I'm catching up on my book reviews for the Back to the Classics Challenge. I've read multiple 19th century classics this year. I am participating in an online reading group for Sir Walter Scott's novels. I am abashed to admit that before December of last year, I had never read one of his books. I am making up for that this year. Starting with Waverly, I have continued by reading Rob Roy, Ivanhoe, The Talisman, and currently Kenilworth. I'm not sure if Waverly or Rob Roy is my favorite so far, but since the former was read in a previous year and doesn't count for this challenge, I will write a review on the latter.
As many of Scott's book, Rob Roy begins with detailing the background and history of the chief characters before diving into the plot. I have come to appreciate this style more, as I realize how much I know about and care about each principal character before the story truly begins. For this particular tale, I was nearly a quarter of the way through the book before I was sure who the eponymous character was. (Hint: it is not the protagonist; that would be Francis Osbaldistone.)
The book has everything a romance novel should: a lady, an unlikely hero, fighting, intrigue, and a champion of dubious integrity. The Scottish dialect made a few sections of the book confusing, but usually the import of the conversation would become clear with continued reading. It was actually fun for me to try to figure out if I could understand what was being said before Francis Osbaldistone did. The plot was wrapped up rather quickly. After spending so much time drawing us into the lives of the characters, I would have appreciated a few chapters at the end to allow us to enjoy their fates.
Since I have gotten asked 4 times, "What's for snack?" I better wrap this up. Now I am caught up on the reviews for now, and can read guilt-free.
Saturday, September 21, 2019
Book Review: Lady Susan
I admit that I am a fan of Jane Austen but somehow had never read her epistolary novella, Lady Susan. Written in 1871 with only 180 pages, this books qualifies for the "novella" category in my Back to the Classics Challenge. Lady Susan is as unprincipled of a character as I've ever met. Vain, avaricious, and cunning, she will balk at nothing to get what she wants. Although, I didn't feel as attached to the characters as in Austen's longer novels, I did find myself caring about what was going to happen to Lady Susan's various "victims" and hoping that virtue would win out.
Trying to write a story purely through letters and notes is a challenge. In Austen's day, letter writing was a common form of communication, so these letters don't feel like they're stretching too much to tell the story. Even Austen, however, couldn't quite figure out how to wrap everything up in this fashion and attached an epilogue to let us know how everyone fares in the end.
This story lacks the laugh out loud moments, I deeply prize in Austen's other works. It is not so poignant nor witty. From her other books, I know that Austen must have carefully studied human character and interactions. She portrays the character of Lady Susan amazingly well, giving us insights into her motives and her lack of remorse. Though it's certainly not a favorite of mine, I believe any Austen fan would enjoy a few evenings reading Lady Susan.
Trying to write a story purely through letters and notes is a challenge. In Austen's day, letter writing was a common form of communication, so these letters don't feel like they're stretching too much to tell the story. Even Austen, however, couldn't quite figure out how to wrap everything up in this fashion and attached an epilogue to let us know how everyone fares in the end.
This story lacks the laugh out loud moments, I deeply prize in Austen's other works. It is not so poignant nor witty. From her other books, I know that Austen must have carefully studied human character and interactions. She portrays the character of Lady Susan amazingly well, giving us insights into her motives and her lack of remorse. Though it's certainly not a favorite of mine, I believe any Austen fan would enjoy a few evenings reading Lady Susan.
Saturday, August 17, 2019
Book Review: Four Reigns
I have been reading plenty of classics, but I have not been writing my reviews for the Back to the Classics Challenge. I won't catch up today, but I will write one. I recently finished Four Reigns by Kukrit Pramoj translated into English by Tulachandra. As I have already read and reviewed a classic in translation, this will be my "classic from a place I've lived." The book was originally written as a newspaper serial and was published in its complete form in 1953. The story follows the life of Ploi as she lives through the reigns of Kings Rama V-VIII.
The book opens with young Ploi, a member of upper class Thailand in the latter half of the 19th century, leaving her family home by boat to live in the Inner Court. Thus from the beginning, I guessed I would be receiving a picture of the lives of the Thai elite of the day. I caught snippets of how life might have been for servants and those once wealthy who had lost their means and status, but almost nothing of life for the majority, especially those living outside the Bangkok area. Throughout the book, it also became apparent that Ploi and her family each represent a certain ideal and stereotyped persona. Also, since the book was written in Thailand by a Thai person, it treats royalty and events related to royalty carefully. Within these limitations, I believe the portrayal is fairly accurate and a worthwhile read.
Living in Thailand and having lived in both Bangkok and Ayutthaya, I can picture many of the places mentioned. In my imagination, I stripped away modern buildings and roads, replacing them traditional wooden Thai structures, dirt roads, and many canals. While Thai dress has been modernized and government has gone through various transitions, many of the cultural constructs are still intact, though slightly changed. My familiarity with modern Thailand helped me to understand the actions of the characters, and certain cultural aspects elucidated in the book helped me understand parts of modern culture. Having been in Thailand during the death of King Rama IX, I could easily sympathize with the characters as they mourned each successive King, particularly King Rama V who reigned for 37 years.
For those of us who read Thai but not well enough to read the original, it would have been nice to have names and certain Thai words written in Thai script in parentheses the first time they were used or in an appendix. This would have facilitated pronunciation and understanding.
Overall, the story was well written; I cared about what happened to Ploi and her family. I gained insight into that period of history in Thailand. I have a shared knowledge and experience with others, foreigners and Thais, who have read this story. I generally enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others who are interested in Thai history and culture. I am still on the look out for a good non-fiction book to provide a historical overview of Thailand.
The book opens with young Ploi, a member of upper class Thailand in the latter half of the 19th century, leaving her family home by boat to live in the Inner Court. Thus from the beginning, I guessed I would be receiving a picture of the lives of the Thai elite of the day. I caught snippets of how life might have been for servants and those once wealthy who had lost their means and status, but almost nothing of life for the majority, especially those living outside the Bangkok area. Throughout the book, it also became apparent that Ploi and her family each represent a certain ideal and stereotyped persona. Also, since the book was written in Thailand by a Thai person, it treats royalty and events related to royalty carefully. Within these limitations, I believe the portrayal is fairly accurate and a worthwhile read.
Living in Thailand and having lived in both Bangkok and Ayutthaya, I can picture many of the places mentioned. In my imagination, I stripped away modern buildings and roads, replacing them traditional wooden Thai structures, dirt roads, and many canals. While Thai dress has been modernized and government has gone through various transitions, many of the cultural constructs are still intact, though slightly changed. My familiarity with modern Thailand helped me to understand the actions of the characters, and certain cultural aspects elucidated in the book helped me understand parts of modern culture. Having been in Thailand during the death of King Rama IX, I could easily sympathize with the characters as they mourned each successive King, particularly King Rama V who reigned for 37 years.
For those of us who read Thai but not well enough to read the original, it would have been nice to have names and certain Thai words written in Thai script in parentheses the first time they were used or in an appendix. This would have facilitated pronunciation and understanding.
Overall, the story was well written; I cared about what happened to Ploi and her family. I gained insight into that period of history in Thailand. I have a shared knowledge and experience with others, foreigners and Thais, who have read this story. I generally enjoyed this book and would recommend it to others who are interested in Thai history and culture. I am still on the look out for a good non-fiction book to provide a historical overview of Thailand.
Sunday, March 3, 2019
Now
I've read and heard many musing from mothers of grown children wishing for bygone days. As a busy mother of young children, it's hard to to realize just how fast the days slip through our fingers. We feel like we can hardly manage until our children are tucked in bed after another long day. At some imperceptible point, our children mature and become more independent. Is it too late, have we already zoomed through those golden days which we will so miss?
I feel that I've been given a gift in that I know those golden days are now. Not that there weren't wonderful days in the past; not that I don't already have large storerooms of precious memories. But there is something different about now. I don't know how long it will last, but after many years of struggle and exhaustion, now is a time of amazing blessing and joy.
My youngest child is at my favorite of age of exploring and learning to express herself with language. So knows just enough to build on her own experiences and yet so much is still new to her. The only thing that would be more amazing would be if she would get potty-trained (ha! ha!). My two oldest children are extremely helpful. They can cook meals and clean up. They can help the little ones. And most of the time do it with a cheerful attitude. They love God and studying His Word. Eris especially loves discussions about the Bible and doctrine. Hollis and Simeon are ready to learn almost anything I am willing to teach - about math, hermit crabs, reading, birds, Jesus.
We live so close to the beach that we can see it from our house. We can play in the sea and on the sand without much effort. We have a beautiful yard with grass, bushes, and trees. The kids play outside every single day, and I don't have to help them get coats and shoes on. I get to teach my children at home. My husband brings home supper five days a week on his way home from week, which allows me extra time to study Thai, play fiddle, and just play with the kids. After bedtime, I usually still have enough energy to read for an hour or two.
It might not be long (or it might be years) before we have to move for a job for Philip, for visa paperwork, or for other reasons. I might have to find a way to make money. Certainly the kids will grow up. There will be other wonderful years, but I know that when Calla is away at college and Eris has children of her own, I will look back on these sun drenched, full yet not chaotic, busy but not exhausting, beautiful years at our home in Tha Sala and wish for just a slice of it back. So I will try to enjoy it to its fullest - cancel classes on an afternoon when Calla takes an early nap and run across the street to the beach, read an extra chapter of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader at bedtime, snuggle a bit longer during tuck in, play another game of Nertz, say 'yes' to another goal in football (soccer for those of you who still live in the U.S.), and store up each memory for when such delights are harder to come by.
I feel that I've been given a gift in that I know those golden days are now. Not that there weren't wonderful days in the past; not that I don't already have large storerooms of precious memories. But there is something different about now. I don't know how long it will last, but after many years of struggle and exhaustion, now is a time of amazing blessing and joy.
My youngest child is at my favorite of age of exploring and learning to express herself with language. So knows just enough to build on her own experiences and yet so much is still new to her. The only thing that would be more amazing would be if she would get potty-trained (ha! ha!). My two oldest children are extremely helpful. They can cook meals and clean up. They can help the little ones. And most of the time do it with a cheerful attitude. They love God and studying His Word. Eris especially loves discussions about the Bible and doctrine. Hollis and Simeon are ready to learn almost anything I am willing to teach - about math, hermit crabs, reading, birds, Jesus.
We live so close to the beach that we can see it from our house. We can play in the sea and on the sand without much effort. We have a beautiful yard with grass, bushes, and trees. The kids play outside every single day, and I don't have to help them get coats and shoes on. I get to teach my children at home. My husband brings home supper five days a week on his way home from week, which allows me extra time to study Thai, play fiddle, and just play with the kids. After bedtime, I usually still have enough energy to read for an hour or two.
It might not be long (or it might be years) before we have to move for a job for Philip, for visa paperwork, or for other reasons. I might have to find a way to make money. Certainly the kids will grow up. There will be other wonderful years, but I know that when Calla is away at college and Eris has children of her own, I will look back on these sun drenched, full yet not chaotic, busy but not exhausting, beautiful years at our home in Tha Sala and wish for just a slice of it back. So I will try to enjoy it to its fullest - cancel classes on an afternoon when Calla takes an early nap and run across the street to the beach, read an extra chapter of The Voyage of the Dawn Treader at bedtime, snuggle a bit longer during tuck in, play another game of Nertz, say 'yes' to another goal in football (soccer for those of you who still live in the U.S.), and store up each memory for when such delights are harder to come by.
Saturday, February 16, 2019
Review: How the Heather Looks
Here's my second book review for my challenge this year. For the 20th century classic, I read How the Heather Looks by Joan Bodger. An American family steeped in British literature takes a trip to Britain to find the settings from their favorite classics. The Bodger family goes about this is a different way than I expected. Mr. Bodger is a historian and Mrs. Bodger a literary literalist (how's that for a tongue-twister). They expect to find actually places that correspond to illustrations and descriptions in their storybooks.
Although I consider myself to be well read, there were some books with which I was unfamiliar. Caldecott (yes, the Caldecott of the picture book award) illustrated nursery rhymes and tales were not a big part of my childhood. I had never heard of another mentioned illustrator. These chapters of the book were a little tedious for me, as the family searched for specific landscapes and townscapes with which I was unfamiliar. Some sweet anecdotes of two-year old Lucy and escapades of nine-year old Ian kept my attention.
Even those stories mentioned in the book that I do know and love, I would not have considered trying to find the exact place described. I would have been happy to see a Yorkshire moor and know that it was a place like this where Mary Lennox of Secret Garden played. I would have been content to paddle along the Thames River, believing that Toad Hall and Water Rat's home were nearby without spending days searching for the actual whereabouts. Searching for King Arthur and exploring some storied places traditionally associated with him were highlights of the book for me.
Overall, I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. I could not relate to the family's preoccupation with precise locations. The more you know about the stories for which Mrs. Bodger and her family were searching, the more you will enjoy this book. Maybe you can find a list online, so you can read or re-read them before reading this. If you do enjoy, or have enjoyed as a child, British literature, you will find this book worth a read.
Although I consider myself to be well read, there were some books with which I was unfamiliar. Caldecott (yes, the Caldecott of the picture book award) illustrated nursery rhymes and tales were not a big part of my childhood. I had never heard of another mentioned illustrator. These chapters of the book were a little tedious for me, as the family searched for specific landscapes and townscapes with which I was unfamiliar. Some sweet anecdotes of two-year old Lucy and escapades of nine-year old Ian kept my attention.
Even those stories mentioned in the book that I do know and love, I would not have considered trying to find the exact place described. I would have been happy to see a Yorkshire moor and know that it was a place like this where Mary Lennox of Secret Garden played. I would have been content to paddle along the Thames River, believing that Toad Hall and Water Rat's home were nearby without spending days searching for the actual whereabouts. Searching for King Arthur and exploring some storied places traditionally associated with him were highlights of the book for me.
Overall, I did not enjoy this book as much as I thought I would. I could not relate to the family's preoccupation with precise locations. The more you know about the stories for which Mrs. Bodger and her family were searching, the more you will enjoy this book. Maybe you can find a list online, so you can read or re-read them before reading this. If you do enjoy, or have enjoyed as a child, British literature, you will find this book worth a read.
Saturday, February 9, 2019
Pink!!!
This morning the kids and I headed across the street to play at the beach. I planned to play in Rainbow Cove (the one nearest our house) since the waves are calmer there, making it easier for Calla to play in the water. The sea was a glassy, silvery calm. Hardly a wave rippled the sand. It's been months since the sea didn't crash, at least a little bit, onto the shore. We were about to wade into the water, when we noticed the translucent floaters with turquoise four-leaf clovers in the center - moon jellyfish! We weren't ready for their return. They were all small, less than 2 inches in diameter, but there were all along the shoreline. Their stings are mild and not dangerous, but no one wants to get stung by hundreds of little jellyfish.
We headed for jellyfish cove, hoping for better luck there. We call it jellyfish cove, because that is where we first saw a jellyfish, not because it has lots of them. It seemed clear. We climbed on the rock wind-break to scan the water. No jellyfish in sight in that cove. The sea was calm enough that Calla could easily play even in this cove.
We splashed and played and floated. Calla played in her frog floatie, just her size. Eris and I passed her back and forth. Simeon floated on his face with his snorkel vest, mask, and snorkel. Tiny fish swam around our feet. I watched several fish splash out and back into the water. The sun beat down, but it was comfortable in the water with my hat shading my face.
After awhile, Calla took hold of my hand and said, "Rock." She led me over to climb on the rocks; we walked slowly, watching for crabs and snails in the cracks, while I kept one I on Meriel and Eris in the water. Suddenly, Meriel shouted, "I saw something big out of the water - a big fin- maybe it's shark!" Her eyes were big and round. Since I had seen quite a few fish jumping, I thought maybe it was just an unusually large fish. Eris saw it too, "It's really big!" Time to get out of the water. We have been told by locals there are no sharks, and I was not really worried, but it's better to be safe.
Suddenly, I saw it, actually them! Two large fins and bodies gracefully curving out of the water. "Dolphins!" I shouted, "and one of them is pink!" We had heard of pink dolphins, supposedly there is a place about an hour north where boats take tourists out to see them. I had not thought they were really pink, maybe just slightly tinted. But this one was really pink. The fin was a lovely "it's a girl!" pink and the body, a paler shade. The other dolphin was the typical purple-grey. They were both swimming within a couple yards from us, so graceful and beautiful. I wanted to dive into the water, but I had little children to watch after. Instead we watched them from the rocks as they swam past us and into Rainbow Cove.
Eris ran to the house to call Philip to come see. Thai children, also on the rocks, taught us the word - "bla-lo-ma." The dolphins continued to get farther from us, but stayed just outside the cove. I hoped they would still be close enough to see when Philip arrived. He came over, in his swimsuit. He offered to let me try to swim out to them, but they were far enough out that I didn't think I would make it before they swam away. They swam farther out, then nearer end, tantalizing near but really to far to reach. Philip decided to try, with the kids' kickboard for support. He swam out and out and out, but the dolphins remained out of reach. The closest he got was about 20 feet. Then they swam away and out of sight.
A memorable day, and I learned that those dolphins are really pink! I hope we will see them again some day!
We headed for jellyfish cove, hoping for better luck there. We call it jellyfish cove, because that is where we first saw a jellyfish, not because it has lots of them. It seemed clear. We climbed on the rock wind-break to scan the water. No jellyfish in sight in that cove. The sea was calm enough that Calla could easily play even in this cove.
We splashed and played and floated. Calla played in her frog floatie, just her size. Eris and I passed her back and forth. Simeon floated on his face with his snorkel vest, mask, and snorkel. Tiny fish swam around our feet. I watched several fish splash out and back into the water. The sun beat down, but it was comfortable in the water with my hat shading my face.
After awhile, Calla took hold of my hand and said, "Rock." She led me over to climb on the rocks; we walked slowly, watching for crabs and snails in the cracks, while I kept one I on Meriel and Eris in the water. Suddenly, Meriel shouted, "I saw something big out of the water - a big fin- maybe it's shark!" Her eyes were big and round. Since I had seen quite a few fish jumping, I thought maybe it was just an unusually large fish. Eris saw it too, "It's really big!" Time to get out of the water. We have been told by locals there are no sharks, and I was not really worried, but it's better to be safe.
Suddenly, I saw it, actually them! Two large fins and bodies gracefully curving out of the water. "Dolphins!" I shouted, "and one of them is pink!" We had heard of pink dolphins, supposedly there is a place about an hour north where boats take tourists out to see them. I had not thought they were really pink, maybe just slightly tinted. But this one was really pink. The fin was a lovely "it's a girl!" pink and the body, a paler shade. The other dolphin was the typical purple-grey. They were both swimming within a couple yards from us, so graceful and beautiful. I wanted to dive into the water, but I had little children to watch after. Instead we watched them from the rocks as they swam past us and into Rainbow Cove.
Eris ran to the house to call Philip to come see. Thai children, also on the rocks, taught us the word - "bla-lo-ma." The dolphins continued to get farther from us, but stayed just outside the cove. I hoped they would still be close enough to see when Philip arrived. He came over, in his swimsuit. He offered to let me try to swim out to them, but they were far enough out that I didn't think I would make it before they swam away. They swam farther out, then nearer end, tantalizing near but really to far to reach. Philip decided to try, with the kids' kickboard for support. He swam out and out and out, but the dolphins remained out of reach. The closest he got was about 20 feet. Then they swam away and out of sight.
A memorable day, and I learned that those dolphins are really pink! I hope we will see them again some day!
Sunday, February 3, 2019
"Not Quite Our" Cat
Since living in Thailand, our diet is a bit different than it was when we lived in the U.S. Many ingredients we used regularly are prohibitively expensive or not available here. Some of our dishes we've been able to adapt but are quite different from the original. When I make them, I don't want those who remember what the dish was like in the U.S. to get their expectations too high, so I say I made "note quite colcannon." Now we have another happening that is almost like but "not quite" like the true thing.
On Christmas Day, a cat appeared on our back porch. She curled herself comfortably among the towels on the table and didn't run away when we approached her. We've had a number of cats in our garden, and a few have even snuck into the house, but they always run away when we try to get close. Not long before, I had been trying to entice a cat to be friendly by feeding it. The smoky grey cat would only come out of the tree or off the wall when it thought I was in the house. But now here was a cat that let Philip pet her. She allowed the kids to stroke her and even set her in their laps. We fed her some scraps of fat from our Christmas ham, and she decided to stay.
Since then, the tortoiseshell cat spends her days lazing on our back porch. We usually have plenty of chicken skins, bits of fat, or leftover pork to feed her. She greets us in the morning with her squeaky, hoarse mewing. She is not an affection cat, only rubbing against us to beg, but she is extremely tolerant. Calla has used her as a pillow and hugged her. Simeon has taken her on our swing. She has only scratched twice - once when I startled her from a deep sleep and once when Philip held her down for her rabies vaccine.
Yes, we've had her vaccinated against rabies since that is still a problem in Thailand. Most animals are strays or communal, so nobody take responsibility for their health or possible threats to human safety. We also took her with us in an old rabbit cage when we evacuate for the storm. And the kids have named her. She is Mistletoe, since we found her on Christmas Day.
So is she "our" cat? Well, we've not had a pet since we moved to Thailand because our plans our always precarious and temporary. We never know exactly how long we are going to be in one place or even in the country at all. We don't want to have to abandon an animal, and since Thais don't have pets in the same way we do, it would be hard to give one away. So Mistletoe is not allowed in the house; she catches geckos and moths to eat, and we hope she doesn't rely on us too much. But we named her and feed her and the kids consider her part of our family. She is "not quite our" cat.
What will happen when we have to move? Will we have to move? This is just another reminder to live for today and not worry about the future. We wouldn't have purposely acquired a feline member of the family, but since she has adopted us, we will enjoy her for now and worry about tomorrow when it comes.
On Christmas Day, a cat appeared on our back porch. She curled herself comfortably among the towels on the table and didn't run away when we approached her. We've had a number of cats in our garden, and a few have even snuck into the house, but they always run away when we try to get close. Not long before, I had been trying to entice a cat to be friendly by feeding it. The smoky grey cat would only come out of the tree or off the wall when it thought I was in the house. But now here was a cat that let Philip pet her. She allowed the kids to stroke her and even set her in their laps. We fed her some scraps of fat from our Christmas ham, and she decided to stay.
Since then, the tortoiseshell cat spends her days lazing on our back porch. We usually have plenty of chicken skins, bits of fat, or leftover pork to feed her. She greets us in the morning with her squeaky, hoarse mewing. She is not an affection cat, only rubbing against us to beg, but she is extremely tolerant. Calla has used her as a pillow and hugged her. Simeon has taken her on our swing. She has only scratched twice - once when I startled her from a deep sleep and once when Philip held her down for her rabies vaccine.
Yes, we've had her vaccinated against rabies since that is still a problem in Thailand. Most animals are strays or communal, so nobody take responsibility for their health or possible threats to human safety. We also took her with us in an old rabbit cage when we evacuate for the storm. And the kids have named her. She is Mistletoe, since we found her on Christmas Day.
So is she "our" cat? Well, we've not had a pet since we moved to Thailand because our plans our always precarious and temporary. We never know exactly how long we are going to be in one place or even in the country at all. We don't want to have to abandon an animal, and since Thais don't have pets in the same way we do, it would be hard to give one away. So Mistletoe is not allowed in the house; she catches geckos and moths to eat, and we hope she doesn't rely on us too much. But we named her and feed her and the kids consider her part of our family. She is "not quite our" cat.
What will happen when we have to move? Will we have to move? This is just another reminder to live for today and not worry about the future. We wouldn't have purposely acquired a feline member of the family, but since she has adopted us, we will enjoy her for now and worry about tomorrow when it comes.
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