🐅🌲🐅📚🐾🛩️✨🌟💫 YA and Candid Thoughts About Ann Patchett

Too much pulling a rabbit out of the hat, not earned 

    I read the final book in the Todhunter Moon trilogy, StarChaser, by Angie Sage, and it was my least favorite book of hers that I've read. Here's why. I felt that the plot twists weren't earned. They came out of the blue with no foreshadowing or referring back to previous characters or plot points. This is called "deus ex machina" and means, according to Merriam-Webster.com:

a person or thing (as in fiction or drama) that appears or is introduced suddenly and unexpectedly and provides a contrived solution to an apparently insoluble difficulty https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/deus%20ex%20machina

    I am so invested in Sage's characters that I want to know what will happen and am glad to see them safely to the end of the book. I think she could have done it a little better.

✨🌟💫

    Ann Patchett is almost larger than life. She has written many best-sellers, like Bel Canto and The Dutch House. She co-owns a bookstore in Nashville. She loves, is a philanthropist, and is often called upon to interview writers. I like her, and I dislike her. When I hear her speak, she grates on my nerves. Someone pointed out to me that perhaps it is her self-assurance that is rare in women; in fact, I've heard it termed "masculine energy." I think it's more. I admire how she is blunt about being a nerdy kid who would rather read a book than go to the beach. Candid about her decision to not have children. Fierce in how she loves friends. Open about her painful childhood and loss. As I read through her essays in These Precious Days, I feel challenged to examine my life and desires because her candidness slips behind facades to thoughts and emotions kept in check. That's intimidating and scary, but also a gift. 

📚🐾🛩️

    I love Kate DiCamillo and have read several of her books. The Tiger Rising is an amazing YA book. It is short, but a lot of life is packed into its brief span. Rob Horton, recently transplanted to Florida after his mother's death, is walking through the woods when he encounters a tiger in a cage. There are many powerful metaphors for grief, transformation, and connection. I found the plot, characters, and style to be a master class in fiction. It is simple enough for an upper elementary reader and complex enough for any adult reader. So good!

🐅🌲🐅

🕊️🚲📚🚘🏁🏎️⛪️✝️♀Three Very Different, But Excellent Books

 

   My sister recommended Theo of Golden by Allen Levi. It was the right book at the right time. It reminded me of Jan Karon's Mitford series. Kind people doing kind things. With books that model choosing a brighter path, it's hard not to be too sentimental or unrealistically cheery. Levi skirts those dangers and delivers a lovely tale of how one person can make a difference, while at the same time building mystery and suspense of who Theo is and why he chose to live in Golden. Also, the novel is populated with realistic characters with complex problems. Theo comes to the southern town of Golden and starts to change people's lives with his generosity and insight. I was surprised by the ending. It gave the plot gravitas.

🕊️🚲📚

   The latest in the series, Dungeon Crawler Carl, dropped, and I started listening to my preordered audiobook right away. The series is read by Jeff Hayes, and he does an amazing job not only with his voice choices but also with his range of characters. A Parade of Horribles by Matt Dinniman has become a juggernaut. This book has already climbed high on several bestseller lists. Dinniman continues to deliver twisty, suspenseful, somewhat gross action. Carl and his ex-girlfriend's now sentient cat, Princess Donut, are fighting their way through each floor of the Dungeon Crawler: Earth for the entertainment of the greater universe, narrowly defeating bosses, mobs, and enemies within and without. A crew of fellow survivors and staunch friends pulls together to keep themselves and each other alive, but being modern gladiators takes a toll on our heroes, mentally and emotionally. Impossible situations mean impossible choices. Dinniman portrays the struggles well, and that is why I like the characters so much. The goofy setup feels real. 

   On the downside, the previous book had an epic battle for dominance of the floor, and this one had more of a Mario Kart vibe. It didn't feel as weighty. It did move the action along and continued to develop the characters.

🚘🏁🏎️

   I'm not sure how I came across Jesus Through the Eyes of Women: How the First Female Disciples Help Us Know and Love the Lord by Rebecca McLaughlin, but I appreciate her scholarship (She has a PhD from Cambridge University) and writing. I found her insight and analysis accessible and solid. Occasionally, someone — usually on the internet — will talk about how important men are in God's Kingdom. I recently attended a Theological Conference where all the speakers were men, and almost all the books being sold were by men. I needed this book to remind me how much Jesus loves and values women.  McLaughlin demonstrated to me how crucial the testimony of women is to the writing of the Gospels. Jesus spoke to Martha plainly, saying, "I am the Resurrection and the Life." I recommend this book to everyone who wonders about or dismisses women in the Bible. It is encouraging and educational. 

⛪️✝️♀

🤖❤️🦾 Murderbot Returns!

 

    I am a big fan of The Murderbot Diaries by Martha Wells and was super excited to read the latest in the series, Platform Decay. Wells does a great job of continuing Murderbot's growth arc. He continues to mature emotionally and in how to be in relationships. This book brings back some previous characters in creative ways. I like this type of sci-fi because it is emotionally intelligent and also anticipates not-far-fetched ideas like augmented humans, dangerously greedy corporations, and AI. I attended a conference on Artificial Intelligence, and sessions on different fields--education, counseling, and church life--were among the sessions. One of the speakers commented that people want AI to be more humanlike with sentience and feelings, and people to be more robot-like. It gave me pause that one of the things I like best about Murderbot is how he becomes more tolerant and aware of himself and others. 

🤖❤️🦾

    Because of events beyond my control, I didn't do much reading this week. I am anticipating the latest Dungeon Crawler Carl book that will be available soon. 

😺💌🍵✍️📔🦁⏳🐉⌛️Two Weeks Worth!

    This is the week for series. Mostly. I read book two in the Todd Hunter Moon series, Sandrider, by Angie Sage. I admire how Sage creates interesting worlds for characters to explore and exist. She also brings in elements from her Septimus Heap series in unforced, believable ways. Todd Hunter Moon is feeling the pull to move beyond her childhood friends' orbits and into new directions. It divides her loyalties. It is a good tension to explore in the middle-grade book that Sage is writing, and it drives the emotional plot of the book. There is just one book to go. I have no idea how it will all end, but I'm eager to know. 

⏳🐉⌛️

 

    The Unselected Journals of Emma M. Lion, Vol. 7 and 8, by Beth Brower, are wonderful books. I love Emma. She gets herself into and out of ridiculous scraps with the help of her cadre of friends, an eclectic group to be sure. Secrets continue to be revealed. Friendships deepen. Nosey, interfering aunts thwarted. Brower is planning to cover four years of Emma's life in 20-25 books! I look forward to reading about Emma for years to come, and I'm sad that I have caught up on what's been published so far, but glad to have my reading plans for the next several years. I love a plan.

✍️📔🦁

    

I appreciate a fun Japanese cat book. Messenger Cat Cafe by Nagi Shimeno, translated by M. Jean, is in that vein. Cats are messengers between the afterlife and the living world. There are several rules that govern these interactions--not a surprise--which adds good tension and suspense. The recently deceased cat, Fuuta, needs to fulfill a set number of message deliveries so he can visit his own family. I liked the book, but it wouldn't be my favorite of the genre.

😺💌🍵