Category Archives: books

Memento Mori by Muriel Spark

Posted on March 31, 2012 | 3 Comments

Word Lily review

Memento Mori by Muriel Spark (1959), 228 pages

Summary
The phrase memento mori translates to “Remember you must die.” When Dame Lettie starts getting phone calls, in which the anonymous caller repeats that exact phrase, questions abound. Then other people begin getting the mysterious calls too.

Hearers’ reactions differ. Some panic, some fear, some become angry. Some convince themselves it didn’t actually happen. The police think the old people are losing their minds.

Thoughts
I read this because it’s on the Image Journal list (one of my personal perpetual challenges) and also because it’s the pick for the first quarter Faith and Fiction Roundtable discussion of 2012, hosted by My Friend Amy.

Memento Mori was a relatively fast read for me, at least compared to what I’ve come to expect from books on the list. That’s probably partly because of its briefness, though, too. It didn’t measure up, depth-wise, with my expectations, though. (Unless you all can enlighten me?) It felt less nuanced, almost blatant, in comparison.

That said, it did succeed at holding my attention.

What seemed its big theme, its major emphasis, it handled well.

“As for man, his days are like grass, he flourishes like a flower of the field; the wind blows over it and it is gone, and its place remembers it no more.”

—Psalm 103:15-16

And using that theme, Memento Mori draws a pretty clear picture of human nature. So maybe I shouldn’t call it a failure — or even one-noted — at all.

It seems like we as humans should become more accepting of our mortality as we age. But the characters in this book, for the most part, treat these reminders as more threat than truth. And maybe that says something about the human condition. As much as we know we won’t live forever (in these bodies, at least), we’re not very good at dealing with that information. We’d rather place blame and seek answers than live like these days matter, because they’re numbered.

The way characters’ lives are interwoven, filled with intrigue and secrets at various levels, is fascinating. As the message becomes an obsession for the characters, their flaws and virtues bubble to the surface.

Rating: 4 stars

About the author
Muriel Spark (1918-2006) was an award-winning Scottish novelist. In reading about her life, it seems at least parts of Memento Mori may be autobiographical.

Check out Amy’s post and the rest of the discussion!

I am an Amazon Associate and receive a small commission on sales through my affiliate links.

→ 3 Comments

Posted in books, fiction, review

Tagged , , , , ,

Book Spotlight: The Hope of Shridula by Kay Marshall Strom

Posted on March 28, 2012 | Leave a comment

About the book:
India, 1946. For 48 years, Ashish and his family have labored as slaves in fields owned by the high-caste Lal family, all because of one small debt. At age 54, Ashish is old and worn out, every day an effort to survive for his family, including his only daughter. His wife named her Shridula — Blessings. “Perhaps the name will bring you more fortune than it brought me,” Ashish told his daughter. His words proved prophetic.

Read an interview with Kay Marshall Strom, author of The Hope of Shridula, book 2 in the Blessings in India series.

I received this book from the publisher. I am an Amazon Associate and receive a small commission on sales through my affiliate links.

→ Leave a comment

Posted in books, Christian Fiction, fiction, historical

Tagged ,

Unexpected Dismounts by Nancy Rue

Posted on March 27, 2012 | 2 Comments

Word Lily review

Unexpected Dismounts by Nancy Rue, book 2 in the Reluctant Prophet series (David C. Cook, October 2011), 464 pages

Unexpected Dismounts by Nancy RueSummary
Allison is worried. Stressed. It’s been awhile since she got a Nudge from God, and she feels like everyone is depending on her but she can’t keep all the balls in the air for long. God gave her this mantel of prophet, but now that she’s mid-project she’s wondering if he’s given that task to someone else. She’s also physically reeling from other people’s painful experiences, she’s experiencing these traumas with them. And when she finally does hear something, it doesn’t make much sense and she resists. On top of that, there’s tension in the ranks, and the stakes are higher than they’ve ever been.

Thoughts
I could never bring myself to actually review book one of this series, The Reluctant Prophet (which is only $6 at Amazon right now), but I did at least attempt to convey how meaningful it was to me. I put off reading this one for a little while, because I wanted to spread out the experience, to fully be able to savor Unexpected Dismounts as a separate piece. I think I was also a little afraid that, being book two, it might not live up to the high expectations set by book one. I needn’t have worried.

I read it in just a little over one day, which at 450+ pages, is some feat for me.

Love that I “coincidentally” read it during Lent, since that’s when it’s set. But more than that, I love that she set it during this particularly apt season of the church calendar.

This is one of those books that I don’t feel I can adequately express how much I love it, or how deeply personal and meaningful the reading experience was for me. I relate to Allison on a level, in a way, that I’m not sure I’ve found in a novel before.

I think it works on a broader plain than that, too, though. Even if you don’t relate to Allison in her doubts and fears, her imperfect fallenness and motley assortment of friends and too-close calls, the book (well, series, so far) is well-written and engaging, and the plot moves along nicely. I can’t wait to read book three.

Too Far to Say Far Enough is due out in October 2012.

Rating: 4.75 stars

About the author
Nancy Rue (@NNRue Facebook) lives in Tennessee with her husband, Jim. She has written a lot of books (including YA and MG fiction, and nonfiction), but I just discovered her writing last year.

Other reviews
Tree Swing Reading
Have you reviewed this book? Leave me a link and I’ll add it here.

I am an Amazon Associate and receive a small commission on sales through my affiliate links.

→ 2 Comments

Posted in books, Christian Fiction, fiction, review

Tagged , , , ,

Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear

Posted on March 22, 2012 | 10 Comments

Word Lily review

Elegy for Eddie by Jacqueline Winspear, Maisie Dobbs book 9 (Harper, March 27, 2012), 352 pages

Summary
It’s the spring of 1933, and the costermongers Maisie grew up with come to her for help. They’re convinced that a guy from their neighborhood was murdered, that his death was not an accident. Eddie was a gentle soul, more boy than man. Most of the neighborhood looked out for him with kindness. And when a horse needed calmed? He was the one to call.

Thoughts
Note: This review may contain spoilers of previous books in the series.

In Elegy for Eddie Maisie continues to walk somewhat blindly through life, confident when it comes to her cases but not so clear in her personal life and relationships. Her life has changed drastically, and while she thinks she has come to terms with that, she’s still working it out.

More than a note of sadness pervades this book, as instead of recovering from World War I the global perspective shifts to preparing for World War II.

The state of her relationship with James in this book was frustrating to me, most of the way through (if not all the way). I kept thinking, *if they would just sit down and talk to each other, they’re more on the same page than either of them thinks they are.* I know I sometimes live with slights, imagined or otherwise, rather than addressing them immediately, but so many things could be solved by just a little communication!

I did like how this case took her back to the part of London where she grew up. This dovetailed nicely (as I’ve come to expect from Winspear) with the conflict Maisie’s feeling presently about her place in society.

At this point in the series, my affection for any particular title is greatly influenced by the state of Maisie’s relationship with her beau. And I was pretty unsettled, disgruntled, annoyed by how this was handled in this book. It reminds me of how I felt about Bones last year. It felt like, to drag the series out, they had Brennan reverting to old behavior, like she’d forgotten everything she’d learned, all the ways she’d grown over the past several years. Maisie seemed to be acting like Brennan — not as the person we’ve come to know her to be, but as the person she grew beyond already. That comparison might be a little unfair, but it’s how I felt while reading.

Maisie Dobbs books

1. Maisie Dobbs [my review]
2. Birds of a Feather [my review]
3. Pardonable Lies [my review]
4. Messenger of Truth [my review]
5. An Incomplete Revenge [my review]
6. Among the Mad [my review]
7. The Mapping of Love and Death [my review]
8. A Lesson in Secrets
9. Elegy for Eddie

Rating: 3.75 stars

About the author
Jacqueline Winspear (Facebook) quit her day job for her writing when she saw the tour schedule for Birds of a Feather. She lives in California, after leaving England in 1990. She finally has a blog.

Other reviews
Have you reviewed this book? Leave me a link and I’ll add it here.

I received this book from the publisher. I am an Amazon Associate and receive a small commission on sales through my affiliate links.

→ 10 Comments

Posted in books, fiction, historical, mystery, review, review copy

Tagged , ,

Book Spotlight: The Dog that Talked to God by Jim Kraus

Posted on March 20, 2012 | 2 Comments

About the book:
Recently widowed Mary Fassler buys a miniature schnauzer and her world is turned on its side in the middle of her grief. Rufus speaks, and not just to her. He also talks to God. And then Rufus begins sharing advice that could result in major changes.

Read an excerpt of The Dog that Talked to God by Jim Kraus.

I received this book from the publisher. I am an Amazon Associate and receive a small commission on sales through my affiliate links.

→ 2 Comments

Posted in books, Christian Fiction, fiction

Tagged ,

Clearing the To-Be-Reviewed shelves

Posted on February 7, 2012 | 7 Comments

Cascade by Lisa T. Bergren
I loved this book. I mean, seriously: time travel, Italy, and archaeology all in the same book? The adventure, the fun, the ingenuity. Excellent. This is book 2 of the River of Time series (3 books out so far), and while I haven’t read book 1, Waterfall, now that I’ve read book 3, I think part of my enjoyment stemmed from being allowed to fill in those pieces from the bits of background scattered throughout.

Torrent by Lisa T. Bergren
This, book 3, was a letdown. Maybe it’s because the storyline seemed so one-dimensional after attempting to construct book 1 while reading book 2? I also thought book 2 indicated a larger discussion of or focus on elements of faith in book 3, but while there was a bit more, it was still seriously lacking in that department.

The Hunger Games, Catching Fire, Mockingjay by Suzanne Collins
The Hunger Games trilogy has been hashed and rehashed countless times while I was getting up the courage to read them. See, I was afraid, when I first heard about them, that they would be too much like The Lottery by Shirley Jackson, which, when I read it early in high school, left me scarred. But the similarities were quickly overcome once I dove in, and I quickly devoured the whole series. The reality TV (a la Big Brother) component is really interesting, but really they’re just great stories. They plumb the depths of what it means to be human.

And, with that, my writing time for today is just about up. Maybe I’ll add some thumbnails to the above and move on with my day. Hopefully this hasn’t drained me too much and I’ll be able to post another set of mini-reviews (or a few) soon. Hey, maybe I’ll even post more than once in a week — now that would feel like a miracle!

I am an Amazon Associate and receive a small commission on sales through my affiliate links.

→ 7 Comments

Posted in books, Christian Fiction, fiction, review, speculative, YA

Tagged

Ye Old Interview(e) Game

Posted on February 1, 2012 | 5 Comments

My Friend Amy posted about this right before Christmas, and I took her up on the chance to be interviewed. I asked her a question, and she sent me five to answer here.

The official rules (this feels a bit of the way-back machine):

  • Leave me a comment saying, “Interview Me.” Please include your e-mail address if it is not in your profile. (lol how old school)
  • I will respond by emailing you five questions. (I get to pick the questions.)
  • You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
  • You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the same post.
  • When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.

Amy asked:
1) Describe your ideal book.
Wow, that’s tough. How about this? A compelling story lyrically told, with real characters, who face thing(s) that force them to examine their faith/walk. Not too long.

2) You’re having a baby! What are some of the books that will be essential in your child’s library?
Actually, I’ve kind of struggled with this! I don’t seem to remember much of my reading (or being read to) before I was reading the Bobbsey Twins, Nancy Drew or Madeleine L’Engle books; I remember appreciating the phonics books we had when younger siblings were learning to read … So! What read-aloud or whatever books should I add to my library?

But if you’re asking about books for when he’s older, hrm. Most of the ones I own (we were heavy library users back in the day) seem a little girl-centric: Anne of Green Gables, Caddie Woodlawn … Obviously that doesn’t make them bad, but my collection’s still more than a bit scant.

3) Have you ever read a book at exactly the right time?
I’d say the books that coalesced on a theme for me last year were read at pretty much the right time. :) I’m sure there are other, more precise instances, but they’re not coming to mind at the moment.

4) What is the best thing that’s changed about the book blogosphere since you started? What’s the worst?
I love that there are so many book bloggers now. I think this makes it easier to find one’s bosom buddies — or a collection of people she overlaps with on various genres/subjects — than it used to be. I also think it’s excellent that bloggers now have at least some respect or recognition from publishers.

As for the worst, I hate that so many bloggers now just quietly submit to the increasingly tight hoops that are being placed as restrictions by some publishers (not most) on bloggers (for review copies). I fear they may act as a noose, and it seems to me that these bloggers have little sense of self to allow themselves to be pushed around in these ways. Of course, I also tire of the never-ending drama between bloggers.

5) What’s your favorite Christmas song?
It’s really hard for me to pick favorites of anything, and this is no exception. I tried making a list of my top 10 Christmas songs — in December 2010 — and I still haven’t gotten it figured out. I’m sad, though, that I didn’t hear Mary, Did You Know? even once this past Christmas season.

If you want me to ask you questions, let me know! I won’t ask anything too invasive or personal, promise.

→ 5 Comments

Posted in blogging, books, WordLily

Tagged

Empaths and prophets

Posted on January 26, 2012 | 6 Comments

Most of the media experiences (not just books, although mainly books) that really struck me this year have a couple things in common. I learned something about myself, particularly through their confluence. They’re all about being an outsider, working on something that others don’t really understand. And yet this work is something that drives [the person], that it’s impossible to ignore. A calling, even.

Although perhaps not traditional (and certainly not all-inclusive), this is my greatest hits list for 2011.

ANGEL

I think the first one was from the TV show Angel. Along Angel’s circuitous journey, one of the guys who assists in his mission of helping people is an Empath demon. Backstory: The demons in this narrative (that starts with Buffy the Vampire Slayer) are various races and/or individuals with special skills or giftings. Taken as a whole, they use these abilities to further their bloodlust and rage, but there are a few here and there who’ve chosen another path.

This particular Empath demon uses his ability to feel other peoples’ pain to help them. Later in the narrative the gods see fit to give the empath ability to a human, and it very nearly destroys her. (Actually, I’m not sure I’ve seen the end of that story line. I know it comes close, but I’m not sure if it eventually does or not.) She should die because a human can’t bear that burden of feeling so much the pain of others.

THE RELUCTANT PROPHET by Nancy Rue

The Reluctant Prophet illuminated what I’d seen in Angel, if that makes any sense. Allison has been asking God what she’s supposed to do, and when she begins to follow through on what she hears, the members of her church aren’t exactly thrilled. It’s a serious examination — in the form of one fictional woman’s story — of what a life of faith looks like and the risks it entails.

It’s a well-written story that I read at exactly the right time. It rings authentic, and I can’t wait to crack open the next book in the series, Unexpected Dismounts. I’ve also been enjoying Rue’s (@NNRue) blog.

THE FALLING AWAY by T.L. Hines

The Falling Away is a truly excellent book (it won the INSPY in December for Speculative Fiction).

This quote will, I think, illustrate how The Falling Away fits into my list: “we’re almost magnets for pain and suffering, but because we have ways to control it, there’s a design to it all” (page 97).

WINTER by Keven Newsome

Winter isn’t really of the same calibre as the aforementioned books writing-wise (or editing-wise), but it does dwell in the same vein, of prophecy. Enough so to earn a place here. It may not speak to everyone as it did to me — the appeal of the others is probably more broad — but that’s not necessarily the point of this list. So.

Switching directions a bit, Passport through Darkness: A True Story of Danger and Second Chances by Kimberly L. Smith (2011 INSPY winner for Creative Nonfiction) also deserves a spot on the list. It doesn’t quite fit with the others in that, while the others taught me something about myself and showed a bit of the way I should go, Smith voiced so much of what I’ve felt leading up to this time. It’s almost like her words were echoing what my soul had been crying out. Don’t get me wrong, I haven’t been working in Darfur unbeknownst to you, but I did find significant parallels.

Summary: Several books I read in 2011 seemed to coalesce around a theme, enough so that it made me sit up straight and take notice. Through these books, plus the earthquake and tsunami in Japan, God spoke to my identity, my place/role in the Body of Christ. I don’t have it all figured out yet(!), but it was encouraging to learn. One piece: an implementable way to channel my empathy.

So, there you have it. Not a traditional best-of list — I read lots of other terrific books — but the ones that most stood out to me.

I am an Amazon Associate and receive a small commission on sales through my affiliate links.

→ 6 Comments

Posted in books, Christian Fiction, fiction, memoir, nonfiction, speculative, WordLily

Tagged , , ,