There are lots of magnificent books out there that are often overlooked. I wanted to point two of them out to my readership, because I think that many of you would really appreciate them:
THE MISS DENNIS SCHOOL OF WRITING AND OTHER LESSONS FROM A WOMAN'S LIFE - Steinbach
Filled with reminiscences from the authors past, this is a thought-provoking memoir which I really think you should read.
Filled with reminiscences from the authors past, this is a thought-provoking memoir which I really think you should read.
NIGHT FLYING
Though the pretense of the story, that a young girl lives in a cult of female flyers, is on the stranger side; I think that the story has a lot of implications in the real world, and that its characters' misadventures have their roots in everyday problems.
Part of the charm of this story was that, like the rest of us, Murphy's characters had flaws, and were, therefore, believable.
Georgia, the main character of this story, was both disobedient and had troubles in school.
Georgia hates how her grandmother controls her family's lives with ridiculous regulations. All Hansen women must keep their last name, fly only at night, keep a vegetarian diet, and may not bring a man in the Hansen home. According to Georgia's grandmother, a man would not respect their freedom; he might interfere with their flying. All her aunts and her mother, Maeve, obey these rules, because if they don't, they risk losing Grandmother's "toilet money", money Grandmother gained from her father's invention, the Cooney Clasp. Georgia often dreams of escaping her grandmother and her ridiculous rules, and fantasizes what it will be like after her initiation ceremony, after which she may fly alone.
The power struggle between Georgia's grandmother and the rest of the family, and the secrets that the Hansen flyers keep from one another create an intricate plot that, although sometimes confusing, will keep you interested.
Though the pretense of the story, that a young girl lives in a cult of female flyers, is on the stranger side; I think that the story has a lot of implications in the real world, and that its characters' misadventures have their roots in everyday problems.
Part of the charm of this story was that, like the rest of us, Murphy's characters had flaws, and were, therefore, believable.
Georgia, the main character of this story, was both disobedient and had troubles in school.
Georgia hates how her grandmother controls her family's lives with ridiculous regulations. All Hansen women must keep their last name, fly only at night, keep a vegetarian diet, and may not bring a man in the Hansen home. According to Georgia's grandmother, a man would not respect their freedom; he might interfere with their flying. All her aunts and her mother, Maeve, obey these rules, because if they don't, they risk losing Grandmother's "toilet money", money Grandmother gained from her father's invention, the Cooney Clasp. Georgia often dreams of escaping her grandmother and her ridiculous rules, and fantasizes what it will be like after her initiation ceremony, after which she may fly alone.
The power struggle between Georgia's grandmother and the rest of the family, and the secrets that the Hansen flyers keep from one another create an intricate plot that, although sometimes confusing, will keep you interested.
THE SCARLET LETTER - Nathaniel Hawthorne
A classic throughout the years, this is a haunting, heartwrenching tale of how a woman must wear a letter of shame on her breast after she bears a child out of wedlock and how her lover also bears the scar of scorn - inside his heart.
A classic throughout the years, this is a haunting, heartwrenching tale of how a woman must wear a letter of shame on her breast after she bears a child out of wedlock and how her lover also bears the scar of scorn - inside his heart.
GATHERING BLUE - Lois Lowry
The story of GATHERING BLUE takes place in a rural, primitive village amidst a future society which shuns the weak, and has forgotten the details of its past. Each year, the Gathering is held where the Singer sings the story of the past, accompanied by a richly decorated robe and staff, which also tell of the past. Assigned to the task of mending the robe is Kira, a teenage cripple and talented weaver whose father, Christopher, was taken by the beasts before she was born and whose mother, Katrina, only recently passed away.
This story begins with the death of Kiras mother, Katrina. Soon afterwards, the women of the village decide that they want Kiras land for a playpen for their children. One of these women takes Kira to the Council of Guardians; requesting that she have Kiras land and that Kira be sent to the Field and its beasts to die. She says that Kira is of no use to the community because she is physically flawed. However, although the woman does get Kiras land, Kira is spared and assigned to restore the Singers robe due to her almost-magical ability to weave. She is housed at the Council Edifice and there meets Thomas, Carver of the staff, and Jo, Future Singer. As the story progresses, Kira sees her world more clearly than ever before - and she doesn't like what she sees.
I liked the book, GATHERING BLUE, for various reasons. First of all, one of the best things about the book is the beautiful, vivid description. Lois Lowry almost paints the images within your mind. One good example of this is Lowrys stunning description of the Singers robe as Kira is altering it. I also thought the mysteriousness and richness of the story made me feel like there was always something else there other than the obvious. The constant appearance of hidden meanings and foreshadowing kept me turning pages; craving more. Finally, the book was made more special by the lovable and interesting characters throughout the story. The characters are interesting in and of themselves and are a pleasant distraction from the complicated plot.
The story of GATHERING BLUE takes place in a rural, primitive village amidst a future society which shuns the weak, and has forgotten the details of its past. Each year, the Gathering is held where the Singer sings the story of the past, accompanied by a richly decorated robe and staff, which also tell of the past. Assigned to the task of mending the robe is Kira, a teenage cripple and talented weaver whose father, Christopher, was taken by the beasts before she was born and whose mother, Katrina, only recently passed away.
This story begins with the death of Kiras mother, Katrina. Soon afterwards, the women of the village decide that they want Kiras land for a playpen for their children. One of these women takes Kira to the Council of Guardians; requesting that she have Kiras land and that Kira be sent to the Field and its beasts to die. She says that Kira is of no use to the community because she is physically flawed. However, although the woman does get Kiras land, Kira is spared and assigned to restore the Singers robe due to her almost-magical ability to weave. She is housed at the Council Edifice and there meets Thomas, Carver of the staff, and Jo, Future Singer. As the story progresses, Kira sees her world more clearly than ever before - and she doesn't like what she sees.
I liked the book, GATHERING BLUE, for various reasons. First of all, one of the best things about the book is the beautiful, vivid description. Lois Lowry almost paints the images within your mind. One good example of this is Lowrys stunning description of the Singers robe as Kira is altering it. I also thought the mysteriousness and richness of the story made me feel like there was always something else there other than the obvious. The constant appearance of hidden meanings and foreshadowing kept me turning pages; craving more. Finally, the book was made more special by the lovable and interesting characters throughout the story. The characters are interesting in and of themselves and are a pleasant distraction from the complicated plot.
