Reading list, Feb-Aug

Ugh, that is a ridiculous time span. I'm not going to review all of these--if you have questions about one of them, just comment!

A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare
Othello by William Shakespeare
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte
The Taming of the Shrew by William Shakespeare
King Lear by William Shakespeare
The King of Attolia by Megan Whalen Turner
Knife by R.J. Anderson
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens
The Winter's Tale by William Shakespeare
The Secret Agent by Joseph Conrad
Frederica by Georgette Heyer
As You Like It by William Shakespeare
Romeo and Juliet by William Shakespeare
House of Many Ways by Diana Wynne Jones
Oranges are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson
The Buddha of Suburbia by Hanif Kureishi
Oranges are Not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson
Howl's Moving Castle by Diana Wynne Jones
At the Altar by L.M. Montgomery
The Eyre Affair by Jasper Fforde
Pistols for Two by Georgette Heyer
Deep Secret by Diana Wynne Jones
Sunshine by Robin McKinley
Pistols for Two by Georgette Heyer
Lord Peter by Dorothy Sayers
Sleeping Murder by Agatha Christie
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell by Susanna Clarke
Leave it to Psmith by P.G. Wodehouse
Fallen into the Pit by Ellis Peters
Piper on the Mountain by Ellis Peters
Rainbow's End by Ellis Peters
Murder Must Advertise by Dorothy Sayers
The Documents in the Case by Dorothy Sayers
A Morbid Taste for Bones by Ellis Peters
White Banners by Lloyd Douglas
Green Light by Lloyd Douglas
Collected Stories of O. Henry
Crooked House by Agatha Christie
The Yankee Magazine Book of Forgotten Arts
The Tanglewoods' Secret by Patricia St. John
The Blessing Way by Tony Hillerman
The Dark Wind by Tony Hillerman
The Fallen Man by Tony Hillerman
A Thief of Time by Tony Hillerman
Listening Woman by Tony Hillerman
Destination Unknown by Agatha Christie
Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie
The Illuminated Heart by Frederica Mathewes-Green
Shadow of a Bull by Maia Wojciechowska
No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith
The Wouldbegoods by E. Nesbit
Jack and Jill by L.M. Alcott
A Tree for Peter by Kate Seredy
Listening by Kate Seredy
The First Woman Doctor by Rachel Baker
The Bad Times of Irma Baumlein by Carol Ryrie Brink
Missing May by Cynthia Rylant
The Cat Who Went to Heaven by Elizabeth Coatsworth
The White Isle by Caroline Dale Snedeker
Rider on a White Horse by Rosemary Sutcliff
The Open Door by Frederica Mathewes-Green
A Pocketful of Cricket by Rebecca Caudill
Around the World in a Hundred Years by Jean Fritz
The Alley by Eleanor Estes
The House of Arden by E. Nesbit
Goody O'Grumpity by Carol Ryrie Brink
The Best-Loved Doll by Rebecca Caudill
Pilgrim's Inn by Elizabeth Goudge
Knight's Fee by Rosemary Sutcliff
The Mark of the Horse Lord by Rosemary Sutcliff
Shen of the Sea by Arthur Bowie Chrisman
My Name is not Angelica by Scott O'Dell
Why Don't You Get a Horse, Sam Adams? by Jean Fritz
Who's Saying What in Jamestown, Thomas Strange? by Jean Fritz
World's 100 Best Short Stories
The Amulet of Samarkand by Jonathan Strand
Have His Carcase by Dorothy Sayers
Sing Down the Moon by Scott O'Dell
Little Dorrit by Charles Dickens
Gaudy Night by Dorothy Sayers
Twelfth Night by William Shakespeare
General Store by Rachel Field
Hamlet by William Shakespeare
Lorna Doone by R.D. Blackmore
Moby Dick by Herman Melville
Court Duel by Sherwood Smith
Flight of a Witch by Ellis Peters

This week's menu

Sunday
Pork chops with "Callie's Simple Pork Marinade" (Book Lovers' Cookbook, p. 119), mashed potatoes, zucchini, applesauce

Monday
"Chinese Chicken" (my recipe notebook); rice; vegetable

Tuesday
Tangy Pork Chops; vegetable

Wednesday
Leftover Bengali Lentil Soup

Thursday
Bratwurst and Potato skillet (made up out of my own head)

Friday
Pierogis?


I'll probably be posting about cooking a lot more because I'm actually doing it--cooking for myself.

The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks: a review

by E. Lockhart (and [HERE])

I've begun the last two reviews with the character's name. I am determined to break the pattern. So:

P.G. Wodehouse? Check. Basset hounds? Check.* Secret societies? Check. Devious plans? Check.

This book has all of those, plus a spunky main character with a great vocabulary and the inability to take no for an answer.

And yet, somehow, I don't LOVE it. It's fun. I'm reading it for a second time, so clearly it isn't awful. I think most of my problem is that I never quite believe in Frankie as a real character. I feel bad for her and I rejoice at her victories. But she never quite jumps off the page.

Now, I know there are heaps and heaps of people** who love this book. And I do enjoy it. And yet.

I don't know. I may need to give it a few days to percolate.


Book source: my school library

*Incidentally, basset hounds always remind me of James Thurber, probably because I was a docent at the Thurber House for several years when I was younger.

**People whose recommendations I trust.

Savvy: a review

by Ingrid Law

Mississippi Beaumont, commonly known as Mibs, is about to turn thirteen. Normally thirteen is just another birthday. But for the Beaumont family thirteen marks the day their savvy kicks in. Mibs is looking forward to her day. A little nervously, given that her brother Fish started a hurricane and forced the whole family to move to Kansaska-Nebransas (the Kansas/Nebraska border). But just before her birthday, her Poppa is in an accident and everything changes.

Determined to make it to him, she sets off on a pink Heartland Bible Supply bus with an assortment of siblings, friends, not-so-much friends, and passersby.

I LOVED this book. Mibs' voice was so fresh and true and while every character is a little out there, none of them felt like caricatures. And the writing just sparkled. I opened the book to a random page and found this bit:

Before leaving the bathroom, I cheerfully added a paper-wrapped soap to the pocket of my dress that still held Will's birthday present pen. Then I joined the others and we all flop-flapped down the hall in our new Mega Mega Mart flip-flops, following Lill and Lester downstairs toward the Heartland Bible Supply bus like a gaggle of flat-footed goslings, keeping a lookout for any unwanted attention.

I also liked how Mibs seems to find church and faith genuinely important. It didn't feel forced in any way--it simply seemed like part of her character. She did seem older than thirteen to me. But I decided that in a way that fits--the oddness of the Beaumont lifestyle would probably make her older than most thirteen year olds.

Ingrid Law has a new book out next year called Scumble which looks like it will be a sequel to Savvy.


Book source: my school library
Recommendation source: the Andre Norton shortlist

Hattie Big Sky: a review

by Kirby Larson

Hattie Inez Brooks, having been orphaned at an early age, has spent most of her life being shuffled from one relative to another. Now, at sixteen, she is about to be pulled out of school when an unexpected letter arrives. Her Uncle Chester has died and left her his homestead in eastern Montana. Determined to build a life and home of her own, Hattie sets out for Montana alone.

Kirby Larson obviously did an impressive research job for this book but she also manages to avoid the throw-everything-in approach which can haunt historical fiction. I really liked the fact that she did not feel the need to over-explain the homesteading system. I had no idea that homesteading had continued into the 20th century, so that aspect was fascinating to read about.

The characters, with the possible exception of Aunt Ivy, all felt delicately handled and well rounded. I still don't know what I think about Trask Martin. Which is to say, he felt human. I also liked the resolution of the story which wove a delicate balance between realism and hope.

I'm not wild about the cover though. The girl doesn't look like Hattie, nor does she look accurate to the period. I think it would have been more effective with only the sky and the land. But maybe that's just me.

And...I don't know why, but I didn't LOVE this book. I liked it. I would recommend it as a different view into a certain period of history. I liked a lot of aspects. I'd say it deserves its Newbery Honor. But something kept me from fully engaging. It's entirely possible this reaction is me and not the book. I really don't know.

Book source: my school library
Recommendation source: Leila

Returning

I always think of the most descriptive and fascinating titles, don't I?

[Actually, incidentally, titles are not one of my strong suits in any respect. When I took my two creative writing poetry classes, the professor would consistently tell me that the poem was good, albeit with some issues to straighten out, but the title...There was one poem that went through about three different titles and ended up going to back to an earlier one because neither of us could come up with anything better. Maybe I should just start going the Emily Dickinson route.]

So, here I am, back at school. This first week has been a bit crazy. Last week was crazy too, which didn't help anything. Getting ready for two weddings, attending one, flying 3,000 miles, spending a day with my family and then driving up to school for a NEW school year with a NEW roommate and a NEW setup (i.e. a university owned apartment rather than a dorm room). And up until last night I hadn't had time to make up a schedule for myself. I need a schedule. Somehow they ground me--even if I don't follow it at all.

I did get several books out of the library and am devouring them. Two read--reviews soon--and I'm in the middle of The Disreputable History of Frankie Landau-Banks which is one of those books that I liked the first time but didn't LOVE. I'm having pretty much the same reaction.

So, I'm looking forward to being around more. Hopefully you are as well!

Underway

A lemon tree in a pot, from an old issue of Just CrossStitch. [Actually, when I opened the webpage, the design I'm doing was shown at the top right corner.]

My weekly post is up at The IDDblog. It's entitled "How to read a poem, part 1." Take a look!

[And if you're a regular reader, comment! It's very sad when you write a piece and a week later there are 0 comments.]

The Transfiguration

Today is the Old Calendar feast of the Transfiguration, when Christ went on Mount Tabor with Peter, James, and John and shone like the sun. I didn't make it to church this morning because I haven't been sleeping well (which is such a terrible excuse). But I did the first canon for the feast this morning--it reminded me that even when I'm not in a parish situation (i.e., when I go back to school) I can still do things.

"When Thou was transfigured on Mount Tabor, O Christ Our God, Thou didst show Thy glory to Thy disciples as far as they could bear it. Let Thy everlasting light illumine also us sinners, through the intercessions of the Mother of God. Giver of Light, glory to Thee!" (Troparion of the feast)

I have a lot planned for today--hopefully it will be a productive and blessed one.

Small pleasures

[As an aside, before the actual post, I haven't been responding to comments recently. I'm so sorry about that! I really try to make it a point to respond to each, but this summer has been a strange one in terms of online activity and one of the things to get cut has been responses. Fall should see me returning to more regular posting and commenting habits.]

We had a glorious storm yesterday. Everything was turned to slate blue and green and grey. And the air was so full of the smell of rain. There's a great exultation in a really good storm that makes me go all Bronte--want to run outside and stand in it. Or maybe I mean Marianne Dashwood. I didn't, but I wanted to.

Instead I went down to the church bookstore and kept it open, although no one came but delivery men. Mused on the similarity of the bookstore to a fortress against the storm and the fittingness of the same. Connected it to Ely Cathedral--the Ship of the Fens. And then felt slightly embarrassed over the ramblings and Elizabeth Goudge-ness of it all.

The storm is gone this morning and it's currently sunny. I'm eating a fasting burrito (lettice, walnuts, onions, refried beans and salsa) and considering a Course of Action. I'm hoping today will be a good writing day (I've been revising my 2007 NaNoWriMo novel) but if it's going to be, I have to actually sit down and do it.

This has strayed a bit far from the title, hasn't it? The storm is a pleasure, the burrito is a pleasure. The writing is sometimes a pleasure, but most of the time it's just hard work. Harriet Vane and Lord Peter are a pleasure, but not a simple one. On the contrary, they seem to grow in complexity every time I re-read the wonder that is Gaudy Night. Which I did recently, in case you couldn't tell.