All the Devils Are Here by Louise Penny

 This is my fourth Louise Penny book, and I don't need to read any more. Unless her earlier ones are better, I'm done. I was seduced by seeing it on the free shelf at Elevation Fitness, my gym, and picked it up. I loved the Eiffel Tower on the beautiful blue cover, and it looked like a winner. It is not.

First of all, there were way too many characters. And the plot was convoluted and complicated. The setting of Paris and the Marais was fun, but that didn't make up for the book's other shortcomings. The characters were confusing...Usually I like Inspector Gamache, but not much of his personality was revealed here. The plot was absolutely unbelievable. The disaffected son was unrealistic. What propelled me forward was that I was slightly interested in how the convoluted plot would unwind. And the good guys turned into bad guys and then back into good guys; people changed loyalties...all in all, a loser of a book. I will return it to the gym!

Now I'm wondering why I waste my time on such drivel when there is such good reading available to me. I like an easy read, I guess. And I assumed Penny would be "cozy" and light... Ah well, live and learn! Louise Hench told me at our Ridgeview Book Group that she's not reading any more fiction. She says she doesn't have time; it's a matter of good, better, or best. I understand that and feel myself relating to that, although I can't imagine giving up great fiction. I find it inspiring. I disappoint myself when I read crap like this one...

Crow Mary by Kathleen Grissom

 Is three book clubs too many??? This is the book for one that I haven't yet attended, but I plan to in the future. My new next-door neighbor, Sandy Peterson, lent me this book when I expressed an interest in it, even though they had already held their discussion of it. I hope it will be the basis of a good discussion between the two of us in the future. I really like her so far, and hope we can become friends. 

At first I wasn't impressed by this book, because it felt like a classic disingenuous retelling of the superior Native culture, full of stereotypes. And there was the potential of a lot of violence and struggle, and I wasn't in the mood to be brought down. Yet, I stuck with it, and I'm glad I did. There was more to the story than the stereotypes and there was a lot of Native culture explained that was admirable. What was most interesting to me was the way the author was able to contrast the two world views: Crow vs. Whites.

One interesting departure from the norm was that the white person in this story became a victim of his alcoholism, and not the Indians. Yes, there was drinking by Natives and whites, but the drinking of Farwell had a dire impact on his family. I admired the character of Crow Mary, and wonder how much of this historical person's story is accurate. Surely she was a brave woman to even just travel and marry a trader, let alone rescue some of her people. 

Because of my experiences with Lakota culture I feel somewhat more informed and sensitive about the ways Native culture and people are portrayed. This book didn't add much to my knowledge, but some. It was interesting to note the differences between the Crow and the "Sioux" that the author illuminated, and since her sources were all Crow, it's not surprising that other tribes were looked down on. But that's natural...and I can take that in stride. And it was good summer evening reading...not an author I will pursue again...but not a total loss, either. 

Rilla of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery (#8 in the Anne of Green Gables series)

 I enjoyed this story of the days leading up to World War I and how these Canadians persevered through the four years of war. Rilla is Anne's youngest child, and the most like her, in spirit, I think. We get to know Walter better, and Susan, the loyal house manager, gets a larger role. It was very interesting to read about how the war news was shared, how telephones and mail were shared, and how the community pulled together. How the women were busy knitting, knitting, knitting, and everyone was writing long letters...Of course this is fiction, but I imagine much of it was typical of the life and times. 

This book got a little heavy and redundant, but that's because the war and the news were heavy and redundant. I loved the development of Rilla's love for her war baby, and admired the way Montgomery illustrates good parenting. For example, Anne and Gilbert leave Rilla to work it all out by herself, and sure enough, her love grows. 

It was also interesting to read about the devotion these people had for their siblings. They didn't have a lot of distractions, although food prep and travel were big time users, still, they spend hours becoming intimate friends who feel the loss of each other keenly. That was very sweet to read about, and made me yearn a little for a simpler time. 

I wondered about how satisfying it might have been for Rilla to discover a desire to become more than Kenneth Ford's wife...but that was appropriate then, and is appropriate now, if it includes raising a family. Homemaking is a huge, fine art, but would feel empty without children. And a desire for education to do it better wouldn't have been out of line. I just think, no author today would end Rilla's tremendous growth and story with such a submissive "Yeth." 

Anne of Ingleside by L.M. Montgomery (#6)

 This series has been a lovely respite from the owrry and the work associated with Leonard's prostate cancer diagnosis and subsequent appointments. It's a happy place that is captivating and engaging to disappear into, with no pressure or decisions or sadness to negotiate. And it's uplifting and very witty, especially the gossiping characters and what upsets them. Anne perseveres through it all with her characteristic optimism and hope and good sense. 

This particular volume helps us get to know Anne's and Gilbert's children fairly intimately. Montgomery is a master of depicting the thinking of children and describing how they easily come to wrong conclusions. Yet you know it will all come out right, eventually. Anne also often describes what she believes heaven will be like, and its consistent with my beliefs; that there will be laughter there, for example. Her friends are somewhat shocked by this thinking, but she and Gilbert are very much in tune with practical spirituality. 

I enjoyed getting to know Walter and the twins, especially. And the story culminates with a marriage crisis that is beautifully resolved. So much goodness here! And Ingleside is such a lovely place to remember the beauty of family and love and sweet relationships. It's a welcome retreat into a simpler life and time...

Anne's House of Dreams by L.M. Montgomery (#5)

 Another delightful entry in this series. Here, Anne matures through some hard life lessons, and yet remains hopeful. Anne and Gilbert set up housekeeping in a dreamy little home on the coast, and this story includes some colorful neighbors. Also, there is a great lesson here on doing the right thing, even when it seems like it would be cruel or have horrible consequences. It shows beautifully how courage to do the hard, right things can eventually turn into a great blessing for all concerned. This dilemma concerns a case of mistaken identity, long illness, and a wonderful result. 

Captain Jim and his cat are colorful characters which enlarge and enliven the story. Miss Cornelia is an excellent foil for him, and their dialogue provides gentle humorous relief from the seriousness of the story and circumstances. Again the nature descriptions are lyrical, especially of the harbor, the moonlight, and Anne's garden. So lovely!

Anne of Windy Poplars by L.M. Montgomery (#4)

 This is #4 in the series, and I am not tired of them yet! Anne has finished college, betrothed to Gilbert, and is now moving to Windy Poplars to spend three years as a principal and teacher in Sunnyside. It's the story of all the interesting people she meets and helps there, including a cat! Anne is a miracle worker, and is occasionally misguided, but it always turns out great in the end.

Her optimism and relentless commitment to look for the good in others is inspiring to me. She is kind and forthright and doesn't hesitate to take on tough challenges. The results are stunning, from helping little Elizabeth find her father to helping her friend marry at last. Because Anne's motives are pure, it's fun to watch how the little vignettes play out. And all of this is played out in a challenging milieu where the ruling family is against her. This battle doesn't last long, though, and Anne is able to inadvertently win them over.

I really enjoy the way L.M. Montgomery takes interesting, colorful, and often humorous characters, and leads them into unpredictable and interesting scenarios. It's fun to watch them play out with Anne's energetic and faithful help. These are a joy to read, and they motivate me to be more like her. Lately I've been a little depleted physically, and so I rest more. Summer heat and visitors take it out of me. I've been able to read and enjoy this series and not feel like I"m wasting my time. They lift me up. So good!

Anne of the Island by L.M. Montgomery (#3)

 This, the third book in the series, shares the story of Anne's college experiences where she earns her B.A. degree. She has roommates and their personalities are fun and interesting. She is not enjoying Gilbert's advances, and totally shuts him down when he tries to profess his love. She falls in love with someone else and soon realizes it's not what she thought. This whole romance is so beautifully depicted. It's obvious that this author knows of the pitfalls of young, immature feelings! 

Here's a quote from page 217, where roommate Priscilla is describing what the Redmond experience has done for her:

"There is so much in the world for us all if we only have the eyes to see it, and the heart to love it, and the hand to gather it to ourselves--so much in men and women, so much in art and literature, so much everywhere in which to delight, and for which to be thankful."

Anne's learning was this (from page 216):

"Humor is the spciest condiment in the feast of existence. Laugh at your mistakes but learn from them, joke over your troubles but gather strength from them, make a jest of your difficulties but overcome them."

These two quotes really sum up the whole spirit of this series. It's a wonderful, uplifting way of learning how to bring goodness into the world. Anne is always seeking out ways to help others. And when she turns down the proposal of the man she thought she loved, she gives a great example of following the spirit. She didn't even realize it until the moment she had to say yes or no, and then the "scales fell off of her eyes" so to speak. She saw it all clearly all at once; her foibles. I've had that experience, so I could really relate to that feeling in that moment. Beautiful story!

Anne of Avonlea by L.M. Montgomery (#2)

 I was so swept away into the romance of Anne of Green Gables that I sprang for the whole eight-book set. I couldn't bear to leave Anne and Avonlea so soon. This is the second book in series and I loved it too! My memory of the Canadian production is too vague to know if these stories were a part of it...this was all new material to me. I loved the development of Anne's skill as a teacher...her commitment to never whip her students, her delight in their writing, and her joy in general were so well-described that I think Maud (the name the author went by) MUST have been a teacher at some point.

I also enjoyed the introduction of the twins! What a cool contrast they drew to each other, and how fun to watch Anne see her own history reflected in little Davy. There isn't a lot of Gilbert here, just a few powerful and genuinely winning quotes that foreshadow a deeper relationship. The end of the story is almost like a fairy tale, where the little woman in the woods, Miss Lavendar, meets her long lost love and Anne helps plan her wedding. It's a happy ending, with hints of more to come. I'm excited to be swept away into the third novel, where Anne is off to college. This summer is a perfect time to be swept away...there are some challenges that I am happy to stop thinking about. Chief among them is Leonard's health as we learn more about his prostrate cancer. 

Another reason this series is helpful right now is the healthy and full lives of the single women  in it...which may be my fate as Len's health declines. It's already pretty clear that he can do less and less. Henry has been here almost a week solo, and it's been mostly the two of us. Yes, he's had a bad cold, but even before that, he needed to rest and ...well, I'm grateful he is happy to let us go and do... Anne's hopeful and optimistic attitude is just a good reminder for how I want to live!

Anne of Green Gables by L. M. Montgomery

 This is such a delightful story! And it is so well-written. I don't believe I have ever read the books; I'd only fallen in love with the Canadian TV series years ago, starring our friend Schuyler Grant. As I read this book, I kept picturing the scenes from that beautiful production. We probably watched it five or six times back in the day...during Laramie days, I think.

What I didn't know was what a nature lover L.M. Montgomery was. Wow. Her poetic descriptions are just amazing; the moonlight, the sunsets, the flower gardens, all of it. It's described beautifully through Anne's eyes. I also loved reading about the distant sounds of the ocean...it's easy to forget this is situated on an island. 

It's a heart-warming story, and the way I remember Marilla's heart softening is beautifully evident in the book. Anne's growth and development are delightful to witness as she matures. Her inadvertent mischief and her hot temper are realistic! And I was hoping at some point she would realize that Gilbert Blythe deserved her forgiveness...I knew she would, just wondered when it would happen in the book. It's a delightful fairy-tale kind of book with a happy ending. The perfect summer read, where you feel that all is right with the world!

I loved this so much I decided to buy the entire eight-book series. This first one really helped me sleep and escape during a visit from Sierra and her family where the fighting of the boys was so hard to take. This book helped me escape and think about young women frolicking in the sunshine and being kind ot each other! Yes, Diana Barry's friendship is so warm and lovely to behold...

The Blue Castle by L. M. Montgomery

 I heard about this book at my new Ridgeview Ward book club. Sister Lossee's daughter said it was her favorite book, and we all decided to read it for our next meeting. I'm not sure when that is, but I went ahead and ordered it, because it sounded good.

And it is! It's an absolute gem of a book. It has the same charm and love of nature that the Anne of Green Gables has, only it's a stand alone story. At first Valancy describes her life as an absolute victim and her misery goes on and on for quite awhile. You sense, though, that it is true that she IS a victim on some level, so helpless is she. It's also during this time that we get a glimpse of some of the characters who will be important to the rest of the story.

Finally, through an interesting series of events, Valancy's circumstances change, and she suddenly develops the courage to make some additional changes. And she goes ALL IN on the changes, and it's wonderful to behold! The way the characters and story come together at the end is quite wonderful. The writing is lovely, and so is her life on the lake. The way she describes the beauty around her is soothing to the soul. It's almost like a fairy tale in its goodness and simplicity. Still, it's a life-affirming story that I will enjoy reading again. And maybe again! It's also set me on the path to read the Anne series!

The River by Gary Paulsen

 This is the second book in a series which began with THE HATCHET. Henry and I listened to it on our way to St. George from Rapid City this past summer and really enjoyed it. What made The Hatchet so good and so compelling was the way Paulsen revealed young Brian's thinking process as he faced horrific challenges after a plane crash in remote Canada. And survived. This second book finds Brian returning to the remote part of Canada where the earlier story took place.

What I liked was, again, how we see what Brian is thinking and planning. This time he has an older accomplice with him who wants to learn how to survive. When he is seriously injured, Brian has the challenge to get him to safety. It was a good story right up until the end. It ended so abruptly, I wondered if the author had a sudden deadline with no time to adequately celebrate and describe the resolution. It's too bad!

I was going to get and read all three sequels to The Hatchet and then pass them on to John and Henry, because I think they would enjoy them. With this one, though, ending in a rather disappointing way, I wonder if I want to commit to any more in the series. The first was so good, it set up high expectations in my mind that weren't met. 

The Cruellest Month by Louise Penny

My second Louise Penny, Inspector Gamache "cozy" murder mystery. We were in Kailua for the holidays, I was shopping in a used bookstore shortly before our long flight home, and picked this up. This light book, set in Canada with characters I was already familiar with, made the trip home enjoyable. I especially enjoyed learning more about Gamache's history and family. Now I'll need to go back and read the second book in the series...probably this summer.

I think that what appeals to me is the intimacy of the villagers and their idyllic life. The food is great, people are "characters" and they accept each other's oddities. A nice little series to escape into for a rest!

Still Life by Louise Penny

At our Laramie girls' reunion in November, my friend Susan recommended this author. Louise Penny has written a whole series and this is her first. One reviewer calls it a "cozy murder mystery" and it is. That's a good description! The characters are cozy and you want to move to Three Pines and live amongst them! I especially liked Inspector Gamache... And I also enjoyed the Canadian setting.

The perfect read for pleasure...light, fun, funny, good dialogue, and colorful, local characters.