Theatre Reviews & Writing Club

 Although I've not been active on my blog for the past two years, my 5 subscribers will be happy to know that I am still writing. One project I've been involved with for the past 6 months or so, is volunteering as a writer for a local theatre blog. I'll link them below:

Into the Woods (April 2023)

Ordinary Days (April 2023)

Children of Eden (February 2023)

Winnie the Pooh: The New Musical (October 2022)

The Wilds (October 2022)

Secondly, a group of my friends, after several glasses of wine one night after bookclub, decided to start a writing club in which we compose a short story (or maybe flash fiction, but who cares about the exact definitions) and share as a group one night a month. We've had quite the range of stories, from limericks, to comedy, to tragedy, reflections and romance. I'll share one, one of these days when I have them a bit more polished.

NiaD 9.5 & 10

Nearly a year ago (April 2020) , during the chaotic early days of COVID-19, I participated in Novel-in-a-Day (NiaD) for the first time! The other members of my writing group, Sam and Katie, seasoned NiaD veterans, invited me to participate. We were still in the days of quarantine, so we kept in contact via instant message during the process. It ended up being a lot of fun!

The way NiaD works is through some intensive planning by the coordinator who lays out the entire plot, chapter by chapter, and compiles the novel, all within 24 hours. Each participant is assigned a chapter, sent a chapter brief with minimal necessary information to complete their chapter, and away we go. Usually held in the fall, the special quarantine novella took place in April 2020. The coordinator of NiaD lives in the UK, so we had from around 6pm on a Friday night to noon on Saturday to complete our chapter and send it in for compilation. By 6 P.M. Saturday, we had a complete novella, created by writers on several continents! I'll admit that some chapters flow better than others from one to the other, but overall I saw a lot of great writing.

There were so many participants for this special quarantine edition that we ended up with seven versions of The District. You can access the various versions here. My chapter was included in the Orange version, Katie's in the Grey and Sam's in the Purple. When you are writing your assigned chapter, you don't know where it fits into the story. It was a lot of fun reading the other versions of my chapter within the alternate editions. I loved to see how disseminated the same information in completely different ways. I'll admit, I never read all of the versions all the way through.

In October 2020, our group also participated in the 'normal' NiaD, which resulted in a bit longer novel with only four versions. I have to say that I didn't love the topic as much for this novel, but I did enjoy the writing process. Sam, Katie and I spent a fun morning in a coffee shop working through our chapters together! On Your Honor can be found here. My chapter immediately preceded Sam's, which we didn't know while we were writing together! We are both in the Green version, while Katie was in the Blue.

If NiaD sounds like a fun writing exercise, anyone can sign up via this forum (you might be asked to submit a writing sample). Happy writing!

What I Read: November & December 2020

The Horse and His Boy & The Last Battle by C.S. Lewis ★★★★★/5

I finished this epic series in November. I have no idea how many times I've read these books, but every time, I find something new to love. The stories, while simple, teach complex ideas, which make them timeless.

The Problem of Pain by C.S.Lewis ★★★★/5

I am a little frustrated with myself for not making notes on this book, so I remember very little of the details, but this book was a fairly quick read and full of interesting ideas. Next time I read it, I will be sure to make more Note Bene.

C.S.Lewis and the Catholic Church by Joseph Pearce ★★★/5

I enjoyed this work insomuch as it provided copious information about C.S.Lewis's life and works, but I have found in this book, as well as other Joseph Pearce books, a penchant for intrigue where it seems no intrigue exists. Pearce tends to take a small fact, and run wild with imagination over what it might possibly mean, without much evidence. Overall, worth reading if you are an avid Lewis fan and also interested in his relationship with Catholicism. 

Letters to Malcom Chiefly on Prayer by C.S.Lewis ★★★★★/5

This might be my favorite 'academic' book of Lewis's that I've read. I love the raw banter between Lewis and his friend, which you wouldn't find in a published academic work. I felt that it gave me a vivid insight into Lewis's personality, which I didn't get from some of his other works. I would highly recommend this one!

Bone Broth Diet by Kellyann Petrucci MS, ND ★★★/5

I have Hashimotos disease, and I'm always looking for ways to improve my diet so I feel better. I found a lot of the ideas in this book helpful, but there wasn't a lot that I didn't already know. I have started making my own bone broth quite frequently, and it's really yummy and good for you! 

Helena by Evelyn Waugh★★★/5

I read this book back in high school, and it didn't change my life. This time around was no better. As much as I love Evelyn Waugh, I couldn't get in to his strange 1920's style banter which he worked into this novel. It felt odd at best and trivialized an important story in my mind. Maybe there's something I'm missing here, but I wouldn't read it again.

The Weight of Glory  by C.S.Lewis ★★★★★/5

Ah, again, I made no notes about this book, except that I gave it 5 stars. Let that be enough of a recommendation to try it yourself.

The Code of the Woosters; Joy in the Morning; Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves; Right Ho, Jeeves; The Mating Season; Jeeves and the Feudal Spirit; How Right You Are, Jeeves; Thank You, Jeeves; Aunts Aren't Gentlemen all by P.G.Wodehouse (Most of these are a ★★★★★/5 star rating, except Thank You, Jeeves, which I don't recommend based on some unfortunate racist messages)

Somewhere in the cold of November, I found down the P.G.Wodehouse rabbit hole for the second time this year. Hoopla still has the wonderful audio-books of Jeeves and Wooster (look for the Jonathan Cecil narrated version) and I listened to these 9 over the course of a few weeks. Yes, I've already read every one of these books this year. I can't help myself. It's like having a favorite sitcom that you watch way oftener than you care to admit.

Sanctuary by Nora Roberts ★★/5

I've got to give it to Nora Roberts. She's a genius. This book is pure trash, but somehow, good old Nora keeps 'em coming every year. She's written something like 250 (?) books. 250! And she makes a lot of money. I have to say, she's inspired me because if she can get paid for this dumpster fire, maybe my dreams of writing a novel aren't totally out of the realm of possibility.

The Haunting of Hill House by Shirley Jackson ★★★/5

I have to say, my rating is between a 3-4 for this one. While I liked it, I'm not sure if I would read it again (which is my criteria for a 4-5 star rating). It was delightfully bizarre, but not my favorite book by any means. 

A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens ★★★★★/5

Our Jane Austen Bookclub spent a cold December evening reading this lovely book aloud. I think it took around three hours from start to finish, but it was time well spent. Sam concocted a delicious brew of mulled wine, and food and fun were shared by all. I hope we continue the tradition in years to come.

We Have Always Lived in the Castle by Shirley Jackson ★★★★/5

Like The Haunting of Hill House, I found this book spectacularly bizarre. I enjoy Jackson's writing style. Unlike the very modern horror films you might see on Netflix, she takes very every day scenes and circumstances, and makes the horror with subtleties in her writing. Genius.

Stay With Me: A Novel by Ayobami Adebayo ★★★★/5

It seems like Stay With Me has been everywhere over the past couple years, and it's been on my shortlist for quite a while. I will be interested to read this author in the future (this was her first novel). I listened to the audio version, which I think was a smart idea, considering how little I know of Nigeria and it's language. The reader was Nigerian, and did an excellent job bringing the characters to life. While I thought this novel was stunning, I will warn you that I didn't love the story. It was very sad, and often strange to me, especially since I know nothing about Nigerian culture. I think if you're in my shoes, go in with an open mind, knowing that the cultural differences might shock you.

**********************************************************************************

Phew! I think that's it. I ended the year having read 106 books, exceeding my goal! I kind of cheated because I read some books twice this year, and I counted them twice. So if you want to be REALLY technical, I probably only read about 99 individual books. That's good enough for me! I'm looking to reach 100 books again in 2021, and I'm already 10% of the way!

KPA

What I Read: October 2020

I gravitated towards some shorter books this month after I finally finished the Alexander Hamilton biography (see below) and the Count of Monte Cristo. I'm not adding photos of the books because I am lazy.

Alexander Hamilton by Ron Chernow ★★★★/5

It's been awhile since I picked up a hefty biography. When I was in highschool, I would frequently have a stack of biographies next to my bed as my 'fun' reading before bed. Majoring in History has righted that weird habit, but I do enjoy a biography here and there.

Like most people, I was led to this biography because I watched Hamilton the musical on Disney+ this summer. I loved the production and I wish there were more historically based musicals out there.

My main problem with this biography is Ron Chernow's obvious biases for Hamilton and against Jefferson. While I find many of his criticisms true and valid, I prefer biographies that contain less obvious bias. If this is the only information you've ever read on the founding fathers, I would recommend reading a few more perspectives in order to gain an accurate view of the events. As always, primary sources, whenever possible, are preferable to someone else's opinions on the subject. Overall, I found Chernow's writing style engaging, and his storytelling well done.

The Bridal Wreath by Sigrid Undset ★★★★★/5 & The Mistress of Husaby by Sigrid Undset ★★★★/5

I've been meaning to read the Kristin Lavransdatter trilogy for many years now, and have just finally gotten around to it. As a wife and mother, I think I appreciate it more than I would have as a young whippersnapper, so it was worth waiting.

My feelings during the first novel, The Bridal Wreath, reminded me a little of how I feel when I read Gone with the Wind. The stories are in no way similar, it's just the feeling of: "NO! STOP GIRL, DON'T! STOP! BAD CHOICE!" I don't want to spoil the story, but essentially, Kristin volunteers for her problems, and she receives realistic consequences in return. I haven't read the third book yet, The Cross, but based on the title, it sounds like Kristin's life will continue to be challenging.

A note: the newer and more popular Penguin translation of this book is rumored to be less accurate to the original language (Norwegian). I went with the older translation (Archer), which the author actually helped with, being fluent in both Norwegian and English. However, it is worth nothing that the Penguin edition may include some text that was excluded from the Archer English translation. I'll have to read that one someday and maybe I can give some better insight.

Where the Light Is by Heidi Pattee ★★★★★/5

Full disclosure, I know the author (friend of my mom's) of this short poetry collection and really like her, so I could be biased, but I loved this book. If you're a lover of poetry, it's definitely worth a perusal. It's quite short and took me less than an hour to read.

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe by C.S. Lewis ★★★★★/5, Prince Caspian by C.S. Lewis ★★★★★/5, The Voyage of the Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis ★★★★★/5, The Magician's Nephew by C.S. Lewis ★★★★★/5

Ah, Narnia. I re-read these books every few years, and every time, they enchant and teach me. I got through the first 5 in October, and finished up in November. I can't really pick a favorite--they are all so good--but if I had to, I guess I would go with the first. 

I will say that this read through was much more interesting since I recently read Lewis's Space Trilogy, as well as some of his other works. I feel like I understand his worldview so much more after reading many of his books all in a row. His ideas about life outside of our world really fascinate me, especially since he presents it from a Christian perspective.

The Return of the Prodigal Son: A Story of Homecoming by Henri J.M. Nouwen ★★★★★/5

I've had Nouwen on my list for several years, and I'm glad I started with this beautiful reflection. I hope to read more of his work in the future. As someone who also loves art, I was very impressed by how much insight he found in this one Rembrandt painting and am inspired to become a more contemplative person. I think I am so easily distracted as a result of being a part of the 21st century, and the importance of sitting and quietly meditating on beauty was really brought forward by this book.

When God Wrecks Your Romance: Orthodox Faith, Unorthodox Story by Amanda Vernon and Matt Fase ★★★/5

I heard Amanda Vernon on a podcast a year or so ago (can't remember which one), and I was intrigued by her forthcoming book. I loved how boldly she spoke about about a topic which was so personal, and potentially controversial. I've since watched some of her youtube videos, and she has an amazing voice as well as a fun personality. This memoir was a very fun and quick read, but I wouldn't necessarily read it again. If anyone wants to borrow it, my copy is up for grabs!

KPA

What I Read: September 2020

September flew by and I only completed four books. To be fair, I started a couple other very long books (Kristen Lavransdatter and Alexander Hamilton by Chernow), so my page count for the month is still quite high. I need to do some catching up in October if I want to meet my goal of 100 by the end of the year!

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas ★★★★★/5

I've read this marvelous novel at least once before as a teenager, and I loved it even more as an adult. It's roughly 45 hours via audio, and well over 1000 pages in most editions, so this was my main focus of the month. I listened to the Blackstone Audio production, and also read parts in the Penguin edition. The Blackstone uses a different translation than the more recent Penguin edition. This blogger details the various editions and translations, arguing for the Penguin edition as it is the most complete. While that may be true, I do enjoy the Blackstone's more regal, victorian-style English. I would almost certainly include this book in my top ten favorites.

Mara, Daughter of the Nile by Eloise Jarvis McGraw ★★★/5

I rediscovered this beloved book from my teenage years while I was perusing the shelves in my parent's basement (they have an amazing collection of books). I've always been a sucker for historical fiction, and I think it really does help make the history come alive, especially for young students. Re-reading this book, I was less enraptured than I was as a young person, but I still enjoyed it!

A Severe Mercy: A Story of Faith, Tragedy and Triumph by Sheldon Vanauken ★★★★★/5

I started reading this book several years ago, and didn't finish for some reason (late library book, I believe). I decided to revisit it this month, and I'm very happy I did. Vanauken writes beautifully about his extraordinary relationship with his wife, and their journey to God and Christianity through their friendship with C.S. Lewis. His emotions shared in this autobiographical story were very raw and honest, which deeply moved me. I am looking forward to reading his other autobiographical story, 'Into the Mercy,' sometime in the future.

A Grief Observed by C.S.Lewis ★★★★★★/5

Of all of C.S.Lewis's published works, I was least interested in reading this short book. The reason I ended up reading it this month is simply because Sheldon Vanauken references the title in 'A Severe Mercy'. I think I've avoided this book because I didn't know C.S.Lewis's story, and just assumed that this was a book about powering through grief, because all will be well. That was absolutely not what it was. C.S.Lewis, I discovered, was married late in life to Joy Davidman, acquiring two step-sons in the process. His marriage was cut short by the death of his wife, which drove him to the edge of despair. This book, which is essentially a series of Lewis's journal entries, was initially published under a pseudonym, which I found really interesting. This is by far the most intimate and emotional piece of writing that I've read by Lewis, and he clearly struggled to share it.

That's all she wrote. Now, on to my last 25 books to complete the year!

KPA

What I Read: August 2020

With the excessive heat and sunshine of August, I spent less time reading and writing and more time at the pool! I completed seven books, and am in progress with a couple others. I know that I will miss the ease of summer when the winter snows arrive, but I am definitely looking forward to the cool days of Nebraska autumn.

August put me at 70 books read so far this year--30 more to reach my goal! Without further ado, my August booklist:

The Mayor of Casterbridge by Thomas Hardy ★★★★/5

I love the untamed drama of Thomas Hardy's novels. If you think everything has gone wrong for a character, think again. It always gets worse. Almost without fail, Hardy's characters 'get what's coming to them' everytime; no action is without consequence. The Mayor of Casterbridge in particular highlighted how envy and greed can entirely twist and form a person's character. I would still rate Tess of the D'Urbervilles and Far From the Madding Crowd as my favorite Hardy novels, but this one was also quite intriguing.

What Alice Forgot by Liane Moriarty ★★★/5

I made the mistake of reading four Moriarty novels in a row, so the lines are blurring a bit, but I think this is my favorite. Spoiler alert--you find out within the first few pages that Alice, the title character, is suffering from accident-induced amnesia and has 'lost' 10 years of her memory. In essence, she feels like the person she was 10 years prior, which turns out to be radically different than her current self. I found myself considering for days after, what would my life look like if this happened to me? It was quite thought provoking!

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty ★★★★★/5

I enjoyed this Moriarty novel also. My major complaint with her books overall is they are all lengthy without a cause. This book, like the others, could have been edited down significantly. That aside, I enjoyed the plot of this novel, and the characters felt like they could be real people. I particularly enjoyed the way she wrote from different perspectives throughout the novel. I am looking forward to watching the show at some point, although a friend has warned me of its inconsistencies with the book.

Truly Madly Guilty by Liane Moriarty ★★/5

Truly Madly Guilty dragged on and on. I found it to be fairly anti-climactic, kind of like this review, but at least this is short.

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen ★★★★★/5

I just finished Pride and Prejudice for my upcoming bookclub meeting and it grows more delightful with every perusal. I laugh, I cry, and I sometimes get so angry with Lydia that I throw my book. Jane Austen has an uncanny ability to portray people just as they are. She doesn't hyperbolize their faults or their admirable qualities; all of her characters feel like they could be real people, even 200 years later. This novel is definitely in my top ten favorite books of all time (ooo I need to do a post on this topic). Well worth a read (or a reread...or a re-reread).

Mating in Captivity: Reconciling the Erotic and the Domestic by Esther Perel ★★/5

Woof. A friend recommended this to me, and while a very small portion of this book brought about interesting thoughts and conversations (ie you are a person independent of your partner even after marriage and it's good to remember that), I would say that overall it was very sad. The utter selfishness that is the drive of the sexual relationships given as examples in this book is the actual problem, not domesticity or eroticism. I found myself feeling upset for all of these couples who were using each other for pleasure, got bored, and then wondered why they weren't happy. In short, the vibe was "hooray sexual revolution and sex without consequences (lol false dichotomy); we no longer know how to be basic humans in a relationship because we are so selfish, but hooray sexual revolution for making everything awesome." There were so many issues with the logic (or lack thereof) that I'm not going to take the time to elaborate on. In short, I do not recommend. You'd be much better off reading Love and Responsibility or Theology of the Body.

Under the Greenwood Tree by Thomas Hardy ★★★/5

I could hardly believe this was a Thomas Hardy novel. Unlike all of his other books I've read (Tess, FFMC, Jude the Obscure, Mayor of Casterbridge) this novel was sweet and whimsical. I won't read it again, but the gentle romance and hilarious church choir made it well worth my time.

What I Read: July 2020

July has been the busiest month of this year for me! I am surprised that I still finished 8 books, and got started on a few others. As of this week, I'm up to 65 books read this year! I still have a ways to go to meet my goal of 100, but well on my way. I might need to cheat a bit and start reading some shorter/easier books because my brain is getting tired.

As a reminder, you can see the 'how and why' for my book rating system here.

Death Comes for the Archbishop by Willa Cather ★★★★★/5

I read a couple of Willa Cather novels in high school, and made the mistake of thinking her books were 'boring.' The truth is that I was boring, and ignorant. Last year, I reluctantly picked up O Pioneers! for bookclub, and was stunned by how much I loved it. Shocking that an incredibly talented, award-winning author could be good, right? *facepalm* Well, Death Comes for the Archbishop completely blew O Pioneers! out of the water, in my opinion. I read a short commentary written by Willa Cather after Death Comes for the Archbishop became a rousing success, and I was further surprised to discover Willa Cather was not a Catholic, but wrote so beautifully and accurately about the church. The last few pages of the book in particular blew me away. I'll be thinking about this book for a long time, and I'm sure I will reread it in the future.

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen ★★★/5

According to my Goodreads account, it's been about 12 years since I last read this book. I previously gave it 5 stars, and I have no idea why. It is most certainly my least favorite Austen, and I doubt I will read it again. It's worth reading once at least, especially in the context of its being Austen's first novel. We had some interesting discussions pertaining to its origins and background in which Sam shared information from the annotated version. It is posited that Austen was mocking the Romance and Gothic novels that were popular at the time. Reading Northanger Abbey with this in mind provided some necessary context for her humor. I need to read more in the Gothic genre to really appreciate what she was getting at, but I don't know if I want to. 

My Alma Mater, Hillsdale College, recently put out a free online class on 'Northanger Abbey: The Young Jane Austen' which I am planning on watching at some point.

Stiff Upper Lip, Jeeves by P.G. Wodehouse ★★★★★/5

I think this is my very favorite Jeeves and Wooster. I've read it about five times and I laugh aloud multiple times, every time. Any of the adventures which include Madeline Bassett, Gussie Finknottle, Pop Bassett and Roderick Spode win out over any other group of characters. I highly recommend listening to the audio version, narrated by Jonathan Cecil (available on Libby). He is such a master narrator, especially when it comes to Wodehouse novels.

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman ★★★★★/5

Ah. Another delightful Gaiman novel. I don't know if 'delightful' is the right word. His stories tend to be sort of dark, but in the best way. Without blowing the premise, Neverwhere imagines an invisible London alongside the actual London. The invisible London, or 'London Below' is so fascinating. In some ways, this story reminded me of something out of Harry Potter. 

Side note: I would recommend reading the 'author's preferred text'; apparently, Gaiman has published two, maybe three versions as well as a TV show.

American Gods by Neil Gaiman

I can't give this a rating, because I didn't finish it. GASP. I rarely start a book without finishing, but this was an exception. It's not that it was terrible, but it was very graphic. I get where Neil Gaiman was coming from and what he was trying to do, but I just wasn't up for it. If you've spent anytime reading Greek/Roman/Norse mythology, you'll know that these gods are very...racy. NG's American gods are worse. If you decide to read this book, don't say I didn't warn you.

The Shining Company by Rosemary Sutcliff ★★★/5

I haven't read a Rosemary Sutcliff novel since I was a teenager, but this came up as a recommendation on my Libby app, so I gave it a go. I really loved the Eagle of the Ninth series in early highschool, but I had no idea how prolific Sutcliff was outside this series. She wrote dozens of historical fiction books, and although they are mostly labeled as youth fiction, I found her writing to still be appealing as an adult. Her historical knowledge is mind-blowing, and the way she brings characters and situations to life is very impressive. All of this aside, I discovered from my google search that Rosemary Sutcliff was severely disabled by Stills Disease as a small child. This information blew me away. Someone who could not even walk was able to write over 50 books in her 72 years, fiction and non-fiction. Not only that, but most of her novels must have required intense research as they are historical/folk-based fiction. Her autobiography, Blue Remembered Hills has been added to my list as a necessary read!

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis ★★★★/5

To be honest, I have been putting off reading this book for many years out of dread. I didn't want to deal with the 'creepy' aspects of the subject material. In reality, it wasn't all that creepy, but rather was a catalyst for self-reflection. I will definitely revisit this one in the future, but it's not a favorite.

Nine Perfect Strangers by Liane Moriarty ★★★/5

Nine Perfect Strangers is my first Moriarty novel! I've been meaning to pick up one of her books for months, but was always put off by the length. I'm not afraid of long novels in general, but the trend of the modern lengthy novel turns me off. I've found that most modern novels over 250 pages could have been seriously condensed and still retained and possibly improved the story. This novel was no exception. I liked the idea of the story, and don't regret reading it, but it was much too long. I just finished a second Moriarty novel (I'll include it next month!) and found the same problem. This is not so much the author's fault as it is the modern editor's. Overall, I would recommend this book. Moriarty has a great, conversational writing style that keeps you going.

After the Funeral by Agatha Christie ★★/5

A friend warned me that as Christie's books went on, she seemed to write more and more negatively. I've found this to be true. The men in these later books all seem to be evil losers, and I seem to discover the killer in the first couple chapters. I'm trying to power through the rest of the Poirot books (I think I have 10ish left?) but I don't know if I can make it at this point.

***********************************

In addition to the books listed above, I started reading Pride & Prejudice again for Jane Austen Bookclub. We have been meeting some evenings to read sections aloud, and the experience is delightful. I find myself laughing aloud frequently while reading this novel. It is exquisite.

KPA