June Book Bracket

 June 2024 Book Bracket

Well, this is one of the most "productive" months of reading/listening I've had for a long time - 13 books completed. That's one of the joys of, audiobooks, quick books in children's lit series.

Searching for and Maintaining Peace, by Fr. Jacques Philippe

Great book. Talked about it before. No need to report again.

Alcatraz Vs. The Evil Librarians, by Brandon Sanderson**

NOTE: I listened to all six books in the series this month. I'm going to list the next five titles below, but give a review of the first book individually, then the series as a whole.

A boy with the incredible ability to break just about anything (even chickens) finds that he actually has a family the known world is actually ruled by evil librarians, and the unknown world opposes librarian control.

Why I picked it up: I wanted to an audiobook. This title showed up on Audible, and I thought, eh, why not?

My impressions (specific to book one): As I've gotten older, I've come to realize that I don't go in for real fantasy books all that often, unless it's Tolkien or C. S. Lewis. Fairy tales and anthropomorphic animals, sure - but not really the magic-based, made up tales that are based in a well-developed, unfamiliar world. However. I gave this book a try, and while I originally thought it was too silly, I really was enjoying the first audiobook by the time I reached the end. The narrator is sarcastic and there's lots of silliness going on in the story, but somewhere around where the big baddy shows up, Alcatraz starts experiencing...character development. That was the turning point for me. A good adventure with fun characters and solid world-building/altering make this a book that I could see many upper elementary/middle school students enjoying, as well as those older readers like me who enjoy a fun, clean fantasy adventure.

Alcatraz Vs. The Evil Librarians: The Scrivener's Bones**

Alcatraz Vs. The Evil Librarians: The Knights of Crystallia**

Alcatraz Vs. The Evil Librarians: The Shattered Lens**

Alcatraz Vs. The Evil Librarians: The Dark Talent**

Bastille Vs. The Evil Librarians, by Brandon Sanderson and Janci Patterson**

The rest of the series: I felt that there was really great building in the next several books. Sanderson fleshed out his world more as the books progressed, bringing in and explaining more of the elements that made the people in this version of Earth function in fantastic ways. He also does a pretty good job of connecting back to things he's said earlier, although I noticed that, after the third or fourth book, his idea of focusing on "information is key" fades out and isn't mentioned anymore. He does a nice job of bringing readers on an emotional ride, somewhat along the lines of a eucatastrophe. However, I found some elements of the ending less than satisfying - namely, his relationship with certain characters, who never found redemption. These characters might have ended as they did to show a bit more of a realistic turn (not everyone chooses virtue, or something like that), and to keep the ending from being to saccharine, so I'm still thinking about what I think about that. There are multiple instances of potty humor, a section where a character ends up naked, and a joke about not joking about religion that...well, still ended up not sitting well with me. While this series had more substance than I initially thought, I can't say that it's one that I would say I'm glad I invested so much time in. Yes, it was fun, but I still have a slight feeling that I could, perhaps, have found something more worthwhile to fill my listening minutes. It's not complete fluff, but it's not the sort of series that has me thinking much about higher things.

Stuart Little, by E. B. White

The younger son born to the Little family of NYC looks pretty much just like a mouse, and he goes off on adventures.

Why I picked it up: I'd never read this classic children's tale before, and I wanted to know what all the fuss was about.

My impressions: Whatever the fuss is about, I don't think much of it. Harsh, but I really didn't find the book that meaningful. No plot, no character development, all the untied strings left at the end. I don't get it. I might go and see what Wikipedia has to say about its enduring contribution to children's literature, but I didn't appreciate it. I suppose I can see how the whimsical stories might appeal to kids or jog their imaginations, but in my estimation, no need to read - you can skip this one. (My apologies to anyone who loved this book growing up - I'd love to hear about why you loved it.)

The Last Bookseller: A Life in the Rare Book Trade, by Gary Goodman**

A man who made his living selling secondhand books for 20 years recounts his experiences of buying a store - almost on a whim - and his career selling books through the highs of the 90s and the secondhand book crash brought on by the internet.

Why I picked it up: I saw this either recommended somewhere or had it come up in the "recommended" section on Audible after listening to something else (perhaps Lost Feast?).

My impressions: This book was a fun listen. As one of millions of people who has (not-so-secretly) desired to own a bookstore, it was an informative book to listen to, because it recounts the difficulties of selling books - specifically, second-hand books. It's not easy to keep a small business going in the age of the Internet. It was interesting to hear about some of the other booksellers Goodman met along the way, as well as some of the criminals, but I did skim through one crime spree that involved forged Mormon documents and murder - that one was making me a little uncomfortable. I have some nostalgia for the pre-Internet world after listening to this book, but since I know that the web isn't going away anytime soon, it does make me want to go and support my favorite local bookstore instead of heading straight to Amazon, even though the prices might be cheaper online. I'm a few weeks late writing this review, but due to the criminal activity and maybe some crudeness (I don't remember if there was or not), a high schooler would probably be fine reading this book, but I'm not sure. And go buy books locally!

Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, by Annie Dillard

A woman journals about her attempts to understand greater things through a year observing nature at Virginia's Tinker Creek.

Why I picked it up: This was the book my discussion group was to read for June.

My impressions: Dillard is a skilled writer and does a great job linking back up with ideas or motifs she's mentioned before. However, this book wasn't for me. She spent an awful lot of time talking about insects, and some of the stories were rather horrifying. I understand that Dillard is grappling with big things when she considers nature in this work - the created world, and perhaps through it, the God who made it - but she alludes to so many faith traditions and authors from different fields that I found her work a sort of patchwork of matching quotes with her experiences, with some reasoning, but not really a well-outlined philosophy. I'm not exactly sure what her conclusions were. Most telling to me was that, in her chapter on "Fecundity," Dillard explains that she could consider the propagation of life by a different name (birth, or something of that nature), but she chose "fecundity" instead - and it seemed rather a whim, brought on by the mood of the moment. Sure, it was a deliberate choice, but it seemed like it was determined by her frame of mind at that time. If her thoughts on these subjects is so arbitrary, what really is the point of this work? I think she struggles with these ideas, but the conclusion is uncertain. Perhaps it's meant to be that way. In any case, I thought a few parts really dragged, some parts were horrible and I wish I could forget them (bugs can be really gross), but Dillard also had a nice turn of phrase here and there - nothing I'd write down as a quote I wanted to remember, but phrases that showed that she saw the world in a very vibrant way, shaped as much by the literature she read as by her own observations. This isn't a book I'd hand to a high schooler, and it's not a book I'd recommend. Maybe a more patient reader would have enjoyed it more, but I was glad to be done.

Tolkien's Faith, by Holly Ordway

This academic work is a biography of sorts, but the focus is on Tolkien's life of faith; the author intends this book to fill in some gaps in previous Tolkien biographical works, insofar as she believes not enough time is spent considering his faith, which had an enormous impact on his creative work.

Why I picked it up: A friend and I agreed that we wanted to read this book - and, as some might know, not least because I follow the author's works.

My impressions: This is a solid book. The focus on Tolkien's spiritual life made me feel that, even though much of the information was familiar, there was a lot that I was learning about one of my favorite authors. I appreciate the depth of research Ordway completed for this project, finding a way to ask questions of Tolkien's daughter before she passed away, and referencing such documents as works regarding her subject that were written in other languages and surveys completed about the state of the faith of soldiers following the Great War. As with much of Ordway's work, I notice that she isn't afraid to draw some conclusions that are not explicitly stated, but it's also pretty easy to tell when she is surmising or making a case for something based on the given evidence. Ordway presents Tolkien not as a saint, but as someone who tried to love God, love his neighbor, and overcome his faults. I found this book more readable than her Tolkien's Modern Reading, but it's a hefty book that I started to push towards finishing so that I could get to other books on my list. I think Catholic fans of Tolkien especially could appreciate this work, but Ordway has descriptions of Catholic-specific practices that I hope non-Catholics could find helpful. I repeat that this is an academic work, and as such, it's kind of a project to take on rather than light reading, but it's good for the audience that's willing to put in the time to read it.

The Mouse and the Motorcycle, by Beverly Cleary

A hotel mouse befriends a boy staying there and has fun riding the motorcycle around.

Why I picked it up: My husband wanted to read this book out loud and share this favorite from his childhood!

My impressions: This is a great read aloud book, especially when my husband reads it! I've asked him to read it to all our future children. The book perfectly captures the appeal of a dangerous but exhilarating motorcycle obsession, and delves into the justifications that we make for ourselves when we're not supposed to do something, but really want to anyways. The story has a good plot, even if the big problem doesn't really hit until about halfway through; this is possible because underneath the big problem, there's the work of overcoming personal flaws. It's a charming tale, full of imagination, and (in my opinion) a much better read than Stuart Little. Any elementary school kid would be able to enjoy this book.

A Family of Saints: The Martins of Lisieux Saints Therese, Louis, and Zelie, by Stephane-Joseph Piat*

This is a biography about an entire family - St. Therese of Lisieux, her four sisters, and holy parents.

Why I picked it up: This book was available for free as an ebook on the Formed app and, being a big fan of Little T, I figured it was perfect to read.

My impressions: I started this book about three years ago and did not finish it until I forced myself to plow through. It's not that it was a bad story - it wasn't. It's just one of those books that requires lots of time to sit and read through a chunk of it. It is a well-researched work and I learned lots about the whole family. It's one thing to read a synopsis of a saint's life on a website, and another matter entirely to have someone explain what was happening after consulting family letters and accessing historical documents. I've also been reading through the letters of Sts. Louis and Zelie (again, very slowly), and some of the details that I miss due to the snapshot nature of letters was clarified in this work. The detail of this work is great. However, there were some aspects of this book that didn't quite work for me. There were descriptions of locations that were rather lengthy (skimmed through some of those), and, at times, a bit of a preachy tone. I felt inspired by the lives of these holy people, but also intimidated. Some aspects of their life seemed too - I don't know - saccharine? - and others rather terrifying, such as the sacrifices that they made of their lives. I don't know if the author was able to find the right balance for showing the rigors of their lives but also making it seem attractive, but there is no mistaking that this is a family that lived with God first in their minds and hearts. Their lives looked different from those around them, so perhaps it is just that I'm uncomfortable with feeling called out and called to something higher. I think this is a good book for people who are looking for a deep dive into the Martin family, but it wouldn't be a good light introduction, considering how hefty it is.

Bracket Play

Per usual, I had to remove Fr. Jacques Philippe's classic work from the bracket, which left me with an even 12 contenders. The first six slots were given to Brandon Sanderson's Alcatraz Vs. The Evil Librarians series; to make it quick, I'll say that my favorite one to listen to was the second book, subtitled The Scrivener's Bones. The Last Bookseller beat Pilgrim at Tinker Creek, no contest; The Mouse and the Motorcycle also scored an easy victory over the other mouse classic, Stuart Little. Of the two biographies, I had to say I found Ordway's book far more enjoyable - and easy to finish - than A Family of Saints, although the latter work had some real merit. Tolkien's Faith couldn't defeat Cleary's book, however - this was probably the hardest battle of the bracket. The children's book was a great story with wonderful character development, and one that is more likely to be accessed and enjoyed by a greater number of people of all ages.

The Last Bookseller took the win over all of Sanderson's books, but fell in the end to The Mouse and the Motorcycle.  I felt like I went through a lot of fluff this month, and maybe not so many excellent books, but I was satisfied with reading and finishing some books that were on my "to read" list.

Comparing Robin Hood With Himself (and Himself)

A Shallow Comparison

When a friend learned that I've read three different takes on the Robin Hood legends, she mentioned she'd be interested to have them compared side by side. I thought it was a good idea.

I still think it's a good idea, but what I've come to realize is that, to do this project justice, I'd have to dedicate a lot of summer reading time to reviewing two of the versions I read previously. So, instead of doing all the hard work that I should be doing, I'm going to settle for a surface-level comparison of the works. I don't remember many details, especially from Pyle's version (read, perhaps, 5-6 years ago), but I'm going to do what I can for the time. Perhaps a full-blown effort will occur in the future.

The Contenders

There are three Robin Hood legend collections that I have read; a brief description of each follows.

The Merry Adventures of Robin Hood, by Howard Pyle (1883)

This is the oldest of the three collections I've encountered. It is also the version that I think has turned up most often when I've been online or encountered discussions of Robin Hood tales. It is notable (in some editions) for its illustrations, by N. C. Wyeth, and it is the version that Barnes & Noble has chosen to produce in a fine leather-bound hardback version. It is one of the two Robin Hood collections recommended by the Cardinal Newman Society's "Guide for the Catholic Reader."

Robin Hood, by Henry Gilbert (1912)

Written thirty years after Pyle's retelling, this version is the one that Cluny Media (a Catholic book company that works to get great Catholic works back in print). It is also the version that I own in a vintage edition.

The Adventures of Robin Hood, by Roger Lancelyn Green (1956)

This collection was apparently written by one of the fellows who was an Inkling at one point or another. In his introduction, Green names the original sources he drew his stories from, and pointed out some of the particulars of which of his retellings grew from which sources. It is the second of the Robin Hood collections recommended by the Cardinal Newman Society's "Guide for the Catholic Reader."

The Comparison

I think I'll just pick different points to compare, and consider how each work does in each instance. I'll admit to being biased in favor of Gilbert's version, but all three have their good points and their shortcomings.

How Robin Becomes an Outlaw

Pyle: Robin, a hothead, runs afoul of royal foresters when he shows off his shooting skills - and unknowingly kills the king's deer. One drunken forester takes a shot at him (and doesn't hit), and Robin responds by killing him. Self defense? Even though Pyle says that Robin would've been killed by the shot if the fellow was sober, I think it'd be hard to make the case for self defense. Pyle makes sure the reader knows that Robin was raging over his treatment by the foresters. However, Robin does indeed display great remorse at having killed this man.

Gilbert: This is the longest account of Robin's turning into a wanted man. He observes someone kill a deer, saves his beloved Marian from a forced, unwanted marriage; the would-be groom he killed, and the dead man's powerful relatives would seek revenge. Downtrodden, abused peasants come to Robin, stating they'll run off and not be mistreated any longer. Robin agrees to join and lead them, knowing he is outlawed. The peasants (not Robin) set fire to the oppressive Guy of Gisborne's house, but he escapes. I appreciated that Robin took time to talk to the peasants about the consequences of their actions. He's not the hothead that Pyle's Robin is at the start.

Green: Robin has secretly been defending peasants from oppressive masters, but his traitorous steward reveals his secret to his enemies. Robin must fight off foes and flee on the day of his intended marriage to Marian, but she promises she'll have no other but him. This version begins with Robin starting with a double identity, the nobleman and the defender of the poor - it was a neat take on the Robin Hood tale.

Maid Marian

Pyle: Per my Google research, Marian is mentioned a few times, but isn't really a character in Pyle's stories, so Robin is never married to her.

Gilbert: Robin saves Marian from being forced to marry an evil man. She marries him and is happy to live life with him. (Spoiler coming, so skip ahead if you don't want to know...)...Marian dies before Robin - I don't remember how, but I'm pretty sure it's very sad. I really dislike having main characters go.

Green: Marian has the most personality in Green's tales. She is a bold and brave woman, a good match in spirit and personality to Robin Hood. I love her fidelity to her man. She doesn't have the best relationship with her dad, but she loves him and tries to take care of him.

Ending

All three tellings go to the bitter end. There's a reason the movies stop where they do.

Language

In all three books, I believe there is some swearing that includes the names of holy people, so that is problematic for all books.

Pyle: Wow, the prose and dialogue are hard to read. I think he tried to make the language sound old-timey, but it's so archaic that it can bog down reading and really isn't that fun to slog through.

Gilbert: Gilbert also tries to make the language sound old-timey, but it didn't seem quite as egregious as Pyle's. It is difficult to wade through the dialogue at times, but the prose flows just a bit more like a novel's prose would, if I remember correctly (I may very well be wrong about that, though).

Green: The version definitely was the most readable as far as the language goes. Some parts of the prose were positively compelling - the action was very well written in parts. Green does go for more archaic-sounding language, but it strikes a good balance between setting a historical feel and not making the reader work harder than they need to.

Iconic Moments and Characters

I think all three works had some of the most iconic moments in the Robin Hood legendarium present in some form (shooting contest for a golden arrow, meeting Little John, recruiting Friar Tuck, forgiveness from King Richard). While I think Guy of Gisborne and the Sherriff of Nottingham are present in all versions, Pyle stood out insofar as he doesn't start with Richard on the throne - it is King Henry who rules, and King Richard plays his part later in the stories. I'd like to focus more on Sir Guy.

Pyle: Guy of Gisbourne is apparently not "Sir" Guy - he is an outlaw. And he dresses strangely. Horsehide is not a fashionable option. I think Guy is a character in one isolated adventure in Pyle's telling.

Gilbert: Sir Guy is a villainous character, present from the first chapter and mentioned in a following early chapter, but I don't remember how his story ends, or if he is a character who just fades from the tales. He does indeed make use of a horsehide, but he doesn't use it beyond the role he needed it to play.

Green: Sir Guy shows up throughout the tales, but he doesn't end up wearing horsehide until the end. And, when he does wear it, Green explains that there's a reason for it (to dampen the clink of chain mail). I appreciated that aspect of Green's storytelling.

Overall Story Arc

Pyle: It's been a long time, but this work felt like it was simply a collection of stories. The epilogue kind of wraps things up by going over what happens in a longer span of time versus the details of the earlier individual adventures.

Gilbert: According to my review of the book, there's not really a driving plot to the story, but the tales are connected and eventually focus on Robin taking out the lair of the evil knights and lords who have terrorized the countryside. While I enjoyed Green's device of making Robin Hood a mystery initially, in this version, I liked that Robin's embrace of living the outlaw life was something of a deliberate decision, and that there are actual "bad guys" out there that he opposes, not just local enemies who happen to not like him.

Green: This work felt like it, too, was a collection of different stories. I wouldn't say it was better or worse than Pyle's except for the fact that some of Green's stories didn't hang together well stylistically. A few chapters drew from Scott's Ivanhoe, and those chapters felt really different from the rest of the tales.

Robin's Nobility and Justification

Pyle: Well, Robin doesn't start off well (killing a man in anger), but he displays deep remorse and doesn't kill anyone else (Guy of Gisbourne?) until the end of the book, in more of a self-defense situation. I don't remember all details, but I have a remaining impression that Pyle's Robin is a rather tricksy fellow and used deception in not-so-noble ways. 

Gilbert: In my review of Gilbert's work, I mentioned that Robin's vigilante justice is questionable; however, I remember finding the actions of Gilbert's Robin justifiable in most situations throughout the book. He stands out to me as the most noble Robin overall.

Green: Green's Robin isn't too far behind Gilbert's in nobility and justification of actions with a few rather major exceptions. I noted in my review of the book that I found Robin killing fifteen fleeing foresters to avenge the death of his friend and assuage his sorrow was rather disturbing to me. Other than that moment, and a few very small ones here and there, I didn't think Robin was too bad of a guy.

A Recommendation

I know that there are many other comparisons I could complete for these works, but these are the big ones that stand out right now. A lot more research would be necessary to complete this study, but I hope this is a good start.

It's hard to say which book I would recommend; I think the choice depends on what one is looking for. 

Overall, I found Gilbert's most enjoyable to read, but Green had some great action sections. 

The best illustrations would probably belong to Pyle's version, if you can find an edition that has N. C. Wyeth as the artist. Just keep in mind that Pyle's work was, at least initially, a lot harder to read.

While I liked Gilbert's the most, it reads a little differently than typical Robin Hood tales because of the presence of a concentration of baddies in "Evil Hold" and the introduction of characters I haven't found mentioned or described in other Robin Hood works. Honestly, I'm surprised the Cardinal Newman Society didn't list this one in their reader guide, as I found this Robin to be the most upright of the three versions.

Since the Gilbert version has some pretty unique features, Green's work might be a better introduction to Robin Hood, even with the sections that don't quite click with the rest of the work.

All three books had elements in them that I could consider "problematic," so, if parents have concerns, it might be better to read these out loud.

Woe is Me

In doing my internet research, I discovered there are at least three more Robin Hood works in the public domain (and that's not even counting more recent works!). I'm probably going to have to admit defeat regarding being able to read all the Robin Hoods and give decent comparisons for them all, but here are the ones I found on Project Gutenberg:

Robin Hood and His Merry Foresters by Stephen Percy

Robin Hood by J. Walker McSpadden

Robin Hood by Paul Creswick

At least this article is out, so I can reference it in the future if I get around to other retellings. Happy reading! 

May Book Bracket 2024

Book Bracket May 2024

It was really nice to feel like I was getting back into the swing of reading things. I started and stopped quite a few audiobooks, but made it through several of them on top of physical books I've been meaning to read.

Mossflower, by Brian Jacques

The mouse warrior Martin resolves to destroy the evil rule of the wildcat Tsarmina in the Mossflower woodlands.

Why I picked it up: This was a book I read aloud with my husband! He was interested in having the second Redwall book be our next read aloud.

My (our) impressions: I posed this question to my husband: Which book did you like better - Redwall or Mossflower? He said he preferred the original, Redwall, because, while Mossflower had higher highs (a sassy Martin at the beginning and end of the story, exciting action-packed episodes), he said that the first book had better pacing and a more competent villain - i.e., he could have seen Cluny winning, while Tsarmina and her planning/personality basically doomed herself. I think that's a pretty good comparison, but I might still give Mossflower the edge. I absolutely love the first chapter or two of the book - it sets the mood and leaves the reader with one of the most dramatic beginnings seen in a Redwall book. I do think that the quest to Salamandastron is rather slow-paced, especially when compared with all the exciting things happening in Mossflower in their absence. Stylistically, Jacques was still hitting his stride in this book, but it definitely is closer to what one might call a "typical product" of his. I will say that some of the deaths of villains in this book seemed more gruesome when read aloud than it was the multiple times I've read the book to myself. This book is a great adventure for upper elementary/middle school readers and older, especially if they like fantasy, old-timey weapons, and good doses of food and humor.

Justin Morgan Had a Horse, by Marguerite Henry**

Young Joel of Vermont tames the little horse that teacher Justin Morgan accepted in lieu of the payment of a debt, and follows the horse's successes as a hard worker and fast racer with the hopes that he can own the doughty "Little Bub" someday.

Why I picked it up: It came up as a suggested listen in Audible, but I checked it out from the library's audiobook system.

My impressions: I remember seeing some of a movie that goes by the same name, and it didn't seem that exciting when I was younger. However, listening to it was a grand experience. It was delightful to hear how the horses were described with such precision - it's clear Henry spent a lot of time around horses. It's a classic underdog story, but the pathos really comes from Joel's special relationship with the horse, with him longing to own him not because he's a useful horse, but because he cares about the animal. It was also a believable story (good, considering it's based on a real horse) and gave a good taste of the apprenticeship system used in that long-ago era of American history. While there isn't a strong plot, there was enough to satisfy me, and enough interesting parts to keep the story moving. Some parts of this story might be hard for some readers to read or listen to - specifically, the difficult character of Joel's father - but it's a good story that elementary readers could enjoy - especially if they love horses!

The Lifegiving Home, by Sally & Sarah Clarkson**

Mother and daughter team up to write about the way their home life was constructed and conducted to make home a place of love, life, and creativity.

Why I picked it up: This audiobook was available through my Audible subscription and I'd been interested by some of Sally Clarkson's ideas from Awaking Wonder.

My impressions: Read this book in physical form, not by audiobook. I tried to take notes and screenshot time "locations" of ideas I wanted to revisit; I checked out the book in physical form and tried to find those locations in the book, and it was just too difficult to do without rereading the entire book. That was frustrating. There were lots of good ideas, and some of them dovetailed very nicely with The Theology of Home. It was also fun to notice the differences in writing style between Sally and Sarah - I really appreciate Sarah's style. The ideas they share for activities to complete in the home sound doable and desirable - I have baked some simple bread recipes a few weeks in a row now because their detailed descriptions of home-made meals sounded so appealing. One downside was that they referred readers to visit the lifegiving home website. I did indeed visit it, and while it had lists of many things they talked about in the book, I felt like they didn't include everything they had intended readers to find at the website. It felt almost like they had intended to really flesh out their lists, but then other projects came up and they moved on. I really would have just preferred to have everything included as appendices in the physical book, so everything would have been all in one place and I wouldn't have to go online to find out more. I think this book is a great read for those who want to make their house a home that people enjoy being in and living in, rather than just a place to be. This would be best for those who order their own living spaces as they see fit, but teenagers could probably appreciate this book, too.

“The Incarnation means that our salvation is accomplished within flesh and blood, time and space, and includes the physical spaces and particulars of our lives, as well as the spiritual. God didn’t come merely to save us to a life beyond this world; He came to redeem the one we already inhabit.” (from somewhere in the book that I couldn't find in the physical copy)

Around the World in 80 Trees, by Jonathan Drori

Brief descriptions of the most important physical features of the tree accompany facts about their history, current endangerment, or role in human affairs.

Why I picked it up: Holly Ordway wrote about this being one of five books she'd read recently that she'd enjoyed, and it sounded interesting to me.

My impressions: Even with the colorful illustrations, this book was good, but just not quite everything I wanted it to be. There were few pages dedicated to each tree, making it move quickly from one tree to the next, and yet, it still felt like it was a slow-moving work. That is not a bad thing, considering that this book really is the sort that you might sit with and ponder a while, but it wasn't what I needed right now. I thought it was interesting to learn about modern dangers to various tree species, but I felt like I was being preached at sometimes. I also noticed that, more often than not, the histories related seemed to eventually lead to tie-ins with Great Britain's history. Again, this isn't bad and is not surprising, considering that I think the author grew up in that country, but it does make me wonder what another author from a different country might have considered worth communicating. I must also say that it was a bummer to have the North American trees include none of the interesting ones (in my opinion) from my area (osage orange/hedgeapple, anyone? no, only black walnut), but I liked learning about all the different ways that trees or their fruits/saps/etc. have been used. There are some more adult topics that came up with different trees, so I wouldn't necessarily recommend this for anyone who's not an adult, but this was a good dip into the trees of the world that could be a great launching point for more in-depth research of particular species.

The Adventures of Robin Hood, by Roger Lancelyn Green

This collection of stories about the legendary hero Robin Hood grows out of research the author did into the tales from early appearances to more recent authors like Sir Walter Scott and poet Tennyson.

Why I picked it up: I harbor (not-so-secret) hopes of revisiting a terrible rough draft of a story I wrote several years ago that includes this excellent hero. I'd also read two collections of tales of Robin Hood from earlier in the 20th century, so I was curious if and how this one would differ.

My impressions: To answer the questions I had about this book, it is similar to the other collections in that it is mostly a collection of stories of events that involve Robin Hood, but there's no unifying narrative plot. Each chapter was, for the most part, a story unto itself. Those stories were pretty good for the most part, but I was uncomfortable with the one that featured a witch and admit that I didn't read the last three chapters all the way through. Let's just say I don't like having the main character die, especially this one. The action in some of these chapters is absolutely riveting and every bit as exciting as an adventure should be. I felt like the hero of this collection fell somewhere between Pyle's and Gilbert's as far as noble spirit and personal virtue go. (I hope to maybe brush up on the other versions and share more of my thoughts on the respective Robin Hoods in a separate post.)  One thought here is that while Green's Robin certainly starts as a noble fellow, some of Robin's doings here and there are uncomfortably suspect and even straight bad - such as when, upon losing a dear friend, Robin takes out his grief on fifteen (yes, 15!) enemies who were fleeing back to safety by shooting them all dead. Maid Marian is a fun character who is a good match for him, so it was fun to encounter the lady and have her enjoy a real personality. Drawing from many different sources is a neat idea, but the chapters based on Sir Walter Scott's Ivanhoe really had a different feel and didn't hang stylistically with the rest of the stories. There is some swearing that I had problems with, and a few insinuations here and there were pretty mild but a bit surprising to me in a children's book, so I don't think I'd just hand this book to a youngster to read. However, I think that this collection could be fun for more mature elementary/middle readers or as a read aloud.

Black Beauty, by Anna Sewell**

A horse of good breeding describes his life, from gentle training and breaking on the farm of his youth through good and poor masters and stable keepers, carrying riders, pulling cabs, and fighting to survive back-breaking work conditions.

Why I picked it up: This book was available through an Audible membership. I'd heard of this book, and maybe even tried it once, but I put it down early. I decided I wanted to try it again so I'd actually know what it was about.

My impressions: The aspect of this book that stood out to me most what the voice of Black Beauty and a few other animal characters. The horse was believable as a character, seeming to come from an aristocratic background (as far as breeding is concerned), and he was a very likeable main character. In a society where everyone gets around by car, it's interesting to consider how a society that relies on horse transportation would differ. I was worried about the ending while reading Black Beauty because some parts were so sad or rough - indeed, while children are often considered the target audience of this book these days, this is a work that can cause adults to ponder the way they treat animals. Whenever one horse character related a new development in her sad tale, it was about enough to break my heart. In fact, her experience was so descriptive and emotional I felt like I could have been reading the story of a woman who had been used and abused, rather than a horse. It's a well-written work of fiction that brings the reader in the world of Victorian England. So, I struggle with stories in which the main character is helpless to change their situation, but this is a really good book; the ending helped quite a bit. I think middle schoolers would be fine reading this book, and maybe upper elementary, but any animal lover would probably have a hard time reading about some of the abuses animals face in this story.

The Long Patrol, by Brian Jacques**

A young hare runs away from home to adventure with the elite fighting squad known as the "Long Patrol."

Why I picked it up: I was finishing up the work year and needed an audiobook to accompany me during the empty hours. This one was available through the public library system, and is one of my favorites in the whole Redwall series.

My impressions: I'd never listened to one of these tales as an audiobook, and that was a pretty neat experience. The best part of the audiobook was that Brian Jacques, the author, read the narrator's parts. However, a few of the lines of the characters' speeches were difficult to understand, and some of the music wasn't my favorite. On the flip side, the fact that the songs had music accompaniment helped make those parts more interesting and enjoyable. The tale is about as great as an adventure can get - a grand adventure for the main character, a massive battle, and a unique problem at the abbey contributed to this fantastic story. Upper elementary/middle school readers, especially those with a penchant for adventure, would enjoy this story.

Saints Around the World by Meg Hunter-Kilmer**

This book, written for children, tells synopses of the lives of 100 saints and blesseds from around the world.

Why I picked it up: One of my cousins had mentioned she was reading this book, and it seemed like a good one to spend my Audible credit on.

My impressions: This is a good book for the intended audience, but also for adults. It was neat to learn about lots of people I hadn't heard of before. I was surprised that so many were blesseds and not recognized saints yet. While they have amazing stories, I did think that it made the title a bit misleading. I liked that there were a few moments the author paused to indicate that certain things would not be safe for kids to do, or that some actions are never right or different ones could be okay in specific situations - it was nice to have things like that spelled out for young readers, which might give parents more peace of mind (no jumping on the wagon taking girls to the convent without telling your parents! Unless you're an adult already!). I must admit I was sad that Little T wasn't included, but it seems like the author went to some trouble to make sure that many lesser-known saints were included - including Blessed Stanley Rother, from Oklahoma. This book would be great for kids to read on their own, or for the family to read together. The stories are relatively short (five-ten minutes read aloud, at most), so it could be fun to read one a day. The author read the audiobook version, and you can tell she really likes sharing these stories.

Bracket Play

This month's bracket was difficult in a few points, even in the first round. I wanted the Robin Hood story to win, but I gave the win to the Clarkson book because it had me thinking more outside of the time I was reading it, and it did influence my behavior (I baked bread). The Long Patrol is a better Redwall book than Mossflower, although the latter book has some really excellent sections. Choosing which horse book was better was hard - I feel like I probably should have given Black Beauty the victory, especially since it was a book that had a significant effect on society at the time, but I enjoyed the Justin Morgan book more. So, the choice reflects the level of enjoyability I had while listening to them. The saints book easily beat the tree book. The Long Patrol made it to the playoffs over the Clarkson book - it's hard to compare books that are so incredibly different, so again, enjoyability was the deciding factor for that battle. The saints book won this round as well - there were many great stories, and I like to think that at least one of those stories would appeal to anyone who read them; Justin Morgan Had a Horse was good, but I think I'd be more likely to recommend the saints book first. In fact, the saints book ended up winning. I think it was one of those situations where I was comparing apples to oranges, so the more religious book gets the default win. I know it's a bias, but I also recognize it as such.

Books Started and Put Down

The Ghost in the Tokaido Inn, by Dorothy & Thomas Hoobler**

A merchant's son witnesses a crime and is brought along by the judge to help solve the mystery.

Why I picked it up: This book was recommended sometime, somewhere, and sounded interesting. I decided to get it as an audiobook.

Why I put it down: This book had a lot going for it - imagine a mystery set in feudal Japan with a judge who's basically a detective. What caused me to put down such an interesting and engaging book was the fact that there's a lot of discussion of "maintaining honor" by committing suicide. I know that was part of the culture, but I didn't need all that popping up. If it had been a one-time thing, that would be one matter - it was the fact that it kept coming up throughout the book that caused me to move on to something else.