The Man Made of Words --N. Scott Momaday

Mix / Essays, Stories, Passages

224 pages

5 Stars

My only "complaint" was there was an end to the book. No matter how slowly I read, how I parsed the pages, I still came to the end. The saving grace is, it's my book, and I can reread it as often as I want—though there will still be an end.

This is a wonderful compilation of essays and stories and passages from the Master. We learn about his childhood, the influence of his grandparents, of the environments in which he was raised. We learn some of the Kiowa mythologies. We who read this book are blessed by the words therein, and the art that goes along with them.

Momaday is a poet, who carries that sense of rhythm and beauty into his prose. He tells of the oral culture and the book culture, and their differences. "Books are to be read; they are to be consumed and digested; they are to be turned over in the mind; they are to be taken seriously." This book is flavorful, there are textures to be chewed and savored before swallowing; there are textures that are smooth and delicate as flan. A well-balanced meal for your brain.

If I were to be sent to a desert island and allowed only 5 books for the rest of my life, this would be one of those books.

For those of you who want to know what the other books I'd take to that desert island: Errata by George Steiner (essays), Never in a Hurry by Naomi Shihab Nye (essays), Dune by Frank Herbert (novel), Places Left Unfinished at the Time of Creation by John Phillip Santos (memoir).

Mars and Her Children --poems by Marge Piercy

Nonfiction / Poetry

176 pages

5 Stars

This book was my introduction to Marge Piercy's work. I can hardly wait to read more of her poems. Her poetry is accessible and is guaranteed to capture your emotions and your imagination. Whether she describes "...dancers through time" or "Persimmon pudding" or "The price of the body" you will be enthralled. It deserves an honored place on your night table so you can easily reach it to read and reread.

A poetry Handbook --by Mary Oliver

Nonfiction / a prose guide to understanding and writing poetry

130 pages

5 Stars

I love Mary Oliver's poetry, so when I came across this book, I couldn't wait to read it. I frequently found myself having to go back and re-read a passage—not, I hasten to add, because it was not crystal clear the first time, but because I would get a few paragraphs on and suddenly realize she meant THAT instead of THIS and I'd go back and re-read just to be sure.

I would love to have taken a class from Ms. Oliver. Since that can never be, this book is as close as I'll ever get. If she was as approachable as her book, it would have been marvelous. 

If you are a poet or an aspiring poet, I highly recommend this book. It will give you much information without intimidating you. In fact, I think you'll find yourself reading it for the sheer pleasure of reading it, not because of a feeling of 'should read' but 'want to' read.

Death Comes for the Archbishop --by Willa Cather

Fiction / Historical

297 Pages

5 Stars

This is my second time reading about the Archbishop. The first time was several years ago, and I loved the book then. If possible, I love it more, now, for I have moved to New Mexico, and know, or know of, many of the places mentioned in her book.

Cather based her fictional Bishop, Jean Marie Latour, on the real-life Bishop Jean-Baptiste Lamy, who became the first Archbishop of Santa Fe, NM. I wish I had known that earlier. A third time might be in order.

This is a gently paced and peaceful book. It shows life as it was lived in the times, including how slow and painstaking travel was. Bishop Latour was a peaceful man, who sought to understand the local Mexicans as well as the indigenous peoples. He understood the indigenous peoples were not Europeans, that they had their own histories and cultures. One of his best friends was an old Navajo.

Cather's descriptions are wonderful, both of place and of person, and though this is a slow-paced book, it is not lazy, and the story moves at a comfortable speed. She uses words to paint a gorgeous landscape with fascinating people. I have read it twice and will read it again.

Entering the World of Willa Cather's Archbishop https://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/26/travel/26Footsteps.html

Jean Baptiste Lamy (1814-1888) http://newmexicohistory.org/people/jean-baptiste-lamy  

The Winter of the Witch (Book 3/ Winternight Trilogy) --by Katherine Arden

Fiction / Fairy Tale 

384 pages / 4479 KB

5 Stars

You have to understand something: I hate hardback books. They cost entirely too much, they weight entirely too much, and I read in bed. When/If I fall asleep, they hit my face, and they hurt. I never, ever, buy hardback books. Yet, when the offer came to pre-order The Winter of the Witch, I didn't think about it for a nanosecond, I just ordered. And I'm so glad I did. (And I did NOT fall asleep reading it!)

I had wondered how Vasya was getting along, and this book is the answer. The Winter King, Morozko, traded his freedom for captivity, Fr. Konstantin Nikonovich returns, and again, Vasya's world is turned upside down and frozen.

She faces a trial by fire, she must find and rescue Morozko, defeat Nikonovich, and rescue her family. Like the previous two books, we have villainy, magic, love, and even a bit of romance. The Tatars return, and Vasya gets a taste of battle—the excitement and the agony. 

If you have not read the first two, I strongly suggest you do so, although I do believe this book will stand alone. It will just stand better with the foundation of The Bear & the Nightingale and The Girl in the Tower under it. The story ends, or does it? I do believe Ms. Arden has left the ending open for at least one more book, and perhaps a second trilogy (dare I hope?). 

If, like me, you know little to nothing of Russian fairy tales or history, not to worry. Ms. Arden is a superb storyteller and writer, and all is made clear.

Jabberosity --by Weld Champneys

Nonfiction / Poetry

121 pages

5 Stars

This book was one of the bestest Winter Gifts I received. At first, the short poems were gobbled by my eyes, and then I realized this was not calorie-free eye candy. Yes, they are short (none is over a page, many considerably shorter) and I stopped gobbling, started over, and re-read those I'd already read, and read a few each night before turning out the light.

Many thought-provoking ideas here. Many laugh out loud poems, and some cry out loud ones, too. All are beautiful. Do I have a favorite or two, ya sure, you betcha, but the beauty of this book is the ones that were my faves the first time through may not be the second or third time through. And the ones that speak to me may not speak to you, at all, and vice versa. The beauty of poetry.

Mr. Champneys has a most delightful and playful way of writing. There is something of the innocence of childhood in these poems. Even if you have avoided poetry your whole life, or since grade school when you had to memorize something you had no interest in, take a chance, pick up this book. I bet you'll buy more copies as gifts for your friends and family. It's that good. It's that fun. It's that important.