A River in the Sky by Elizabeth Peters

 Not long after arriving in St. George, Len found the nearest Deseret Industries store and I joined him. They had a great used book selection, and this one looked interesting. It was a $1.00 paperback, so I jumped on it.

I'm so glad I did! It's the middle of the Amelia Peabody series, but I didn't feel hampered by jumping in the middle. Amelia Peabody is a great character--stern, hilarious, in love with her archeologist husband, and prim English lady, as well as an accomplished archeologist in her own right. 

I enjoyed the interactions of Amelia and her mercurial husband, Emerson and their constant battles with each other and the other characters. It's refreshing and fun writing with nothing too heavy or gruesome or in bad taste. The mystery aspects of the story were interesting, but not --for me--the center of the story. The setting and the people of the Middle East are fascinating aspects of the story as well. It's set in the 1920s, so many of the attitudes and even racism are context-appropriate. But Amelia is a modern heroine with great strengths and champions women and certain impoverished "lower class" people beautifully.

I liked this so well that I ordered the first two in the series, so I can go back to the beginning. Unfortunately, I didn't notice that Amazon is shipping them to Rapid City. AAARRRGGHH. So, I ordered two more, earlier ones, and had them shipped here. I'll read them all mixed up, but that's okay. I will keep laughing!

Poser-My Life in Twenty-Three Yoga Poses by Claire Dederer

 When Len and I were in Laramie recently, we stopped in to see our wonderful friend, Susan. She had a box of books in her garage that was on its way out of there, so I paused to look through it. This one caught my eye, and Susan said, "Take it!" So I did.

This writer wrote in a very personal and vulnerable way. We see her doubts about herself, her mothering, her skills as a writer, as a daughter, etc., in all the insecure ways to which I can easily relate. It's also autobiographical as she goes back in time to her colorful childhood. She weaves an interesting story through the past and how it impacts her present struggles as a wife and mother. She navigates her relationships carefully and openly, and I kept wondering if her depressed husband would stay in the marriage. 

I enjoyed her descriptions of yoga, and the different poses. Her quest for deeper understanding of herself was always tied in some way to a pose. It also gave me a window into the world of a young mother these days, and the quest for perfection. It's a tortured path, but again, one to which I could relate! I also realized, as Dederer described her various yoga instructors and classes, that I have only skimmed the surface of the field. It might be time to go beyond the community yoga classes I've attended, and go all in on a yoga studio experience. Maybe, after COVID subsides?

Rain Reign by Ann M. Martin

 Len and I were traveling through Laramie and stayed with our wonderful friends, Don & Leslie. Leslie had recently finished this book, thought it was GOOD, and handed it to me. Leslie and I share a love of children's literature, so she anticipated I would like it too. And I did!

It's a tough story of an impoverished (in many ways) girl, Rose, who is autistic. She is also the narrator of the story, so we experience her world through her eyes. It's alternately heart-breaking and heart-warming as she experiences the best and the worst of human interaction. This is a tale well-told, and I especially enjoyed Rose's relationship with her uncle and her dog. 

It also reminded me of the way I often see the world... Despite our hardships, there is always a divine hand giving support and help where and when its needed. And to watch Rose grow and develop in her character was also instructive. She did the right thing in a tough situation and that is always inspiring to me.

I think it's a book that Henry and John would enjoy as a read-aloud. They both have soft hearts and this might help them understand "different ability" more deeply. It helped me experience autism from the inside out in a way I never have before. 

The Boy from the Woods by Harlan Coben

 When someone recommends a mystery to me, I'm always hopeful it will be as good as one of Sue Grafton's. When I asked my long-time friend June what she had read and liked lately, she mentioned this one. On the strength of that recommendation, I ordered a used copy from Amazon. I happily noted that this author is prolific, so if this one is good, I have a line on more. Woohoo!

I did enjoy this one, but it's not in the LOVE column. There are clever moments and witty dialogue, but not near the Grafton standard. I enjoyed the setting, and how many 70-year old successful women lawyers are there around? Who also have their own popular TV show? Who have a love-interest? Of course I would enjoy a main character like that... The "boy from the woods," Wilde, is an interesting mix of a character--unable to bond, living in a little globe but still connected to his godson... 

I didn't love the cruelty of the high school students to each other,  nor the over-the-top antics of the ueber-rich family the story centers around. What was interesting, though, was the Trump-like character and his rise to political infamy. The description of the way social media and bots are used to further political agendas was instructive and rang true, even if its depressing. As we're in the midst of an ugly election, I kept sensing similarities that we are living through right now. 

If one easily comes to hand, I might try another one by this author. I appreciated the occasional humor, the clean language, and the unexpected characters. Good mystery twists and turns too! Not too gory or violent. Yes, I might try another.

Half Broke Horses - A True-Life Novel by Jeannette Walls

 When I read the first page of this book, I sighed with pleasure. THIS is the kind of writing I've been yearning for! Interesting characters, insights, and engaging & exciting story. The first chapter about this amazing woman, Lily Casey Smith, immediately drew me in when she was caught in a flash flood and had to climb a tree to save her life. I loved the first-person narrative and her no-nonsense dealing with huge obstacles and seemingly impossible situations. She was brave. She was a problem-solver, she was direct and brazen. 

I knew Walls was a great writer from her first book, The Glass Castle. In it, she describes her childhood growing up with parents who were homeless and determined to stay that way. It is an incredible story, and her mother features prominently in the story. This book is about Walls' grandmother, the woman who raised her mother. Half Broke Horses also describes Walls' mother's childhood and we learn more about her unusual life and determined personality. Three generations of interesting, stubborn, courageous women and the forces that helped shape them come together in these two books. Both are enlightening and entertaining. I learned that the line between mental illness and sanity is very thin... There are only hints of the coming of mental illness in this book, however. 

The story of Casey's life is hard to believe. She was larger than life. She broke horses, even as a child, she taught school in very tough circumstances, she became a pilot, she raised two children, she asked for donations for gas on her travels, she fought for an education and did it piece-meal so she could be hired as a teacher, and she did it all during the Depression and under impoverished circumstances. This is the story of GRIT. When she was helping her husband manage the ranch, raising her children, and teaching school, I wondered if she slept at all. There is no mention of recreation of any kind. 

There is one troubling chapter about her encounter with early Mormons, which doesn't show them in the best light. And the granddaughter's knowledge of these and other events is surely limited, but still it all rings with truth. It's refreshing to read the story of a woman who fought back against so many of the dampers that society was putting on women at the time; yet it's not done in any sort of "cause" way. Lily seems to be the ultimate practical person who just used her own common sense to deal with obstacles. 

Another troubling aspect of the story is Lily's beating of her daughter, Rose Mary. It's told with a clear understanding of how she (Lily, the mother) was out of control. Yet she doesn't seem to wallow in guilt or shame about it. She doesn't dwell in remorse. She moves on quickly. This aspect of her personality called into question for me this mother's role in her daughter's later mental illness. And in the daughter's choice of husband who was clearly more of an adventurer and alcoholic than good family material... 

It's been awhile since I've read The Glass Castle, and I'd like to read it again now, knowing the history of the mother. Another enjoyable aspect of this book is Walls' descriptions of the difficulties of farming and raising cattle in arid areas of Texas and Arizona. The land and weather play a vital role in the challenges Lily faces. It's instructive to read about the way, for example, Lily's husband Jim deals with the water shortages. He figured out how to capture the water from the rain by building dams; something that wasn't typically thought of on private land. I really admired this character, Jim, for his quiet knowing ways with animals and nature in general, including human! 

All in all, this book is a keeper. 

The Alter Ego Effect by Todd Herman

 I heard a podcaster rave about this book and how it changed his life. The reviews on Amazon had similar stories. It didn't affect me this way, though there are some good ideas. To me it seemed too complicated to create this alter ego, and the research he cited didn't necessarily tie too firmly to the practice he was advocating. The author, Todd Herman, is a coach and "mental game strategist" and not a psychologist, so using the research this way isn't surprising. Still, he makes some good use of strategies... And I probably shouldn't judge the success of his ideas since I didn't try them in their entirety. I just wasn't sold on the whole idea...though parts do ring true and I am trying some of them. Herman's examples are most often from sports, so I naturally took some of his ideas and applied them to my pickleball game. They work occasionally--but, I haven't really given them a fair chance. 

One practice, meditation, that he advocates, clearly has a strong research base. No question there. And his example of how to short cut learning one method of meditating I found very useful. Here's his description: (Page 221)

Sit in a comfortable position. It could be in a chair or on the floor. Pace an object like a ball or a blank piece of paper two feet in front of you. Set a timer for three minutes. During the three minutes, you'll start by visualizing the number 1, on the object. The moment you notice your mind has drifted off of the number 1, visualize the number 2 on the object. Once again, when you've noticed your mind has drifted, visualize the number 3. Continue this pattern until the timer goes off. Whatever number you're left with when the timer goes off is the number you'll want to record somewhere. If you ended with the number 34, then that's the score for this round. You want a lower number next round.

Now do the exercise again, except this time activate your Alter Ego, with your Totem and go through the same process as your Alter Ego. If it's Einstein, be Einstein. If it's an elephant, be an elephant. If it's your strong and resilient grandmother, be her. Then record the number you're left with at the end.

How did it go? Were you better? Was it harder?

The two most common experiences people trying this for the first time are: 1) they were able to beat their previous score by a fair margin; 2) they found themselves looping back and forth between remembering to be their Alter Ego and focusing on the number. 

Either one is a great outcome because, with even more practice, things improve. 

I may give this book another chance...but maybe not. Parts are useful...

Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer

 This incredible book was recommended to me by my long-time friend from Laramie, Glen Whipple. Then I saw that Stacy Jacobs-Cookie, a Rapid City friend was reading it as well. Each essay could stand alone as a poetic tribute to some aspect of Creation, the Earth and the Land. Many include Native traditions and beliefs about the sacredness of the Land as well. Taken as a whole, though, the book is a powerful call to action. The call is so strong, in fact, that I couldn't read it straight through. To learn how we are failing as stewards of the Earth was more than I could take, night after night. I had to periodically take breaks of a week or more to return to it. Yet it is not depressing, per se, and there are sparkling moments of hope. The author is a member of the Citizen Potawatomi Nation and teaches Botany at the university level. She's a scientist who teaches about living things and continues to be an active learner from the plants themselves.  

This fits so well with other reading I've been doing lately. The Overstory opened the possibility of trees as sentient beings. And that each tree has a contribution to make. For example, (Page 455 - )"When you cut down a tree, what you make from it should be at least as miraculous as what you cut down."

This author extends that idea to all plant and animal life. She definitely reflects and promotes the Native perspective of humans being a part of the circle of life, on an equal footing (sometimes below) with plants and animals. 

It was wonderful to see restoration projects going on all over Minnesota when we were there in August. Lakes, shorelines, trails, and many open areas had signs that indicated and explained why weeds were growing there, for example. There was visible community support for these projects; the signs often listed and explained the partnerships that were responsible for the work. The partners were various combinations of state government and local government entities and local community groups and nonprofit organizations. It was heartening to see the broad spectrum of support for these projects! Every time I paused to read a sign explaining such a project, I thought about this book. 

The ideas in this book also made me reflect on the LDS teaching of man having dominion over the plants and animals. Is that wrong? Or have we just not been the stewards we need to be? I think it would be a hard sell to get most Americans behind the ideas in this book. But even considering these ideas and their possible benefit would result in more thoughtful consumption! 

Here are some of my highlighted segments:

Page 127 - Something essential happens in a vegetable garden. It's a place where if you can't say, "I love you" out loud, you can say it in seeds. And the land will reciprocate, in beans. 

Page 222 - (when she hears her students singing Amazing Grace on one of their field trips) 

In their caress of that old hymn, I came to know that it wasn't naming the source of wonder that mattered, it was wonder itself. 

...

As an enthusiastic young PhD, colonized by the arrogance of science, I had been fooling myself that I was the only teacher. The land is the real teacher. All we need as students is mindfulness. Paying attention is a form of reciprocity with the living world, receiving the gifts with open eyes and open heart. My job was just to lead them into presence and ready them to hear. On that smoky afternoon, the mountains taught the students and the students taught the teacher. 

Page 183 - Guidelines for the Honorable Harvest

•     Know the ways of the ones who take care of you, so that you may take care of them.
•     Introduce yourself. Be accountable as the one who comes asking for life.
•     Ask permission before taking. Abide by the answer.
•     Never take the first. Never take the last.
•     Take only what you need.
•     Take only that which is given.
•     Never take more than half. Leave some for others.
•     Harvest in a way that minimizes harm.
•     Use it respectfully. Never waste what you have taken. 
•     Share. Give thanks for what you have been given.
•     Give a gift, in reciprocity for what you have taken. 
•     Sustain the ones who sustain you and the earth will last forever. 

Page 219 - This is our work, to discover what we can give. Isn't this the purpose of education, to learn the nature of your own gifts and how to use them for good in the world?

Page 300 - Paying attention acknowledges that we have something to learn from intelligences other than our own. Listening, standing witness, creates an openness to the world in which the boundaries between us can dissolve in a raindrop.

Page 304 - 305 - The Windigo is the legendary monster of our Anishinaabe people.... an increase in Windigo hunger causes an increase in Windigo eating, and that increased eating promotes only more rampant hunger in an eventual frenzy of uncontrolled consumption. In the natural world as well as the built environment, positive feedback leads inexorably to change--sometimes to growth, sometimes to destruction. When growth is unbalanced, however, you can't always tell the difference.

Page 308 - I remember walking a street in Manhattan where the warm light of a lavish home spilled out over the sidewalk on a man picking through the garbage for his dinner. Maybe we've all been banished to lonely corners by our obsession with private property. We've accepted banishment even from ourselves when we spend our beautiful, utterly singular lives on making more money, to buy more things that feed but never satisfy. It is the Windigo way that tricks us into believing that belongings will fill our hunger, when it is belonging that we crave.

The fear for me is that the world has been turned inside out, the dark side made to seem light. Indulgent self-interest that our people once held to be monstrous is now celebrated as success. 

Ecological economists argue for reforms that would ground economics in ecological principles and the constraints of thermodynamics. They urge the embrace of the radical notion that we must sustain natural capital and ecosystem services if we are to maintain quality of life. But governments still cling to the neoclassical fallacy that human consumption has no consequences. We continue to embrace economic systems that prescribe infinite growth on a finite planet, as if somehow the universe had repealed the laws of thermodynamics on our behalf. 

Page 332- If you get down on your knees, you'll see anthills, no bigger than a quarter. The granulated soil the ants have mounded around the hole as white as snow. Grain by grain, in their tiny mandibles, they are carrying up waste from below and carrying seeds and bits of leaves down into the soil. Shuttling back and forth. The grasses feed the ants with seeds and the ants feed the grasses with soil. They hand off life to one another. They understand their interconnections; they understand that the life of one is dependent on the life of all. Leaf by leaf, root by root, the trees, the berries, the grasses are joining forces, and so there are birds and deer and bugs that have come to join them. And so the world is made. 

Page 333 - More fruit drew more birds, who dropped more seeds, who fed the ants, and so it goes. That same pattern of reciprocity is written all over the landscape. That's one of the things I honor about this place. Here you can see beginnings, the small incremental processes by which an ecological community is built. 

The beds are greening over. The land knows what to do when we do not. I hope that the waste beds do not disappear entirely, though--we need them to remind us what we are capable of. We have an opportunity to learn from them, to understand ourselves as students of nature, not the masters. The very best scientists are humble enough to learn.... Human damage has created novel ecosystems, and the plants are slowly adapting and showing us the way toward healing the wounds. This is a testament to the ingenuity and wisdom of plants more than to any action of people. I hope we'll have the wisdom to let them continue their work. Restoration is an opportunity for a partnership, for us to help. Our part of the work is not complete.

Page 334- Mother Nature and Father Time could use someone to push a wheelbarrow, and a few intrepid beings have volunteered.

Page 336 - She reminded me that it is not the land that has been broken, but our relationship to it.

Restoration is imperative for healing the earth, but reciprocity is imperative for long-lasting, successful restoration. Like other mindful practices, ecological restoration can be viewed as an act of reciprocity in which humans exercise their caregiving responsibility for the ecosystems that sustain them. We restore the land, and the land restores us. As writer Freeman House cautions, "We will continue to need the insights and methodologies of science, but if we allow the practice of restoration to become the exclusive domain of science, we will ahve lost its greatest promise, which is nothing less than a redefinition of human culture. 

We're not in control. What we are in control of is our relationship to the earth. Nature herself is a moving target, especially in an era of rapid climate change. Species composition may change, but relationship endures. It is the most authentic facet of restoration. Here is where our most challenging and most rewarding work lies, in restoring a relationship of respect, responsibility, and reciprocity. And love. 

Page 338 - Restoring land without restoring relationship is an empty exercise. It is relationship that will endure and relationship that will sustain the restored land. Therefore, reconnecting people and the landscape is as essential as reestablishing proper hydrology or cleaning up contaminants. It is medicine for the earth. 

Page 339 - Naturalist E.O. Wilson writes, "There can be no purpose more inspiring than to begin the age of restoration, reweaving the wondrous diversity of life that still surrounds us." The stories are piling up all around in scraps of land being restored: trout streams reclaimed from siltation, brownfields turned into community gardens, prairies reclaimed from soybeans, wolves howling in their old territories, schoolkids helping salamanders across the road. If your heart isn't raised by the sight of whooping cranes restored to their ancient flyway, you must not have a pulse. It's true that these victories are as small and fragile as origami cranes, but their power moves as inspiration. Your hands itch to pull out invasive species and replant the native flowers. Your finger trembles with a wish to detonate the explosion of an obsolete dam that would restore a salmon run. These are the antidotes to the poison of despair.

Page 340 - As we work to heal the earth, the earth heals us.

Page 344 - The breath of plants gives life to animals and the breath of animals gives life to plants. My breath is your breath, your breath is mine. It's the great poem of give and take, of reciprocity that animates the world. Isn't that a story worth telling? Only when people understand the symbiotic relationships that sustain them can they become people of corn, capable of gratitude and reciprocity. 

The very facts of the world are a poem. Light is turned to sugar. Salamanders find their way to ancestral ponds following magnetic lines radiating from the earth. The saliva of grazing buffalo causes the grass to grow taller. Tobacco seeds germinate when they smell smoke. Microbes in industrial waste can destroy mercury. Aren't these stories we should all know?

Who is it that holds them? In long-ago times, it was the elders who carried them. In the twenty-first century, it is often scientists who first hear them. The stories of buffalo and salamanders belong to the land, but scientists are one of their translators and carry a large responsibility for conveying their stories to the world.

And yet scientists mostly convey these stories in a language that excludes readers. Conventions for efficiency and precision make reading scientific papers very difficult for the rest of the world, and if the truth be known, for us as well This has serious consequences for real democracy, especially the democracy of all species. For what good is knowing, unless it is coupled with caring? Science can give us knowing, but caring comes from someplace else. ..... Does science allow us to perceive the sacred in the world, or does it bend light in a such a way as to obscure it? A lens that brings the material world into focus but blurs the spiritual is the lens of a people made of wood. It is not more data that we need for our transformation to people of corn, but more wisdom.

Page 346 - In the indigenous view, humans are viewed as somewhat lesser beings in the democracy of species. We are referred to as the younger brothers of Creation, so like younger brothers, we must learn from our elders. Plants were here first and have had a long time to figure things out. They live both above and below ground and hold the earth in place. Plants know how to make food from light and water. Not only do they feed themselves, but they make enough to sustain the lives of all the rest of us. Plants are providers for the rest of the community and exemplify the virtue of generosity, always offering food. What if Western scientists saw plants as their teachers, rather than their subjects? What if they told stories with that lens?

Page 358 - Amphibians offer few of the warm fuzzy feelings that fuel our protection of charismatic mammals that look back at us with Bambi's grateful eyes. They bring us face to face with our innate xenophobia, sometimes directed at other species and sometimes directed at our own, whether in this hollow or in deserts halfway around the globe. Being with salamanders gives honor to otherness, offers an antidote to the poison of xenophobia. Each time we rescue slippery, spotted beings we attest to their right to be, to live in the sovereign territory of their own lives. 

Page 359 - Your strange hunger for ease should not mean a death sentence for the rest of creation. 

Page 381 - Wealth among traditional people is measured by having enough to give away. Hoarding the gift, we become constipated with wealth, bloated with possessions, too heavy to join the dance.

In a culture of gratitude, everyone knows that gifts will follow the circle of reciprocity and flow back to you again. This time you give and next time you receive. Both the honor of giving and the humility of receiving are necessary halves of the equation. 

Page 383 - The earth gives away for free the power of wind and sun and water, but instead we break open the earth to take fossil fuels. Had we taken only that which is given to us, had we reciprocated the gift, we would not have to fear our own atmosphere today. 

Page 384 - The moral covenant of reciprocity calls us to honor our responsibility for all we have been given, fir all that we have taken. It's our turn now, long overdue. Let us hold a giveaway for Mother Earth, spread our blankets out for her and pile them high with gifts of our own making. Imagine the books, the paintings, the poems, the clever machines, the compassionate acts, the transcendent ideas, the perfect tools. The fierce defense of all that has been given. Gifts of mind, hands, hearts, voice, and vision all offered up on behalf of the earth. Whatever our gift, we are called to give it and to dance for the renewal of the world. 

In return for the privilege of breath.

Girl, Stop Apologizing by Rachel Hollis

 This is the follow-up to her other book. It's very similar as her first. Upbeat, lively, supposedly honest and open, and happy, happy, happy. I actually couldn't bear to finish it. Again, too superficial, too lacking in serious self-reflection, and too sugary and upbeat to be really real. 

And then--because she refers to her business so often, I thought I should just look online and see what that looks like. And lo and behold, she got divorced last summer! WHAT?! She's built this huge brand on her happy marriage and family life, and she's getting divorced? Poor girl--it must be pretty bad to go this route given how her business is built on this image she created. Yikes. Now I just feel sorry for her. 

When I get back to Rapid City, it will be interesting to get Rachel Hinkson's view of all of this. I know she wanted to read/discuss her other book, but does that mean she bought in to the whole milieu? What does she think now? That will be an interesting chat!

Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis

 This book was recommended as a Rapid City book club read by Rachel Hinkson. I was excited when I found a copy in the Little Library box down on the corner here in Bismarck. Actually, her next book was there too, which I will review momentarily.

It is a lively read. This young woman, Rachel Hollis, is an online phenomenon with a big following. She writes engagingly, though very informally. More like she's talking... It's laid out in chapters of "Lies." For example, "Something Else Will Make Me Happy," "I'm Not Good Enough," "I'm Not a Good Mom." She explains her experiences with these topics and then, at the end of each chapter, has a list of "Things That Helped Me," which are practical thoughts and actions that help overcome the lies.

I'm not in her target audience. I'm older and -- I hope! -- wiser! She's got a few good ideas and a ton of enthusiasm, but some of her thinking is very elementary. And she's awfully proud of her open and supposedly authentic honesty--and it is refreshing not to have her life sugar-coated, but it still didn't exactly ring true to me. 

As I read, I enjoyed learning about how she had a terrible childhood and growing up, how she grew her business and reputation, how she fell in love and started a family, etc., etc. It was interesting, although not especially rich or deep. I kept thinking she was very superficial in her approach to all aspects of life. Although her positive attitude and can-do attitude would be helpful and inspiring, probably to someone young and struggling. There are some good suggestions here...

But it's definitely not the quality of a book or thinker that I would want to pass on to anyone. So it's going back to the Little Library with my thanks. 

This Tender Land by William Kent Krueger

 There seem to be quite a few wonderful Minnesota writers who write lovingly about this part of the world--the upper Midwest. This one is set in the Depression era, and includes fascinating characters and wonderful examples of overcoming the odds. The issue of faith and faith healers enters the story in a beautiful and unexpected way. This part of the country also has a history of abuse of Native Americans, and this issue is a theme in the book as well. This story is somewhat reminiscent of Huckleberry Finn, since this group of young people travel on the Mississippi River as well. The landscape and era are as important as the characters. I wondered many times, how on earth did these people survive? They had incredible hardship and they were incredibly resourceful. 

This little band of travelers included the main character, Odie, his older brother Albert, their friend Mose, and the little girl they rescued, Emmy. The story begins in the Lincoln School, a boarding school that is every bit as atrocious as history recounts they often were. Yet there are redeeming characters here as well, in the form of a teacher's family and a kind older employee. 

The climate and the land figure prominently in the story as well, especially when a tornado wipes out the struggling teacher-farmer's wife. One of my favorite characters was Sister Eve. She was the epitome of charismatic goodness, and used her gifts well. Odie was a wonderful character as well, and it was a good experience to live the story through his eyes. It was beautiful to witness his growing understanding of his brother. A fascinating case study in leadership could also be made from this story as the little group struggled to make decisions about how and when to travel and solve the obstacles that came their way. I enjoyed this story enough to want to read it again sometime. 

The High Divide by Lin Enger

 I ordered this book used from Amazon based on the author's brother's books. Leif Enger, the brother, mentioned in an interview I read, how much he admired his brother's work. Well, it's not even in the same ball park as Leif's work. It was okay...just mediocre writing and story. Whereas Leif's writing is colorful and admirable and filled with great characters. There are similarities, however.

Both brothers write about Minnesota and North Dakota and settings in a slightly earlier time. This novel takes place in Bismarck and Miles City, Montana, and open spaces in between. There are cowboy and Indian elements, just none that are particularly compelling or even educational. It's too bad... And the mother in this story, the woman left behind by both her husband and her two sons, does some fairly unbelievable things... Her dialogue didn't ring true at all, nor did her actions. The two brave sons were likable enough, but not very interesting.

One part that was enjoyable, however, was when the older son learned how to ride an Indian pony and went on a buffalo hunt with the Indian his father had sought. The "trade" made between the two fathers was interesting, but I was surprised when the trade was only temporary. It did cause me to reflect on forgiveness and accountability...

The mystery that moved the story forward, the father's crimes against the Indians while he served under Custer, unfolded fairly predictably. I enjoyed the historical and geographical references that I was familiar with, but it was all rather ho-hum. This book is going to be pitched into the "Little Library" box down the street. 

The Amateur Marriage by Anne Tyler

 I can't remember why I ordered this book. I believe I read somewhere that they loved this author and when I looked her up, I was happy to see she's written a lot. If I liked her, I thought, I'd have more to read, which I like. And her reviews were glowing. So, I thought she was worth a try. 

I was disappointed. This book was mildly interesting and the dialogue was good. The characters did not come alive for me, and they weren't people I could relate to very well anyway. However, the setting in the 1940s when this couple met, pre-World War 2, was colorfully drawn. And the dialogue was good; it felt real and moved the plot along. So, the writing of the dialogue was good. And the dynamics of resentful, spoiled, and immature people were described very well and I could relate to much of that. 

What I kept hoping for, though, was that these people would wake up to their myopia and their self-centeredness, etc., I was hoping that Pauline and Michael, the two main characters, would eventually find their way to love each other again. There wasn't any visible growth toward each other. They just got further and further apart. It was too bad. 

I'm not sure what the author's point was. A description of a family's struggles with no hope or inspiration for being or getting better? Their lives were pretty dull and predictable, except for one rebellious daughter. I don't know--it was just mundane and disappointing. Some critics call Tyler "literary" but I can't see it. Sometimes, when I'm in a bad mood, I will dislike a book. This book almost PUT me in a bad mood!

Virgil Wander by Leif Enger

This book was a delight, with just a tinge of darkness. I love Enger's writing--he's amazing in his imagery and word choices, not to mention his wonderful characters who are quirky and fascinating. Here's an example from page 173: "Ellen was working things through. One week she'd show up plain as a hymnal, eyes cast down and her hair yanked back; the next she arrived in glitter and paint, short and bright as a puffin." 

The narrator in this book is hapless and humble. Bordering on crazy and slightly worried about that. His voice is very similar to the narrator in Enger's other two books. Very lovable and vulnerable. He has crashed his car into Lake Superior and rides around the dying town on an old Schwinn. He loves from afar and when this love is returned, he can barely believe it.

One image and character I really enjoyed in this book is the Norwegian Rune. He builds and flies kites. And Enger describes them so beautifully that you want to see them. He describes flying them as a transformative experience--you want to go fly a kite. There's a surreal almost spiritual quality to both Rune and Virgil. It's interesting to notice Enger's feelings about God and faith. In his first book (Peace Like a River), it's evident the narrator son is amazed by the goodness and faith and power of his father. In his second book (So Brave, Young and Handsome) there's a feeling the narrator is not relying on or expecting help from God. It's more about goodness and evil and persistence... And in this story, the character of Adam Leer is thoroughly evil and is pitted against Virgil. I wonder what Enger is trying to tell me...

The small dying town of Greenstone, Minnesota is well- but depressingly-described. I love the setting of cold Lake Superior and the proximity of Duluth, having visited there last summer. I related to and enjoyed the descriptions of that very beautiful yet isolated part of the country. 

I really love Enger's word choices. They are beautifully simple but evocative. I enjoy his characters, even though some of them scare me. His stories and settings are charming, yet there's a darkness that creeps in...but the light prevails. I like that. I don't read to explore darkness...but maybe it's useful to consider its complexity and counterpoint to goodness and light. 

So Brave, Young, and Handsome, by Leif Enger

Because I enjoyed "Peace Like a River" so much, I wanted to try another one by this author. This one is a treasure too. It's another cowboy story, kind of, and the narrator is similar to the one in his first book. That is, the narrator is humble, vulnerable, quirky, and often funny. Both narrators are absolutely delightful and honest and engaging.

Another similarity between the two books is that they deal with a criminal on the run. Outlaws and horses are involved in both stories as well. And both books have fascinating and witty and colorful characters who get caught up in crazy, outlandish, but somehow charming adventures.

I really liked the way this story unfolded. I enjoyed following Monte Becket's adventure, although I worried about him. I liked him so much, I felt protective of him. I wanted him to go home to Susannah, but he just could never get there! Things kept cropping up...and I enjoyed reading about what a road trip across Kansas and Oklahoma, etc., was like. I enjoyed the way he camped out, rode trains, met people, and was true to his friend Glendon. The final chapters set in the citrus orchards of California were beautiful reading too. Enger creates such idyllic settings and warmth, you want to enter the story somehow! He's also very funny. Laugh out loud funny sometimes. That Pinkerton detective, Charlie Siringo, unfolds in a fascinating way, as do all of the characters here. His language, metaphors, and visuals are STUNNING.

The Soul of an Octopus by Sy Montgomery

This book was recommended to me by my friend Glen Whipple. I respect his judgment, so I ordered it. The subtitle is, "A Surprising Exploration into the Wonder of Consciousness" and the author doesn't really deliver on this point. She does, however, introduce us to her passion for Octopuses, and reveals a lot about their anatomy and habits. I didn't exactly buy her interpretation of many behaviors she observed. She attributed much more intelligence and cognition than I would have, given the evidence. However, it's clear that these animals are fascinating and do have many more abilities than I would have ever guessed.

What kind of bugged me was that there was no diagram of the various octopus parts that she described. I had to kind of guess where they might be on the octopus; or if she did describe it, it didn't resonate with me in a way that I could "see" what she was talking about.

She also got off on some other issues as she explored this consciousness idea. She quoted other authors and compared other studies, etc., usually I find these digressions, when they are well done, fine and good. In this book, though, they were a little annoying Not real relevant or illustrative or intriguing. I would expect her to make more eloquent comparisons if she's going to go out on a limb every now and then. Maybe I'm just grumpy, though.

Another thing she did that was a little annoying was describe some of the aquarium's workers. These people weren't particularly interesting and this didn't add much to the story. I did admire their commitment to the sea life, though, but this was way overdone. They weren't described in an interesting way, either.

What I did like was her adventure to see octopuses in the wild. I liked her descriptions of the difficulties and challenges in finding them. It was also interesting to read about how relentless octopuses are in escaping captivity. The author did a good job of finding scientists and relating their experiences with octopuses, especially their talent to escape. These parts were fascinating.

Would I read it again? No. Am I intrigued by octopuses? Yes. Do I have more understanding and respect for them? Yes.

Peace Like a River by Leif Enger

I loved this book. The story is beautifully told and the characters are intriguing. The story is told from a boy's point of view and his family is fascinating. His sister is a gifted poet and their relationship is a wonder to behold. The faith of their father is lyrically described and observed. It's such a beautiful read and somehow not preachy or overly religious. I liked it so well, I immediately ordered another one of his books. I hope I like it half as much.

The setting of the Badlands in North Dakota is also a fascinating part of the story. I need to research and see if the hot spots described are real or fiction!

Slow Sex - The Art and Craft of the Female Orgasm by Nicole Daedone

 This book was recommended by Dr. Jennifer Finlayson Fife, a licensed therapist who specializes in working with LDS couples on sexuality and relationship issues. I took an online course from her this year, and have listened to multiple podcasts and interviews that are so impressive! She's a great thinker, a faithful member of the church, and a brilliant therapist. In short, I respect her opinion, and didn't hesitate to order this book.

And it did not disappoint! Although the author is clearly "out there," she does have some liberating and wonderful ideas about female sexual pleasure. She recommends a unique practice of "orgasmic meditation" and this book specifies how to do it. Maybe I should explain what I mean by "out there." Her recommendation is to practice OM daily. And she isn't too choosy about who her partner should be. That's what I mean by "out there." Perhaps, since we haven't attempted to practice this daily, I shouldn't dismiss the idea. But I DO dismiss the idea of casual intimate partners. 

The gift of this reading, though, was for me to learn how to really enjoy physical intimacy, even when not feeling particularly aroused. This is a method for helping to create arousal and pleasure, without the need for an orgasm, per se. This has been a wonderful addition to our marriage and has created a deeper intimacy. 

Passionate Marriage - Keeping Love & Intimacy Alive in Committed Relationships by David Schnarch, Ph.D.

 This book was mentioned in an interview with Dr. Jennifer Finlayson-Fife, a wonderful therapist whose opinion I value highly. She bases much of her practice and thinking on David Schnarch's work and spoke so highly of him and this book that I decided to order it.

I love the author's attitude! He's accessible, positive, and warm. He uses his wealth of counseling experiences to teach via story and example. He's so positive and accepting of people and their struggles that it's easy to see why he would be an effective therapist.

One basic tenet of his, that Finlayson-Fife also teaches, is that a successful and loving relationship can only be built on two separate and whole individuals. We need to offer our whole, complete selves to the relationship, and encounter another whole and complete individual. Many of his illustrations illustrate the importance of this... With an emotionally needy person, it's very difficult to build a relationship. Both parts need to be strong and individual and come together in strength. We do not "fill each other's needs," or "complete each other." It's only then that a person has the wherewith all to be in a mature, nurturing and equal partnership. The "one up" and "one down" in power in a relationship, for example, leads to sexual dysfunction.

Another interesting and encouraging thesis of Shnarch's is that it takes decades to develop a satisfying sexual relationship; and not just in the sexual realm. But his point is that intimacy is deep, complex, and satisfying and we can't reap the rewards of such a relationship in a short-term time-span. He celebrates the rewards of long-term relationship, and I really like that idea. That it's worth the work and commitment because the rewards are so great.

Basically, what Schnarch and Finlayson-Fife (and others like Daedone) posit is that we need to know our own desires. We need to own them. We need to know what we want and work positively to get what we want, and not just sexually, but in our lives in general. We must know ourselves and be a working, growing, learning individual in all realms of our lives. This whole person can then come together with another whole person and create a loving and powerful bond that is immensely satisfying. It's a call for interdependence, and sometimes I just want independence because it's easier! But it's also less satisfying. I guess you need both, and as Leonard and I age, we'll continue to work on all aspects of ourselves and our relationship. The tension between independence and interdependence is something I continue to work out on an almost daily basis. How lucky am I?

The Hotel South Dakota - A Tory Bauer Mystery - by Kathleen Taylor

I read this one years ago, and thought it quite light and fun. It seemed like a good choice to throw in my bag for our recent road trip to Minneapolis and Rochester, MN, for a new car purchase and our Mayo checkups during the COVID-19 pandemic. It was.

I like the setting of a small East River South Dakota town. I like the time period -- it's about a high school reunion of folks about my age, and both time periods resonate with me. I enjoy the author's humor. The mystery aspects got a little too complex for me, but that seems to be par for the course for me lately.

I laughed out loud a couple of times. But is it a great story or great writing or interesting characters? Not especially. The bad guys are one-dimensional and the good guys are not that interesting. But for light reading on a summer road trip? Perfect way to get away.

Echoes of Eden by E. Douglas Clark

The subtitle is "Eternal Lessons from our First Parents"
Even though this book is ten years old, it feels very current with my thinking and the thinking I'm hearing from guests on the Maxwell Institute Podcast and the Leading Saints podcast. This author inspired hope in me about my role as a wife and partner. Using wonderful and interesting sources, not well-known, he makes a strong case for absolute equal partnership between husbands and wives.

For years in the church we have heard, "Women and men are equal, but the man presides in the home." Or similar. This is counsel that I heard and heeded. But it did not lead me to a good place. I often abdicated my responsibility for thinking and doing; instead, I got lazy and left it up to Leonard in many cases. I blamed the above doctrine for this. And I was wrong, very wrong!

This author does a beautiful job of giving examples of how Eve and Sariah were powerful and respected and vital partners in the work of their husbands. They were in it together, just as our Heavenly Parents intended it. Looking at their lives, it inspired me to be more devoted in my partnership with Leonard and to take my place as his equal. Not to abdicate. I loved President Hinckley's clear counsel on this matter, but somehow I didn't hear it. Now I do.

I really enjoyed this book and the new meaning it gave to my understanding as a wife. And it also helped me appreciate many of the aspects of their lives that I had never before considered. Well worth the read!

A Gentleman in Moscow by Amor Towles

My dear friend Leslie sent me this book during our sequestering for the COVID-19 virus. She had just finished it and thought I might enjoy it. We had been talking on a walk(via airpods since she's in Laramie) and her description of it intrigued me. Well, from the opening page, I knew this book was going to be great! It was. Hooray!

It's so seldom, lately, that I find a book I adore This is one. As soon as I finished it, I began again from the first page so that I could pick up the little hints and red herrings the author had dropped along the way. My memory is such that I miss a lot from week to week, so it helped to just open it again. I had read it slowly because it is so beautifully written, so I would occasionally forget the characters. The second time through I also went slowly and just savored his use of language.

It was also interesting to notice the author's style. He frequently used the pattern of THREE...in his sentences, there were very often three things listed. I started noticing and marking that pattern, and then found them everywhere! Plus the number three was significant throughout the book... I probably didn't catch them all, but this author is so cryptic and intelligent that I know these were all purposeful. I enjoyed catching them. Plus, he uses alliteration and assonance CONSTANTLY! So fun to notice...

And his clues along the way--wrapped brown packages, unfinished thoughts, etc., show up again later. I loved following these threads like a mystery. And the main character, the "Gentleman" was such a fine person and the way he developed over the time span in the novel was beautiful. I loved his sense of humor, too.

It was interesting to read this particular story in the midst of quarantine from a pandemic! This main character is sequestered too, and couldn't leave the hotel because of his sentence to stay there. The political backdrop of the young USSR was fascinating to read about too.

I also enjoyed the way the author played with time...very short time spans, then expanded time spans in the middle, and again short time spans at the end. Very clever! And how about the fact that the climax of the book -- the unexpected return of a grown up Nina -- occurs at EXACTLY the middle of the book? So many amazing things this author did...plus all the chapter titles begin with "A" and fit the content perfectly.

Have I even mentioned the culinary delights beautifully described? Mouth-watering and discerning! And the sumptuous characterizations. Fabulously interesting and unexpected. Laugh-out-loud witty dialogue and shenanigans. And a completely fresh and beautifully rendered story. A great book on all counts. (Get it???) YES. I love this book and will savor it again soon. I think I need to send copies to Melissa and Sierra. If they enjoy it half as much as I did, it will be worth it!!!

Off the Grid by C.J. Box

Sequestering gift table in our apartment's front lobby yielded a bunch of C.J. Box novels. I had heard of him, as a western kind of writer, and thought I'd like to try him out. But the reviews on Amazon were not such that I wanted to spend money on him. So it was a happy surprise for me to see this and many other "Joe Pickett" novels on the table. I thought I shouldn't be greedy and would start with just taking one. I chose "Off the Grid" because it wasn't named something like the others which all seemed to have a lot to do with COLD, ice, or blood! I was also hoping it would be near the beginning of the series so I would have some context. Looking in the front of the book for the list, this one came second, and the first one wasn't on the table, so it seemed a good choice. Later I realized this is the second to the latest--the publisher had put them in reverse order, probably to fool people like me! But no matter, I'm not going back for more.

That's not to say it wasn't an enjoyable, fairly clean read. It was. I liked the characters--the silent strong Nate, a falconer, and the hapless Joe Pickett and his family. They were likable and admirable. Their situation was interesting too--terrorists hiding out in the desert in Wyoming. I could feel the authenticity of the Wyoming--incuding UW--vibe. But it's not great writing and it's not great plotting, just good and a page-turner. Box definitely keeps the tension high as the adventure unfolds. That part was enjoyable. The dialogue was a little stilted and unreal too, at times. Uneven, I'd say. I enjoyed the scenery and the birds and the little I learned about falconry.

I know there are better books and better choices. This one wasn't bad, but it's going back on the table for someone else to pick up.

Everything is Figureoutable by Marie Forleo

So the first time I came across Marie Forleo was when she interviewed Brené Brown. I liked her open and enthusiastic style. Then I heard life coach Jody Moore talk about this book on her podcast and how it had motivated her to act and the philosophy had become central to her work and life. I thought it would be worth looking into... Oh, and then, driving in a rental car from Sacramento to Napa on our last trip out there, I listened to someone interview Marie on his show. She was so inspiring and energizing that I thought, I will order that book when I get home! She talked about her B-School and how she's a multi-passionate entrepreneur, so I thought her message might also resonate with Eli. He's trying to figure out if teaching is really for him or not...

So, the book came and I sailed through it. It's quite easy to read, very entertaining and light, even though the message is strong. I did not stop and do the exercises, which I think would be very beneficial...however, I'm just not in the mood right now. Parts of her message though, and exercises did get through and have motivated me to get going on more writing. Even without the exercises...just thinking about them is helpful too. Like engaging with your future self, like listing what it is you really want to do, how to prioritize the list, and how to start taking action NOW, in doable steps. All good.

Forleo is young and she has accomplished a lot and learned a lot. She has lots of war stories to illustrate her points, and that's what makes the book fun. She also has stories from her B-School graduates that are inspiring. Great quotes are interspersed throughout the text, and so are interview links to her MarieTV show.

Having said all that, though, the book is also slightly annoying. Maybe it's because she's young and confident, and not at all humble? I like confidence, and she does acknowledge her help along the way,  but she's slightly cocky. This has gotten her far, but it doesn't resonate all that well with 69=year-old me. She's also very informal in her language and tone, and sometimes it's fun and other times it become annoying. I really dislike her use of the F-bomb and other crude expressions, but it does feel authentic when she does, because that's who she is... I could still get the message and not be offended. Just don't think it's necessary.... And maybe her confidence and cockiness and language will help her connect with her generation and those younger--I'm guessing she's about Eli's age, so it will be fascinating to see what he thinks of it. In the meantime I encouraged him to watch some MarieTV so we'll see how that hits him.

Here's her table of contents so I can remember how she organized her philosophy:

1. The Tropicana Orange - the story of her ambitious, indefatigable mother
2. Your Road Map to Results
3. The Magic of Belief
4. Eliminate Excuses - Good stuff here to be on to yourself
5. How to Deal with the Fear of Anything (Reframe it as excitement, for example)
6. Define Your Dream
7. Start Before You're Ready - (Best advice of all, I think, since I'm prone to research and prepare to death before jumping into the arena)
8. Progress Not Perfection (Kind of like Jody Moore's B- work philosophy)
9. Refuse to be Refused - also applicable to me who doesn't want to push people too hard
10. The World Needs Your Special Gift - another good argument for jumping into the arena
11. Epilogue - I really liked this-- "Go beyond yourself. Think in terms of we not me." In other words, your dream will be more satisfying and joyful if you include others or lift others as part of that dream. Very good chapter here.... One headline is "Be a figureoutable force for good at work."

She cites a lot of research and does it in a way that is simple. Sometimes overly simple, but she doesn't get bogged down in details and cites her sources so you can check it out if you want more detail. I appreciated that. Carol Dweck, for example, is one of her sources.

Others' quotes I liked:

"Most misunderstandings in the world could be avoided if people would simply take the time to ask, "What else could this mean?"" Shannon L Alder - page 97

"A surplus of effort could overcome a deficit of confidence." Sonia Sotomayor - page. 159

"There are two types of pain you will go through in life: the pain of discipline and the pain of regret. Discipline weighs ounces, while regret weighs tons." Jim Rohn- page 155

"The most difficult thing is the decision to act. The rest is merely tenacity." Amelia Earhart - page 140

"He who has a why to live for can bear with almost any how." Viktor Frankl - page 135

"There is more wisdom in your body than in your deepest philosophy." Friedrich Nietzsche - p. 107

"Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim." Nora Ephron

The 100-Year-Old Man by Jonas Jonasson

Subtitle is..."Who climbed out the window and disappeared."

This book is a hoot. Very subtle and intricate with fascinating characters. I bought it when I saw it referred to somewhere and read it as we planned my dad's 99th birthday party!

This old man climbs out his window the day of his birthday party in the old folks' home and disappears. The story unfolds from there, and flips back and forth between his current adventure, and the earlier ones in his life. As the two points in time get ever closer, the story comes together in a very satisfying way.

Basically, the old man is amoral. This bothers me. And somehow he hooks up with both criminals and "good" people and has curious and hilarious adventures with them all. Oh, did I mention he interacts with world leaders like Chairman Mao, his wife, Churchill, Truman, and others??? And Einstein's brother plays a role as well. The humor is very dry as history is recounted with Allan constantly altering its course! Politics is definitely a theme, and Allan's aversion to it while creating solutions is telling, somehow.

The cast of characters is a little large for my brain and the events were such that I promptly read it a second time to get it all sorted out. I enjoyed it even more the second time around. The cleverness of this author to have preposterous events all come together is admirable. Such an enjoyable read. Not the best role model, yet Allan's carefree life and willingness to help out is fun to hang out with...

Another aspect I enjoyed were the backdrops of modern-day Sweden, World War II Russia, and Los Alamos during the development of the bomb...and other sites as well. The modern day Swedish police inspector and system were also very entertaining and revealed a lot of cultural tidbits.

Emma by Jane Austen

I had read this before, and it wasn't one of my favorites. I decided to give it another chance when I found an old hard copy in a used bookstore here in Bismarck. I'm glad I gave it another chance. It's delightful and satisfying!

Emma is a headstrong young woman who forges ahead on her hunches and thinking and influence, much to the detriment of her young friend and a few others. Her wonderful mentor and admirer gives her guidance along the way, which she finally learns to value. I loved watching her wisdom develop over time. I also enjoyed the warm family scenes and interesting characters. Austen draws her characters with so much wit and keen observation...

Here are some quotes:

Mr. Weston notes the following, when his son arrives before the appointed hour...his charm is evident here:
"One cannot creep upon a journey; one cannot help getting on faster than one has planned; and the pleasure of coming in upon one's friends before the look-out begins, is worth a great deal more than any little exertion it needs."

And here's a heartbreaker, when Emma insults Miss Bates, an incessant talker, she says:
"...I will try to hold my tongue. I must make myself very disagreeable, or she would not have said such a thing to an old friend."

Vengeance in Venice by Philip Gwynne Jones

So, this is my third Jones book, and I believe I'm done. I enjoyed his first more than this one, although this setting was quite interesting. Venice hosts a "Biennale" art show and the mystery is set against this backdrop. Perhaps if I knew more about the Biennale, it would be more meaningful; still, I got a sense of how it might be to be in Venice when art from around the world takes over the entire city. Very cool. I would love to see it! My friend Cecelia has posted on Facebook about it, so I knew about that much!

This mystery is solved by Nathan, a hapless British transplant whose humility and humor are entertaining. He's a heavy drinker and eater, and we read lots about both of those interests. The artists that are featured in this story are weird and colorful. The glass art work and beheading of an art critic are hard to imagine, and not pleasant to imagine, but kind of weirdly interesting. Like in Jones' other mystery, I again had trouble keeping track of who was whom. Either I'm losing it, reading too late at night, or ??? But I didn't care enough about the story to go back and reread or figure it out. I just went with it. So, I've enjoyed these three books, but I'm done with this author for now. Thanks for the introduction to Venice...I know much more now than I did! And Cecelia's posts make more sense to me now...but I do need to go to see it and experience it for myself!

The Persian Pickle Club by Sandra Dallas

Leonard got me this book. He can't recall where he got it, or who recommended it, but he gave it to me just prior to my Boomers' trip to San Diego so I would have an enjoyable reading surprise on my flights. The title and cover were sweet and unassuming, so I had low expectations, but was open to whatever it offered. I started it before I left, so I could see if it was worth schlepping along. I wasn't very far into it, but each page brought more respect for the unfolding story and for the interesting characters. It was enjoyable from beginning to end!

It's a subtle, unfolding mystery. It's wrapped in sweet mystery. It caught me by surprise. And the courage and strength of the women in the Pickle Club were revealed gradually. There were also some wonderful analogies to life in the quilting...and in the fabric, and the feel of the fabric which I could totally relate to. The narrator of the story, Queenie, is a very sympathetic and interesting character. It's a simple book, on the surface, with simple and sweet people. But underneath there is more, and it's intriguing to have it revealed.

This book also perfectly captures the sweetness of sisterhood. How it made the very hard, depression-era life bearable. But it's a story that applies to any time, where good friends and support and a hobby can bring people together. My plan is to send it to my friend Lona, who is a quilter, and will definitely relate to all levels of this little powerhouse of a book.

The Overstory by Richard Powers

This came recommended by a California librarian that Alice Jane follows. I read her review, then others on Amazon and decided it was worth the risk to order. So glad I did. A book that totally flipped my lid...opened my view and changed it forever. It also made me want to get more into the science of trees and figure out how much of this author's interpretation of trees' power is accurate. And just to learn more.

And even though it's about trees, it's equally revealing about the people who defend them. Their stories are told up front, and at first I thought they were separate essays because they weren't connected. But as the book unfolds, these individual stories come together. They are told with such imagination and detail that you almost believe they are true. Colorful, unpredictable people with intimate details of their lives and thinking. It's so personal you realize it must be fiction because no one could know such diverse characters so intimately.

Maybe it's a sign of my declining cognitive abilities, but I had trouble connecting the later characters with their earlier stories. I kept getting two of them confused...I read at night when I'm sleepy, and this story was so good, I read when I should have been sleeping and I think I zoned out or couldn't keep them aligned. I am ready to begin again at the beginning and enjoy it all over again, keeping the characters straight. Because I know the end.

The vocabulary in this book is challenging. Second time through I will pause to look up more words, like "arhat." I believe it will be worth it. One of my favorite parts is Powers' description of the time two characters live in the top of a tree. It's an incredible description the makes me want to fly up to the treetops and experience it. So many wonderful descriptions of inner landscapes as well...these people are fascinating, passionate, and human.

I could easily see how they went "over the edge" into radical action. I want to be better as a result of what I learned here... like use less, want less, conserve more, recycle more carefully, pay my respects to trees more often.

I'm not sure I understood the ending. It gets rather dystopian and dark. I don't believe our future is dark, and I'm not sure that's what Powers is saying. Not sure who or what the "listeners" are. Or the world that Neelay, a computer programmer created...not sure what's going on there either. But I will take it on again and see if I can figure it out.

I'm proud of the times I have listened to trees, loved and appreciated trees, and tried to protect them. I'm remorseful about my paper usage, my wanton cutting of them in Cleghorn Canyon, and my ignorance. I will do better.

Here are some quotes that I highlighted:

Page 260 - "The tree runs straight up like a chimney butte and neglects to stop."

"She spreads her arms against the furrows. She's like a flea trying to hug its dog. Her face tilts straight up the titanic trunk. "I can't believe it. I can't believe there's no other way to protect this thing except with our bodies.""

Page 264 - They look together: high-wire surveyors of a newfound land. The view cracks open his chest. Cloud, mountain, World Tree, and mist--all the tangled, rich stability of creation that gave rise to words to begin with--leave him stupid and speechless. Reiterated trunks grow out of Mimas's main line, shooting up parallel like the fingers of a Buddha's upraised hand, recouping the mother tree on smaller scales, repeating the inborn shape again and again, their branches running into each other, too many and fused to trace."

Page 339 - "If people knew what went into making trees, they would be so, so thankful for the sacrifce. And thankful people don't need as much."

Page 443 - "You and the tree in your backyard come from a common ancestor. A billion and a half years ago, the two of you parted ways. But even now, after an immense journey in separate directions, that tree and you still share a quarter of your genes..."

Page 455 - "When you cut down a tree, what you make from it should be at least as miraculous as what you cut down."

Page 545 - "If we could see green, we'd see a thing that keeps getting more interesting the closer we get. If we could see what green was doing, we'd never be lonely or bored. If we could understand green, we'd learn how to grow all the food we need in layers three deep, on a third of the ground we need right now, with plants that protected one another from pests and stress. If we knew what green wanted, we wouldn't have to choose between the Earth's interests and ours. They'd be the same!"


June 2020
I just reread this book and like the ending better and stayed with the characters better. And it still fascinated me and taught me a lot. So glad I took it on again! And my favorite quote, that haunts me every time I rip a paper towel is this one:

Page 455 - "When you cut down a tree, what you make from it should be at least as miraculous as what you cut down."

To Venice with Love by Philip Gwynne Jones

Because I enjoyed the first book I read by this author, I went on a little binge and bought two more from the used section of Amazon. I was convinced that this one would reveal to me some of the struggles that my dear friend Cecelia is experiencing as she settles into her new life in Venice. It's the story of a British couple resettling in Venice and recounts all of their trials.

Like in The Venetian Game, Jones' wry humor is intact. Wry and dry and clever and self-deprecating. I enjoy it. However this book got bogged down and boring in the details. Some of the characters and the setting of Venice sparkle, of course, but it didn't really get anywhere by the end. It's fun to read about their culinary adventures, their attempts at integrating into the Venetian culture, etc., but it got a little long-winded for me. Plus there were many Italian words and expressions that needed more explanation for me to "get" them. Still, it was an enjoyable, light read, and perhaps someone who knows more or who had been there would get more out of it. Maybe Sierra?

The Venetian Game by Philip Gwynne Jones

My high school friend, college roommate, and life long friend Cecelia moved to Venice a couple of months ago. She was reading this book, and so I decided to pick it up too, to get a glimpse into her new life. It is delightful!

Jones is a Brit whose humor cracks me up. The descriptions of Venice and its people are colorful, sympathetic, and clever. This city is so unique and it seems to draw equally unique and creative people. The characters are funny and interesting, although I had trouble keeping track of who was who. I soldiered through, though, without being able to untangle the mystery, but that didn't dampen my enthusiasm for the characters, the setting, and the story. I will pay closer attention on my next read through, and will hopefully be able to track the various characters more diligently! Yes, it's going to be kept and read again. And in the meantime, I'm going to order the next book in the series. I quite like the main character, who lives with his cat and longs for his wife back in Scotland.

It's obvious that the music, food, history, and art scenes in Venice are incredibly rich, diverse, and celebrated daily. What an amazing culture. It made me think that perhaps I need to educate myself before venturing over for a visit so I can appreciate it more when I see it.