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isfjmel-phleg · 2 years

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September 2022 Books

The Ghosts by Antonia Barber

The "ghosts" in question are time travelers! I enjoyed this one.

The Trolley Car Family by Eleanor Clymer

A charming example of the "family lives in an unconventional dwelling which is described in loving detail" genre.

The Little Bookroom by Eleanor Farjeon

Collection of short stories. Inventive but didn't really strike a chord with me, not sure why.

Grace Harlowe's Freshman Year at High School by Jessie Graham Flower

This is a reprinted edition of a novel from the 1910s. I picked it up at a library booksale because Edwardian YA literature! Read it around the same time as Mike and Psmith for purposes of comparison.

And it made me really appreciate what a brilliant story M&P was compared to other school stories of its day. Because this book...well, I found the introduction, which established historical context, to be interesting. The actual story, not so much. Plotlines are predictable and overly dramatic, and the characterization is shallow. All the good characters are embodiments of Admirable Traits and all the antagonists are Utterly Horrid and the narrative makes sure you know it.

There's a scene where the main cast of high schoolers is preparing to meet a young man raised in England, and they expect a stereotype--and get it.

They had pictured him as a sort of dandy, with needle-toed patent leather shoes and a coat cut in at the waist and padded over the shoulders.

Even David had voiced a few thoughts on the subject of Tom Gray.

"I'll bet he's an English dude," he said. For Mrs. Gray's nephew had spent most of his life in England. "He'll probably carry a cane and wear a monocle."

They were not surprised, therefore, when a young man entered the room who bore out somewhat the picture they had conjured. He was tall and slender, very dapper and rather ladylike in his bearing. His alert, dark eyes were set too close together, and his face had a narrow, sinister look that made them all feel uncomfortable. He spoke with a decided English accent, in a light, flippant voice which sent a quiver of dislike up and down David's spine, and made Reddy Brooks give his right arm a vigorous twirl as if he would have liked to pitch something at the young man's head.

Does this description seem familiar? Sounds a lot like Psmith (down to the eyes "set too close together"!), but notice the absolute disdain with which the narrative treats these traits. He's "ladylike," and of course the Manly, Red-Blooded American Boys are disgusted by him.

As the conversation proceeds, there is some mocking of his accent, the boys call him "asinine dandy" and "Miss Nancy" behind his back, and his aunt struggles to hold back "tears of disappointment" at his distaste for America. The boys question him about sports, he confesse he "do[es]n't like outdoor games at all" and prefers "afternoon tea [...] and bridge," and while the other boys barely conceal their disgust, the aunt pointedly mentions that all of them are athletes! When he takes out his monocle, she scolds him: "[D]on't wear that thing here. It's not the custom in this town or in this country, for that matter. If you are nearsighted, buy yourself a pair of spectacles."

Anyway, it turns out this guy is an imposter, and when the real nephew turns up, we are assured that he is "broad-shouldered, well-built" with "a sunburned, wholesome face" and "carried no cane; neither were his shoes pointed at the toes, and there wasn't a tinge of English in his accent except that his enunciation was unusually good." He openly professes his American patriotism and is of course outdoorsy--but, lest you worry, "there was nothing of the gypsy in him. He was full of energy and ambition and infused such a wholesome vigor into whatever he did [...]" The only acceptable boy/young man, after all, is one who fits a rigid mold of exaggerated masculinity, which apparently is something that American males have the upper hand in.

Cf. Mike and Psmith, in which Psmith fits the description of the English dandy and has a complicated relationship with sports, but the narrative never insults him for it or questions his masculinity. If Flower had written Wodehouse's book, Mike and Adair would have been constantly held up as Good Examples, while Psmith would have been An Object Of Disgust with no redeeming qualities.

Anyway, interesting rhetoric, but not really worth one's while as a story.

A Clock of Stars: Beyond the Mountains by Francesca Gibbons (reread)

Reread because the next book in the series is coming out soon.

The Boyhood of Grace Jones by Jane Langton

For context: published in the 1970s.

Grace, bless her heart, is a tomboy with a bad case of internalized misogyny. What she needs is to learn how to live in the world as her own unconventional self without having to hate femininity/herself for being female.

...the solution to this is not for her to suddenly be okay with femininity after receiving the attentions of an adult male teacher she now has a crush on. But that's what happens in this book. I was not impressed.

The Secret Detectives by Ella Risbridger

What if Mary Lennox made friends and had adventures on the ship from India to England when she stumbles into a juvenile version of an Agatha Christie novel? I didn't know I needed that question answered, but I did, and this book was delightful. Maybe not always historically spot-on, but not enough to be jarring like some other middle-grade historical fiction.

A Lemon and a Star by E. C. Spykman

I didn't really get this one. It's in the slice-of-turn-of-the-century-family-life genre, but not all of the family was endearing. The older brother, quite frankly, was terrible, and allowed to be, and I didn't care for that and couldn't connect with the story as a whole.

The Secret Keepers by Trenton Lee Stewart (reread)

Reread as something suitable for before-bed reading when I don't have the brain capacity for something new.

All Systems Red by Martha Wells

Dashed if I understand all the technical sci-fi stuff, but I love the highly relatable Murderbot! Will be reading the rest of the series in October.

Mystery of the Haunted Pool by Phyllis A. Whitney

I really liked this one! Not only an interesting mystery but interesting characterization. I'm planning to read more of Whitney at some point.

Mike and Psmith by P. G. Wodehouse (reread)

Reread for Psmith Pseptember.

In their own section, all the comics!

Tagging @brown-little-robin so you'll see this when you get back, because I know you'll want to know what I thought.

In order of encounter:

The Flash: Book Four by Mark Waid

Read this one to get further background on the events leading up to Bart's going to live to Max. Mostly interesting for insight into Wally's character (ESTP 7w8 maybe?) and the perception of Bart as opposed to Impulse's portrayal (which I've discussed elsewhere).

Impulse #13-89 (plus some extras) by Mark Waid, William Messner-Loebs, and Todd Dezago

Regrettably had to leave numerous threads dangling but quite enjoyable! I've talked about this in more detail elsewhere.

Young Justice: Books One-Six by Peter David

I really enjoyed the character dynamics in this, especially as the series progressed. Lots of humor but some really heartbreaking moments too. The ending could have tied things up a bit better (what exactly happens to everyone?), but the redemption of poor Secret was very satisfying.

Superman Volume 2: Trials of the Super Son, Super Sons: Volumes 1-3, Super Sons of Tomorrow, Adventures of the Super Sons: Volumes 1-2, and Challenge of the Super Sons by Peter J. Tomasi

These boys are the cutest thing. Jon is a sweet, good-hearted kid who is Doing His Best, and Damian is a holy terror, and they drive each other crazy but somewhere along the way they become best friends, and it's delightful to watch the relationship play out. The differences in their family lives are interesting too. I didn't love all the storylines (why would you bring back (older alternate versions of) the core four of Young Justice and not utilize their very distinct personalities?), but the boys' dynamic makes this series quite fun.

Batman and Son and The Resurrection of Ra's al Ghul by Grant Morrison et al.

So then I figured I might as well start from the beginning with Damian. Yikes.

The Resurrection storyline crosses over with Tim's and Dick's solo series, which gives us some interesting, more character-focused angles, including Dick trying to talk a desperate, recently bereaved Tim out of collecting Lazarus Pit water to use on his dead parents and friends. While fighting him, of course.

Also read various issues of various comics that tie into the Batman R.I.P. storyline and its aftermath, specifically dealing with Damian's role, and I'm not going to bother listing them all here because who has time for that.

#random personal stuff #once again I have Opinions

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buzairo1975 · 1 year

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Dorthy Evelyn Hackett

Dorthy Evelyn Hackett Shellsburg Dorthy Evelyn Hackett, 89, of Shellsburg, passed away Monday, Dec. 26, 2022, at Corridor Crossing Place in Cedar Rapids Dorthy (Jones) Hackett was born Aug. 7, 1933, in Goldfield, Iowa, to Ernest and Viola Jones. Dorthy married George Hackett on June 26, 1955, in Van Meter, Iowa. Dorthy completed nursing school and was a registered nurse at St. Lukeâ€™s Hospital during her working career. She was very much an animal lover, having raised dogs and miniature horses, as well as working with horses throughout her life. Survivors include a daughter, Karen, of Kalona, Iowa; sons, Karl, of Shellsburg, Iowa, Calvin (Eleanor), of Ave Maria, Fla., Russell (Marlyn), of Clay Center, Kan., and Guy (Paz), of Cape Coral, Fla.; Dawn McDaniel of Shellsburg Iowa; eight grandchildren, and seven great-grandchildren. A Celebration of Life, and a burial in Shellsburg, will be held in the spring. Online condolences and memories may be shared with the family at iowacremation.com under Obituaries. December 28, 2022 Berwick Pennsylvania Brinklow Maryland Arena North Dakota Sedalia Missouri Mc Girk Missouri Robbins California Clark Pennsylvania Turner Arkansas Glenwood New York Sheldon Vermont Sweeden Kentucky Williston Tennessee https://unitedstatesvirtualmail.blogspot.com/2022/12/dorthy-evelyn-hackett.html December 28, 2022 at 01:06AM Avalon Mississippi Whitewater Indiana Bernice Louisiana Braidwood Illinois North Clymer New York Blue Hill Maine Mays Landing New Jersey New Canton Virginia Greenvale New York https://bakersfieldcaliforniamailbox.blogspot.com/2022/12/dorthy-evelyn-hackett.html December 28, 2022 at 02:37AM https://unitedstatescounselingcreditconsumer.blogspot.com/2022/12/dorthy-evelyn-hackett.html

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kuizoku1986 · 1 year

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Dorthy Evelyn Hackett

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