The Hotel Balzaar

In March of that year, Marta and her mother arrived at Hotel Balzaar. They were given an attic room that contained a bed, a sink, and a battered chest of drawers. 

In her new "home" Marta is to be quiet as a mouse and disturb no one. But the insatiable curiosity of the young girl is stronger than her will to be silent. 

If that little snippet doesn't pique your interest, I feel sure the introduction to Norman Francis Binwithier (the sleeping bellman), or Alfonse (the exceedingly straight-edged desk clerk), or the flamboyant countess and her General-turned-parrot companion, just might. 

If those characters also fail to draw you in, well then you may be nigh hopeless.  But I'm certain no one can resist being mesmerized by Julia Sarda's exquisitely detailed illustrations, (my poor quality snapshot does not convey the full glory of her images)

The Puppets of SPELHORST

The Puppets of Spelhorst are filled with a longing they can’t name.  Each one has a unique characteristic by which they define themselves, but in the absence of purpose they can only boast of their uniqueness and downplay each other’s.  

• The Owl boasts of his real feathers.  His longing to pontificate wisely masks his truer longing to FLY.
• The King boasts of his crown.  His longing to command others masks his truer longing for MUSIC.
• The Wolf boasts of her sharp teeth.  Her longing to destroy masks her deeper longing for FREEDOM.
• The Boy boasts of his arrows.  His longing to do important deeds masks his truer longing for LOVE.

As their journey progresses, each gets a taste of The Thing they longed to do, but they end up abandoned and alone, missing one another and unsatisfied by their momentary experience.  Their true glory and the fulfillment of their deepest longing only comes when they experience The Thing in community with one another and for a greater purpose.

Kate has done it again.  She has woven a tale that captivates a child's imagination, while tapping deep into the soul of the adult reader. It is, as I've come to expect from her, both delightful and insightful.  

Gilead

Poetic, lyrical, luminous. These are the words that repeatedly came to mind while reading Marilynne Robinson's Gilead.  That is, when I wasn't too overwhelmed with the emotions her writing evokes to overlay them with thought.

She artfully holds a mirror nearer and nearer the heart, forcing us to encounter head-on the universal, internal struggle to reconcile the pain and the beauty of life, while attempting to live out our deeply held beliefs in both individual and community relationships.  

This intensely personal, yet mostly unremarkable, struggle is undertaken alongside others whose own internal struggles are similar yet disparate - even antithetical - to our own and yet, for them, carry the same profundity, mystery, and power that our own do.  

For Reverend Ames, ordinary life is a continuous self-dialogue that seeks to make sense of all these internal and external enigmas.  Sometimes the conclusion we seek - love for another - requires an extended and steady pursuit.  When it finally blossoms, it is a lasting and peace-inducing treasure.

If you read Gilead, don't stop there.  Home, though written subsequently, chronicles the same timeframe in the same town with the same families, as seen through the eyes of characters other than Ames.  Surely this has been done before, but no instances come to mind.  It is pure brilliance.  

The Power of Story

A moving and artful story of loss and grief, restored joy, and a lifetime of labor to return joy to another. 

That is the way I would encapsulate this short, animated film.  I know everyone's lives are busy, but you won't regret the 14 minutes it takes to watch this.

The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore from Moonbot Studios on Vimeo.

Vacation Time

Vacation Time = Reading Time.  What else is a girl gonna do who's holed-up in a cabin for 10 days with the In-Laws?  Well, besides hike through the mountains, lay on the beach, ride bikes and go boating on Lake Tahoe.  But other than THAT?

I make my choices carefully.  This time I have opted to take several books which have been given or suggested to me in the last year:

The Hole in Our Gospel - this was recommended by an old friend, who apparently thinks I need to be challenged spiritually.  Thanks a lot, Richard. 

The idea behind The Hole in Our Gospel is quite simple.  It's basically the belief that being a Christian, or follower of Jesus Christ, requires much more than just having a personal and transforming relationship with God.  It also entails a public and transforming relationship with the world.

Failure is Not an Option - Gene Kranz's account of his years at NASA.  A birthday gift from LAST summer that I'm just now getting to.  Thank you, Bill & Barb. 

Kranz reveals little-known details to demonstrate the leadership, discipline, trust, and teamwork that made the space program a success.

Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend - a compilation of stories, essays and poems written by women on the topic of baseball.  Also recommended...by a FB friend whom I have never met.  Thank you, Bill Feil.

And finally:  I can't believe I'm admitting this publicly, but I have begun reading The Girl with the Dragon Tatoo - A NYT bestseller which was recommended to me by...shall I say...an elder gentleman who knows I like to read.  Thank you, "Grandfather", for broadening my literary horizons. 

So, wish me happy reading and know that you probably won't hear from me for a week or two, unless I unexpectedly have access to a computer while I'm there!

Teddy's Taxidermy

As a young boy, Teddy Roosevelt was an avid naturalist, collecting specimens everywhere he went...Germany, Greece, Egypt, England, Austria. His family regularly traveled abroad and on one of their extended holidays, younger brother, Elliot, who was doomed to share space with young Teddy, appealed to their father:

"Father, do you think it would be extravagant if I were now and then to have a room to myself in hotels? Come and see our room."

Mr. Roosevelt did. There were bottles on the tables and the chairs; there were bottles on the mantel and the wash-stand. Clothes were everywhere...and in the basin were the entrails of animals recently deceased.

Theodore was intent on scientific investigation...If it seemed necessary to the interests of science to keep defunct field-mice in the family refrigerator, he kept them there; if it seemed to him important to house a snake or two in the guest-room water-pitcher, the possible emotions of a guest discovering them there did not enter into consideration. He felt it his duty to study field-mice and snakes and that was all there was about it.

This inquisitive mind of Teddy's housed itself in a weak body and a rather timid soul. He had to feign bravery for some time before he actually became brave and he worked diligently to build the physical strength and stamina that came easily to other young men.

What Theodore Roosevelt had, which most of the others had not, was deep hunger to excel, to be of the fellowship of the doers of great deeds. With it, vague at first, but increasingly clear, came the recognition that men attain only through endless struggle against the sloth, the impurity, the fears, the doubts, the false content in their own hearts. He determined to build up for himself a clean, valiant, fighting soul.

Excerpts in blue from The Boy's Life of Theodore Roosevelt by Hermann Hagedorn.

Confessions of a Book Junkie

I offered an implied complaint last week, when I posted this picture of my itty bitty closet.

I must confess though, that my lack of clothes storage is not because we live in a small house...or because the house contains inadequate closet-space.

No, it's really because this:

And this:

And this:

And these:

Don't provide enough book storage for me, so I was forced to commandeer these spaces...which just happen to be our two largest closets:

So now you know. Hey, we all have our priorities.

The "OUT" is The Thing

There you have my simplified summary of the principle underlying the Moneyball model.

The best way to field a winning team year after year is to buy offensive players who are the least likely to get outs. The best stats for predicting that? Not the super-hyped batting average, or even slugging-percentage, but the underappreciated On-Base-Percentage. Hitters who find a way to get on base are hitters who don't make outs. A highly disciplined batter, not only recognizes and waits for pitches with which he can be effective, but also draws walks and elevates the pitch count.

The next best way to win is to purchase pitchers who are the most likely to induce outs. The stats to consider? Walks, homeruns and strike-outs. Why? The idea is that these three are the only ones over which a pitcher has sole control, and apparently these stats remain consistent among the best pitchers from season to season. The number of hits allowed can vary significantly even when these three remain steady. Part of the argument for ignoring hits is that once a ball is put into play, too many factors influence what happens next: field conditions, fielders' positioning, defensive skills, and plain luck. Stats regarding any ball put into play cannot consistently predict a pitcher's performance.

This same argument is used to downplay the importance of superb defense. While I agree that the single stat used for determining fielding ability (errors), might be a poor indication of a player's skill, it is hard for me to accept that the overall effects of good defense are negligible. IF the out is the thing, then wouldn't you want to field those players who are most likely to produce outs - especially the unusual, hard-to-get outs? Moneyball says no. The players' offensive contributions have a much more significant effect on the outcome of a greater number of games than does their defense. Hmmm.....maybe we're just not keeping the right stats to track what impact defense has.

My conclusion is that if you love baseball - like April, Angie and I do - you'll enjoy reading Moneyball. Michael Lewis has taken the potentially tedious topic of baseball economics as it relates to baseball statistics, and made it interesting by including a number of fascinating stories of circumstances and lives from the inside.

Great story. Easy read.

A Table in the Mist I

Control, leverage, insight into acts of Providence...none of these are gained by the acquisition of wisdom.

As Pastor Meyers lays out early in his commentary on Ecclesiastes, "The godly wise man will humbly concede that God has hidden from us almost everything we should like to know about his providential purposes...The wise man learns to walk by faith and not by sight. Ecclesiastes is the book about faith in the Old Testament. It tells us how a man of faith looks at the world."

Pastor Meyers demonstrates the significance of these opening words; "The words of the Preacher, the son of David, king in Jerusalem." Hereby the words of Ecclesiastes are commended to us as pastoral words from Solomon in fulfillment of his office as shepherd king of Israel. Solomon lays out for us the Christian's proper perspective on life: "Enjoy God's gifts of life while fearing him and keeping his commandments. God is in control. He will bring everything to a fitting and just conclusion. Faith will be satisfied with that."

"A wise man will resonate to Solomon's frustration with the ephemeral character of life under the sun. The superficially pious man calls for positive attitudes and cheery one-dimensional slogans about life and the world, but the wise man knows better. He has experienced Solomon's theme: 'Everything is vapor.' And armed with this, therefore, the wise man is ready by faith to rule the world."

Eulalia!

Brian Jacques has a brand-new release in the Redwall series! I am so excited! For some reason, I thought he was finished doing Redwall books. His last couple have been sequels to Castaways of the Flying Dutchman, so I just assumed that was the end of Basil Stag Hare!

I picked up a copy yesterday at Barnes & Noble, but haven't decided yet whether to read it in secret then give it to one of the boys for Christmas, or whether to publicize it now...hmmmm.

BTW, for those who don't know, "Eulalia!" is the battlecry of the good guys in Redwall...and the title of the new release - should be fun!

Poetry in Redwall

I am an avid fan of Mr. Brian Jacques, and his Redwall Series. The man knows how to spin a yarn. The tales woven from his forest-world are riveting and filled with memorable characters, feasts, battles, riddles, bad guys, (with names like "Cluny the Scourge" and "Slagar the Cruel"). In addition to being a good old-fashioned storyteller, Mr. Jacques possesses finely tuned literary skills, he utilizes substantial (not dumbed-down) vocabulary and his stories unapologetically champion virtue without being the least bit preachy! Not surprisingly, he's British...what is it about the British that causes them to proliferate quality children's literature?

Like all the best storytellers, Mr. Jacques incorporates a fair bit of poetry into his stories. Some are songs, others are epic history told to younglings, some address serious matters, while others are lighthearted. He's even created a few characters who always/often speak in rhyme (Sir Harry the owl, and my personal favorite, Basil Stag Hare). Here are a few of my favorite verses:

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Dotti is a young, delicate, but high-spirited hare, who thinks she is beautiful and can sing wonderfully. Though she is wrong on both counts and can be slightly annoying, nevertheless, she has endeared herself to most everyone - even the old and serious Lord Brocktree. Here's a set up before the poem...

"To describe the haremaid's voice as being akin to a frog trapped beneath a hot stone would have been a great injustice, to both frog and stone. Moreover, the instrument she was playing on sounded like ten chattering squirrels swinging on a rusty gate. However, Dotti played and sang on blithely...she broke out into a ditty which caused nearby birds to abandon their nests, chicks and all."

A Ditty by Dotti - The Fatal Beauty

From: Lord Brocktree

Whompin' along with a woffle de ho,

As down the stream I jolly well go,

Shoutin' 'Lower yore rudder an' furl that log,'

There's nothin' on land like a sea-goin' frog.

So oar that paddle an' paddle that oar,

Listen, me hearties, I'll sing ye some more!

I'm a beautiful hare wot lives on the river,

In winter I sweat and in summer I shiver,

I don't need no badger or otter for crew,

I'm cook an' I'm paddler an' captainess too!

So mainsail me gizzards until we reach shore,

Listen, me hearties, I'll sing ye some more!

Ye don't mess with Dotti that ole riverbeast,

I'm grizzled an' fearsome an' that ain't the least,

So swoggle me scuppers ten dozen I've slew,

I'm a jolly young creature - an' quite pretty too!

So mizzen me muzzles an' mop the boat's floor,

I'm sorry, me hearties, I don't know no more!

From the same book...the song of the warrior's weapon:

Badger's Swordsong

My blade like winter's cold doth bite,

Come guide me, Badger Lord.

For truth and justice we must fight,

Wield me, your Battle Sword!

Defend the weak, protect the meek,

My point like lightning, send to seek

The foebeast's evil heart!

"Eulalia!" loud like thunder cry,

Be thou mine eyes and brain,

We join in honour, thee and I,

To strike in war again!

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This is from Martin the Warrior:

"Night fell over Rosehips' camp. The fires blazed merrily and old songs were brought forth to sing, as everybeast helped with the preparation of a great liberation meal. The young mouse, Hoopoe, wearing a ridiculous hat woven from sedge grass, led the singing, conducting with a long onion shoot."

"Hey, give me cake and bring me ale,

And pudding ripe with plums,

Some cider, dear, so cool and clear,

To swill 'round teeth and gums,

Some round and golden mellow cheese,

And light brown nutbread, if you please,

With honey made by happy bees,

And I will be contented.

O, fie the creature with long face

Who nibbles small and can't keep pace

With tartlets filled with berryfruit

And yellow meadowcream to boot,

Or soup with pepper and hotroot,

And burdock ale to quench it.

Oh, eat up, neighbour, drink up, friend,

May good fortune have no end.

Success to all that you intend,

And leave the pots till morning!"

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

From Mattimeo:

"From the cellars came the slightly off-key sound of singing, a quavering treble from Basil Stag Hare, backed by the gruff bass harmony of Ambrose Spike:"

Ode to Nutbrown Ale

"O if I feel sick or pale,

What makes my old eyes shine?

Some good October ale

And sweet blackcurrant wine.

I'd kill a dragon for half a flagon,

I'd wrestle with a stoat to wet my throat,

I'd strangle a snake, all for the sake

Of lovely nutbrown beer....

Nuhuhuhut broooowwwwwwnnnnnn beeeheeeyer!"

After an unsuccessful battle to retrieve 3 of their young from captivity, in which some of their most faithful warriors die, those who remain, sit down to study the map and parchment that have been sent from Redwall. The parchment's prophecy:

"Those who wish to challenge fate,

To a jumbled shout walk straight.

Sunset fires in dexteree,

Find where Loamhedge used to be.

At the high place near the skies,

Look for other watchful eyes.

Sleep not 'neath the darkpine trees,

Be on guard, take not your ease,

Voyage when the daylight dims,

Danger in the water swims.

Make no noise with spear or sword,

Lest you wake the longtail horde.

Shades of creatures who have died,

Bones of warriors who once tried,

Shrink not from the barren land,

Look below from where you stand,

This is where a stone may fall

And make no sound at all.

Those who cross and live to tell,

See the badger and the bell,

Face the lord who points the way

After noon on summer's day.

Death will open up it's grave.

Who goes there...? None but the brave."

So, if you haven't read any of this series, I encourage you to do so...and by all means, give your boys access to them!! The stories are appropriate for any age, and can be read independently by ages 9 and up. Jacques sometimes writes dialogue with "accents" making it difficult for some younger readers to decipher...read portions aloud to them using the accent while they look at the text...this will help them get the hang of "hearing" the accent in their head. Happy reading!

More Than Dates & Dead People

"Remember this and be assured;

Recall it to mind.

Remember the former things long past,

For I am God and there is no other;

I am God and there is no one like Me,

Declaring the end from the beginning

And from ancient times

things which have not yet been done,

Saying, 'My purpose will be established,

And I will accomplish all my good pleasure.'

Truly I have spoken;

truly I will bring it to pass.

I have planned it, surely I will do it."

Isaiah 46:8-11

"Any book that can actually redeem the subject of history from the dust bin of, well, history, is quite a modern marvel and really ought to receive all the attention we can give it. A book that can perform the feat of not just exhuming, but resurrecting all those dry-as-dust fact from the annals of the past, ought to find its way to the top of our must-read list. It is informative. It is short. It is funny. It is short. It is inspiring. Oh, and did I mention? It is short."

The previous paragraph is taken from George Grant's preface to the book named in my post title. Following is an excerpt from the author, Stephen Mansfield:

"I hated history. [History class] was the perfect combination of boredom and terror. Like watching paint dry knowing that the paint could explode at any minute. The reason I hated history class, though, was none other than Miss Ira Wratchet....my high school history teacher. These folks assumed that if they just jammed enough dusty details into the vacuous minds of their students something important would happen. Perhaps they thought that if one memorized and crammed and regurgitated, something like the 'big picture' would appear miraculously on its own.

"The results are in. It didn't work. After a year of this kind of stuff, I concluded that every earthly event of real importance was happening while I was sitting in Miss Wratchet's Chamber of Horrors, not in the distant past."

In this entertaining, but thought-provoking little read, Mr. Mansfield lays out what he believes are the four pillars of a Christian view of history, seven ways history can change our lives, and five definitions which he asserts will enable us to understand any society, past or present. He suggests a number of helpful resources (books, magazines, films, internet and recordings) for getting started in your own study of history.

"History maketh a man old, without either wrinkles or gray hairs; privileging him with the experience of age, without either the infirmities or inconveniences thereof." Thomas Fuller