Wordless Wednesday 361
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Reading, Thinking, Photographing
If you aren't from the UK, have you ever wondered about the WI? The Women's Institute features prominently in many British books and movies (remember Calendar Girls?), but most Americans don't really understand the significance of the institute for women in the early twentieth century and for the whole country during World War II:
Not every woman in the countryside joined her WI, but for those who did it probably presented the only opportunity for them to socialise outside the home and to learn about life beyond their immediate environs. (p. 1)—Home Fires by Julie Summers (Penguin Group USA / Penguin Books, 2015)
----
Jam. If you ask someone what they think the WI did in wartime they will probably answer 'They made jam'. It is true. They did and they made a lot of it. As we have seen, it is by no means the only contribution members made to the war effort but it is one of the two images that the general public has of the WI. The other being singing 'Jerusalem'. They have had to live with that cosy couplet 'Jam and Jerusalem' for over half a century and it risks ridiculing the enormous amount of valuable work done by the women of rural Britain. (p. 163)
Decades before Guernsey became a household name, thanks to the best-selling Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Society,
I lived on the island while I was conducting my doctoral research.
Since then, I've had a soft spot for all things British Channel Islands,
so when The Last Kings of Sark by Rosa Rankin-Gee came to my attention, it was a given that I was going to read it.
Quick look:
The summer that Jude, just out of college, is hired to tutor a lonely
boy on a lonelier island, she is unaware of how her life will be shaped
by those few indelible weeks and the two people who will haunt her
forever.
About the book: The Last Kings of Sark
is kind of a triple character study, mostly told through Jude's eyes.
It's about her arrival on the island; her impressions of the family; and
her relationship with her teenage pupil, Pip, and the summer cook,
Sofi. All starts out as expected, if a little uncomfortable, until Pip's
father leaves for an extended business trip. The three young people
then feel their freedom and spend the summer riding bikes, walking the
beach, drinking wine, and forming a bond that none of them can explain.
The final third of the book revisits Jude, Pip, and Sofi over the next
decade or so, giving us a snapshot of where their lives have gone.
My expectations:
I read this book with no notion of the plot. I was looking forward to
learning about life in the Channel Islands in the twenty-first century.
Instead my view of Sark was as narrow as Jude's: revolving completely
around Sofi and Pip. I know this colored my ultimate reaction to the
novel.
The good: Rankin-Gee excels at painting a
mood, at developing an atmosphere. The novel is pregnant with
expectation, and it's easy to fall into Jude, Pip, and Sofi's circle.
The pace of their friendship as well as their mistakes and falters feel
authentic for that magical summer. It was also interesting to see how
the events of those weeks affected the three of them as they became true
adults.
The less good: On the other hand, my expectations and the actual plot of The Last Kings of Sark
were at odds, and I was disappointed not to have a broader view of the
islanders and island life. This is purely a personal thing and totally
on me. In addition, I don't think novels have to end with every little thing tied up in a bow, but the vagueness of the last
third of the book, especially the sections about Jude's life, left me
wanting.
Recommendation: If you go into The Last Kings of Sark
expecting a character-driven, character-focused novel, you'll find a
lot to think about. Rosa Rankin-Gee well captures that moment when
you're no longer a child but not yet an adult, when you can still thrill
at firsts, and when you are particularly impressionable. Despite the
novel's early strengths, however, I was left feeling flat, wishing for
something more or something different.
Published by St. Martin's Press/ St. Martin's Griffin, 2015
ISBN-13: 9781250068040
Source: Review (see review policy)
Copyright © cbl for Beth Fish Reads, all rights reserved (see review policy)
Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.
If
you've taken the plunge into the rocky waters of eReading (and, really,
who hasn't?) then you've probably figured out which reading device(s)
you feel comfortable with, and you've likely found a preferred app or
two.
But how organized are your eBooks? Do you have a
handle on which books you own, do you know what they're about, and have
you prioritized your reading list?
If you're even a
little like me, you're likely struggling with these issues. Here are two
steps I've taken to help me keep track of my eBooks as easily as I do
the physical books on my shelves.
Step 1: Calibre
Yes, you've heard me rave about Calibre
before, and that's because this program is key to my eBook
management and organization. I transfer every eBook, no matter the
source, to Calibre so that nothing is lost on various devices, and I
have an up-to-date database of all my eBooks.
Here's how Calibre helps me stay on track.
What if you were looking forward to a couple of weeks in the wilderness by yourself but your live-in, non-outdoorsy boyfriend insisted on coming along too? Would you easily adjust or be put off? Liz Kroft, who had wanted to hike the John Muir Trail alone, had mixed feelings.
Liz hopped from foot to foot and hugged herself against the cold. She glanced at the porch of the Yosemite Valley Wilderness Office, where Dante stood with his back to her, chatting with some other hikers. His shoulders shrugged and dropped, and his hands danced this way and that. He was telling a story--a funny one, judging by the faces of this audience--but not a backpacking story because he didn't have any. His idea of a wilderness adventure was staring out the window during spin class at the gym. Not that it mattered. . . . Liz had know him for over two years and still couldn't decipher how he captured strangers' attention without apparent effort. Dante was black velvet and other people were lint.—The Middle of Somewhere by Sonja Yoerg (Penguin Group USA / NAL Accent, 2015, p. 1)
Last fall I introduced you to S. E. Grove and her fresh, complex, and unique high fantasy series geared to middle grade readers. Before you turn away, saying you don't read middle grade, remember that Harry Potter was also written for a young audience.
As I said last fall when I reviewed The Glass Sentence, the first book in the proposed trilogy, Grove's fully realized characters and her world building are tops, and I'm particularly happy to say there's no love triangle and no teenage angst. The cast is a nice mix of males and females of a range of ages and with a variety of abilities. Plus, I promise you haven't read a series like the Mapmakers.
(Note: this review assumes you've either read the first book or have read my earlier review.)
General information: The Golden Specific starts about nine months after first book ends. Sophia Tims is still living in Boston with her uncle Shadrack, master cartographer. Their ward, Theo, has just returned from the Eerie Sea, after an unsuccessful trip to find information about Sophia's missing parents. Meanwhile Boston and all of New Occident are undergoing political upheaval, Shadrack is worried about the border closings, and Sophia is tracking down new leads to her parents' whereabouts.
Dual stories: Very soon into the start of The Golden Specific, the story splits in two. Sophia, has gone undercover to gain access to a restricted library, which contains books that reference her mother. Those documents prompt the girl to take a sea journey to the Papal States (what used to be Spain), where she hopes to find a diary with more information. She is supposed to meet Theo at the docks, but he is detained when Shadrack is imprisoned for murder. At that point, Sophia and Theo have separate adventures.
No sophomore slump: Grove's brilliant decision to give her main protagonists their own plot lines keeps the series fresh. Theo and Sophia must rely on their own wits and luck to meet their individual goals. Sophia is still focused on finding her parents, which takes her to new worlds and introduces her to three new people, each of whom is from a different age with different personal agenda. Theo's main purposes are to prove Shadrack's innocence and to expose the evil underbelly of a high-ranking government official. Along the way, he meets a clever girl and a wily street urchin boy, both of whom offer assistance. Interwoven throughout the book are extracts from Sophia's mother's diary, which gives the reader information not yet known by Theo and Sophia.
What I love: There are new worlds to explore, new people to meet, puzzles to solve, and mysteries to uncover. I love the legends and stories we learn, and I enjoy trying to piece together the clues that Theo and Sophia find. In addition, I thought it was great to be able to read Sophia's mother's diary; it's always fun to see how the protagonist discovers solutions when you have a little foreknowledge. I also like the fact that Grove's characters can make mistakes, can be scared, can cry, and often need help. And I love how Sophia and Theo are genuine friends. Finally, I'm glad to see that Grove has allowed Sophia and Theo to grow and mature; each one sees the world and themselves a little clearer by the end.
Recommendation: The Golden Specific and the Mapmakers trilogy is for anyone who wants to be transported to a world they've never seen before. There is no age limit to these books, which means they'll appeal to children and adults who like high fantasy, alternate history, and just plain good reading. Everything works in S. E. Grove's universe: the action, the characters, the unique maps, and the world divided by time. I can't wait to see where the third book will take us.
Audiobook: I listened to the unabridged audiobook edition of The Golden Specific (Listening Library; 15 hr, 19 min) read by the wonderful Cassandra Campbell. Her characterizations capture the personalities of each character perfectly: Theo's self-assurance, the housekeeper's worry, Sophia's inherent trust and insatiable curiosity. Campbell's pacing is spot-on, carrying us along when the action picks up and giving us room to contemplate new information when the gang is working out the meaning of new clues. A fantastic audiobook experience. Click the play button in the following widget to hear a sample:
Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.
As I mentioned earlier in the week, books written for the middle grade audience span the full range of genres and styles found in books for written for adults. I've already introduced you to this season's contemporary fiction and more fanciful fiction.
Before I get to the focus of today's post, I want to mention some classes of middle grade books I've omitted this week, simply as a way to narrow down my choices. I did not include books written for the youngest readers in this age group or those that are part of ongoing series. I also left out comics and books containing fun graphics.
Now let's turn to my last fall middle grade roundup: historical fiction, books in verse, and nonfiction. Enjoy!
Taking a Step into the Past
As
I mentioned yesterday, many people associate middle grade books with
magic and fantasy, and indeed some our favorite books fall into this
category (think: Narnia and the early Harry Potter books). But the world
of make-believe for young readers is much broader than just wizards'
wands and talking creatures.
Although today's roundup
starts with magical worlds it moves on to alternate history, mystery,
and horror. Hold on to your pointy hat, and get ready for adventure,
curses, and escape into new worlds.
Fantasy & Magic
Do you shy away from middle grade books because you think they're one-dimensional or all about wizards? The truth is that middle grade stories cover the full range of genres and styles, from contemporary fiction to memoir, poetry, nonfiction, and of course fantasy.
Although these books are not as complex as adult literary fiction, the stories address big issues, opening readers' minds and sparking important discussions. Today is all about contemporary fiction, and posts later in the week will cover other genres.
Read these books yourself, take notes for gift-giving, or try a readalong with a middle grader in your life.
Surviving Middle School
Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.
Stacked-Up Book Thoughts
are my random notes about books I've read or listened to, movies and
TV I've watched, books I'm looking forward to, and events I hope to
get to.
Audiobooks: This summer has been my
slowest audiobook time since the 1980s. First it rained every day, so I
couldn't get out for my walk, which is prime listening time. Then we did
some traveling. Then the temperatures and humidity skyrocketed, so
again I've been unable to get many walks in. Fall can't get here fast
enough for me.
Regardless, I still managed to get some
listening in. The following books are all recommended and you'll
eventually find reviews at AudioFile magazine, and here on my blog.
Remember
riding high in the wild money-making days of the 1980s? The era was a
paradise for Wall Street hot shots, who indulged in everything their
inflated salaries could buy. Oh how life has changed for our
protagonist, Rooney, in the decades since the bubble burst.
When you strike a match, it burns brighter in the first nanosecond than it will ever burn again. That first incandescence. That instantaneous and brilliant flash. 1980 was the year, and I was the match, and that was the year I struck into blinding flame.—The Fall of Princes by Robert Goolrick (Algonquin, 2015, p. 1)
A few weeks ago, I wrote about how I reduced my personal library by more than half. Since that time, I've been asked for more details on how I decided which books to keep and which ones to give away. Apparently lots of people are interested in this because Florinda of the Three R's Blog was asked the same thing.
So I thought, on this holiday Monday, that I'd try to explain my process. Just to recap, I looked at each book individually, holding it my hands while making my assessment. I did not follow the Kondo test, however, figuring that most books bring me joy.
The Easy Yes
There were several categories of books (often overlapping) that were easy to say yes to.
Weekend Cooking is open to anyone who has any kind of food-related post to share: Book reviews (novel, nonfiction), cookbook reviews, movie reviews, recipes, random thoughts, gadgets, quotations, photographs, restaurant reviews, travel information, or fun food facts. If your post is even vaguely foodie, feel free to grab the button and link up anytime over the weekend. You do not have to post on the weekend. Please link to your specific post, not your blog's home page.
You shouldn't let them influence your choices. Because just like there is no One Best Whiskey, there is no One Best Type of Whiskey, either. . . . To confuse personal preferences for world truths is no way to go through life. (p. 61)Bryson ends the book with a chapter on the classic cocktails--such as the Rob Roy, Mint Julep, and Rusty Nail--and another on how to pair whiskeys with food. You'll also find resources, a glossary, and an index.
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