Blue Shoe by Anne Lamott

 I read Bird by Bird by this author years ago, and really enjoyed it. When Len and I were at D.I. this week, I looked for something interesting to read and found this one for $1.00 and decided to give it a try. Lamott's writing is wonderfully vulnerable, introspective, and insightful. These little sparks of beauty keep popping up, and are so enjoyable. And her similes are always simple and powerful. Her writing is just GREAT! 

This story is somewhat seedy, though. Lots of sexual malfunctioning resulting in pedophilia, dark secrets, and various other mental maladies. Yet there is a faith and hope that shines through, probably because Lamott's faith is strong. She shows her characters' real selves, warts and all, and they are rendered with compassion. Hurt people hurt people is evident here; that kind of compassion.

Occasionally the main character, Mattie, seeks divine help. I really liked the natural way that she asks for help and in turn follows the promptings given, even when difficult. At the end of the book, when she doesn't want to wash someone's filthy feet, she struggles, and she does it. She renders her faith beautifully and strongly. It's also kind of unusual for a story to elucidate some of the devotion and preaching that the characters hear in church, but it's shared here to great and direct effect. We can see the desire to be in church to become better; to believe and act better. There's a purity here that is refreshing. There is no judgment or self-righteousness.

The characters are real and interesting and heart-breaking. In particular, Mattie's relationship with her mother is multi-faceted and mysterious. The mental decline is described in very real yet compassionate terms. Mattie's quest to get to know her dead father and to know what her mother knows about him is the thread that the story hangs on. I could tell it wasn't going to end well, yet the story is told with compassion and even beauty. 

What we really get here is a story of human frailty, of human pain, and of human goodness. The agony that Mattie's children suffer because of her divorce is alternately funny and tragic. Lamott does a good job of keeping the pain light sometimes, so we don't drown in it. The real feelings and real suffering in a family, especially a divorced family is beautifully shown here. 

Lamott seems to know what makes people tick and reveals it sympathetically. Mattie's goodness and generosity is simple and powerful. I especially liked the part when she decides to simply tell the truth about all the complicated relationships swirling around her. She follows her good instincts, too, about not sharing her feelings with Daniel before its time. I enjoyed reading about her inner struggles and could definitely relate to them. Her closeness to and acceptance of her children were inspiring. More than once, I thought, I'd like a "do-over" with my children. 

Another aspect of this book I enjoyed was the northern California, Marin County, setting. The weather and garden were often described in beautiful terms...

The Falcon at the Portal by Elizabeth Peters

 This was a good one!

The back and forth between Amelia's view and Ramses' view continues, and it's an effective device that adds an interesting dimension. This has been the case for the last several books, and I enjoy that. We learn the different perspectives, and the failings in Amelia's view. 

I really enjoyed the description of Ramses and Nefret finally learning of the others' romantic attraction. It has been building for a long time in the series, but we never knew how Nefret felt about it. Towards the end of this book, they come together, and it seems so right. I really wanted this to work! They are both such admirable characters, and the fact that Emerson and Amelia (the parents and step-parents) are completely oblivious to this development makes it even more interesting

When Nefret, unaccountably, suddenly marries someone else, it was very upsetting to me! I had to remind myself that this is all a story. It's just from Peters' brain! But I still cared, and do care. I wonder if her reasons will come out in the next volume. I am tempted to skip to the last book in the series to see how it all turns out, but I think I will just go on to the next. Maybe I'll learn why Nefret would turn aside so quickly. It can't be because of Ramses' "daughter;" yes, she could end the relationship until she had further information, but to actually marry such a lukewarm character? That doesn't make sense. I'm hoping Peters will shed some light on this in the next book.

And, in the meantime, I'm getting more and more curious about Egypt. I'd like to take a trip, if it were just a little easier...

Prodigal Summer by Barbara Kingsolver

 I have read this book multiple times because I enjoy it so much. Each time I find new clues that foreshadow events coming up. There are delightful little nuances that crop up as I read slowly and carefully. Kingsolver's prose and characters are worth savoring. Now that I know the story so well, I can read slowly and not be impatient to know what happens next. 

I can't believe I haven't written about this book here before. It's definitely one of my top ten favorites of all time... I love the characters, I love the setting, I love the story, and I love how the characters evolve and change as the story unfolds. I have read it at least five times now, and enjoyed it again earlier this summer.

There's such a reverence for life here and much to admire as the characters face adversity. I am saddened every time I note the slight bitterness in Nanny's feelings about her daughter's birth defect and death. She is a practical woman who brings such goodness into the world, but will not acknowledge God's hand or existence. Deanna and Luza are also fascinating characters with colorful backgrounds that are slowly revealed. I love learning about nature through their conversations and thoughts, and I love the thought of the two of them becoming friends in the future; something only hinted at in this book. This is one of those nuances that I only noticed on the second reading.

The wicked sisters in law and Garrett are also great characters, and their development is also realistic and revealing. The author goes beyond the stereotypes to reveal the pain, the suffering, and the goodness that exists.

I also believe in the healing powers of nature and this book is a beautiful example of the many complex systems in nature and how one cog in the system affects other parts. It ought to be required reading for any aspiring farmer or biologist.

Guardian of the Horizon by Elizabeth Peters

 This is one of the best in the series, I think. I had taken a little break and it was fun to get back into the humor and fun of this author. This story was also easier for me to follow; some of Peters' plots get kind of complicated, and this one was easier.

Another reason I enjoyed this one is because Ramses and Nefret played major roles in the story. They are coming into their own, and we learn a lot more about Ramses' character and abilities. His unfailing politeness to his parents cracked me up, even when he was often underestimated by them. He is the reason this particular mission (a return to the Lost Oasis) is a success. I was surprised when he succumbed to the advances of the beautiful Daria, and wondered how that would turn out. I like that he's ever the gentleman and yet also a human. Translation: not perfect! 

I'm beginning to think that Amelia is a real control freak and it cracks me up how she handles Emerson (her husband). He's definitely not the star here, and she criticizes him for not having ideas. She still admires his musculature, but she is ever more assertive in driving the action. She's also beginning to appreciate Ramses' abilities and has less complaints about him. There are lots of allusions to previous characters and situations, and it was fun to be "in the know" about them. In particular, it was fun to have Sethos (the master criminal) reappear. I'm not sure this scene would have been as funny if I hadn't read the earlier encounters. Amelia is keeping more of this relationship to herself and not letting Emerson know...It will be interesting to see if this trend continues. 

I want to read the next in the series to continue to enjoy Ramses' development, in particular. And how will Nefret turn out? Will they ever declare their love for each other? Will Amelia ever guess at it? And will Daria and Tarek (king in the Lost Oasis) have a child and will she wonder if its Ramses'? So many questions! It's so fun to have the time to pursue the next one...

The Book of Longing by Sue Monk Kidd

 I heard an interview with Sue Monk Kidd and was very impressed by her spirituality and humility. She spoke about researching and writing this book, and it intrigued me to learn more. The premise is that Jesus Christ had a wife, and this is her story. I enjoyed Kidd's The Secret Life of Bees so much that I assumed this would be as good.

Well, I was wrong. The characters in Bees are so alive and engaging! The characters in Longing are one-dimensional. Kidd's impressive writing skills are not in evidence either; I never paused and thought, that is a great sentence or a beautiful image. That was disappointing.

However, the story was interesting, and the context that she drew around the characters reminded me of why I enjoy the video series THE CHOSEN so much. The circumstances and context really enriched my understanding of what could have happened to bring certain people together. This novel also created a vivid image of what life in ancient Israel may have been like, both for the rich (during Ana's youth) and for the poor, after she moved to Nazareth. The book also describes life and culture in Egypt, and the feminist perspective is so interesting. In Egypt, Ana had more opportunities and even enjoyed a visit to a library. The story of how women lived and how few of them had any reading or writing skills was fascinating. 

Another interesting aspect was that of the culture of the Therapaeuta (sp?), a place for Jews that was like a monastery for Jews in Egypt. The description of life there was fascinating, and that is based in history. 

I sent the book off to Leslie Polson today and it will be interesting to see what she thinks. I always like historical fiction to learn about different places and times. I wish this one were more compelling, but it's still a nice summer read. And it does fit with my belief that Jesus very well could have had not only a wife, but a sense of humor...

Under a Painted Sky by Stacey Lee

 This book was on a recommended list on Brooke Romney's Instagram page for young adults. It sounded intriguing because it was listed as a pioneer story and western, and I like reading about that era. It was billed in the Amazon reviews as historical fiction, so I thought there would be some good history and maybe even some good learning about the era along the way. It was supposed to be about resilience, a theme I usually enjoy, especially in teenagers.

It was disappointing that this book did not deliver on any of my expectations. The heroines were kind of hokey and not particularly real. The hardships along the trail were not especially realistic or enlightening. The plot was fairly predictable, although the various mishaps were not. I really wanted to like this book, but it just wasn't worth the time. Additionally, there was a fairly graphic almost-rape scene that felt kind of inappropriate for a youthful audience. I liked the courage of the two heroines, and I liked that this unlikely pair (a Chinese teen and a black slave) would share the spotlight in a novel. The racial issues were interesting as they came up, but weren't dealt with in any deep way. Still, it is interesting to ponder the implications of racism in that era, and this book definitely would be a springboard to some interesting discussions. 

I love sharing books with my friend Leslie. I'm just wondering if it's worth the postage to send it to her... 

The Ape Who Guards the Balance by Elizabeth Peters

 At this point in the series, Ramses has become a man, along with David, his adopted brother. They were taken under the wing of an Arab sheik or someone similar and learned manly things. This novel begins in England, with a suffragist theme and meeting, introducing the mysterious people and crimes, which then follow the family into Egypt. The sheik also gifts the young men with beautiful and talented horses. 

Nefret, David, and Ramses become a strong force in their own right, and Ramses confesses to David his lovesickness for Nefret. Amelia and Emerson are oblivious to this development, and still call them "the children." This plot involves "the children" more, and Nefret uses her charms to get into tombs and other places that Emerson, for example, can't go. There is also the character of Layla, who intrigues Ramses and ultimately rescues him. The notorious "master criminal" whom I thought was killed in an earlier book, reappears, as well as the evil Bertha. The Egyptian scenes are interesting and culturally enlightening. This plot was fairly easy to follow, and I especially enjoyed the character of Sir Edward. It turns out he was in league with the master criminal and gives up (I think?) his aspirations of winning Nefret's affections.

This book also continues the device introduced earlier that gives Ramses/Nefret's point of view every few chapters. It's a nice contrast and contributes to understanding the different threads unweaving. 

All in all a satisfying read, a fun romp, and the perfect light book to help me transition from Rapid City to St. George during the hot summer of 2021. I'm ready for a break in this series now, especially since we have now moved into our new home in St. George, and I have access to some of my favorite books. Next up, one I've longed to re-read ever since Bismarck: Prodigal Summer. 

It's a little confusing to know what book to read next...there is a published order and a chronological order.  Here's a list I recently found on Amazon that is the chronological order. Since this one is the last one I have, I want to read the next ones (if I do) in chronological order. There is definitely some confusion... at the end of this book is a "teaser" from A River in the Sky, as if it's the next one in the series! 

Amelia Peabody Mysteries in Chronological Order:

1. Crocodile on the Sandbank (1884-1885)
2. Curse of the Pharaohs (1892-1893)
3. The Mummy Case (1894-1895)
4. Lion in the Valley (1895-1896)
5. Deeds of the Disturber (1896)
6. The Last Camel Died at Noon (1897-1898)
7. The Snake, the Crocodile, and the Dog (1898-1899)
8. The Hippopotamus Pool (1899-1900)
9. Seeing a Large Cat (1903-1904)
10. The Ape Who Guards the Balance (1906-1907)
11. Guardian of the Horizon (1907-1908)
12. A River in the Sky (1910)
13. The Falcon at the Portal (1911-1912)
14. He Shall Thunder in the Sky (1914-1915)
15. Lord of the Silent (1915-1916)
16. The Golden One (1916-1917)
17. Children of the Storm (1919-1920)
18. Serpent on the Crown (1921-1922)
19. Tomb of the Golden Bird (1922-1923)

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