 years old

17) Read for 30 minutes inside a local coffee shop

18) Read a book that was originally written in a different language

19) Read one book that is sitting on your shelf

20) Read an essay

21) Memorize a poem that is at least 12 lines long

22) Read an auto/bio/hagiography

23) Read from a magazine for 15 minutes

24) Research a topic of interest for 30 minutes at the library

25) Write down 10 quotes from the books that you read over the time of this challenge

*Library Scavenger Hunt

I needed a way to think of how someone could give themselves a tour of the library, so I thought a scavenger hunt might do the trick. These are some things one could do.

- Log onto a computer

- Visit the archives section

- Ask a librarian a question

- Find a book that is in a different language, or a book that was translated to English

- Find a book that was originally published over 200 years ago

- Find an encyclopedia (or other reference book, if encyclopedia sets are obsolete even in libraries)

- Look up the word "donkeyman" in the Oxford English Dictionary

- Find a book by an author with a last name starting with "X"

And there are lots of other ideas on lists out there on the interwebs. But this could be a fun way to look at the library through fresh eyes!

Conclusion

I think this would be fun to actually do. I might reach out to friends and family, make it a challenge, and say that at the end, we'll all go out and get ice cream - the ice cream is on me for anyone who completed all 25 activities (got a blackout bingo). It could be a fun way to finish up summer, and maybe this could be a fun activity for our Books and Beverage group.