Painting Cats: Curious, Mindful & Free-Spirited Watercolors

Painting Cats: Curious, Mindful & Free-Spirited Watercolors

by Terry Runyan

Blurb:

In this follow-up to her hit Painting Happiness, Instagram sensation Terry Runyan shows you how to play with watercolor to create quirky cat portraits--and let go of stress.

Perfect for cat lovers and watercolor artists of all skill levels, from absolute beginner to more experienced, Painting Cats teaches you how to go from blob of paint to a beautiful portrait of your fluffy friends. Drawing on art therapy techniques that emphasize fun and freedom in creativity over technical perfection, Runyan guides you step by step through the process of adding details to loosely painted shapes to create your own unique and distinct cats.

My Reaction:

Love it!  Even if you're more of a dog person, the cats are adorable and the book itself is fun and inspiring.  If you enjoyed Terry Runyan's previous watercolor book, Painting Happiness, you'll probably like this one, too.  I found Painting Happiness very helpful.  It opened me up to more possibilities and helped me learn to ignore my harsh inner critic.  (The author certainly lives up to her self-description as a "creative encourager"!)  I'm thrilled to have another book of watercolor happiness to flip through when I'm in need of inspiration.  

Keeping a Creative Sketchbook

Keeping a Creative Sketchbook: Build Your Artistic Practice for a Joyfully Inspired Life

by Emma Block

Blurb:

Keeping a sketchbook is a wonderfully rewarding pursuit for artists and hobbyists alike. Your sketchbook is a safe place to explore, experiment, try new things, record your progress, and sometimes mess up, and working in a sketchbook, particularly on location, is an innately mindful practice. You become completely focused on the things you are sketching or painting and completely immersed in the atmosphere of the place.

In  Keeping a Creative Sketchbook , Emma Block shares her own sketchbook practice and offers inspiring artist interviews and numerous techniques and practices for beginning or transforming your own. Packed with ideas and prompts to get started, this book helps overcome overwhelm and open a world of joyful creativity. With your sketchbook by your side, you can slow down, be present, notice the little things, enjoy the process, let go of perfectionism, and embrace the blank page, discovering rich new depths to your creativity and finding your artist mindset for inner peace.

My Reaction:

"On-location" art creation isn't really something I do much of, at the moment, but I still found the book interesting and inspiring, with plenty of useful information for anyone considering keeping a sketchbook and uncertain of where to start.  Much of this info is perfectly relevant beyond the sketchbook, too.  If you don't like working in a bound sketchbook, you can just as easily do the same type of work on loose sheets or a pad or block of paper, then put them together in a binder, scrapbook, keepsake box, etc. 

I particularly enjoyed the interviews sprinkled throughout the book, with other artists sharing how they use their own sketchbooks, tips, etc. and photos of their work. There are a variety of different styles to spark new ideas. 

How to Attract the Wombat

How to Attract the Wombat

by Will Cuppy

Blurb:

A survey of the animal kingdom in which the nocturnal and tunneling wombat is awarded the greatest praise.

Will Cuppy was something like the Larry David of the mid-20th century. From his perch as a staff writer at The New Yorker , Cuppy observed the world and found a great deal that annoyed him. This collection of essays on animals includes “Birds Who Can’t Even Fly,” “Optional Insects,” “Octopuses and Those Things”, and “How to Swat a Fly,” which codifies the essentials in ten hilarious principles. And three essays on wombats. Perfect reading for the perplexed, befuddled, and perpetually irritated.

My Reaction:

I found these humorous essays better than Cuppy's book about historical figures (The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody)—but less enjoyable than How to Be a Hermit.  Good for light reading, especially if you want something that can mostly be consumed in short bites.  

If you're the type who reads P.G. Wodehouse, I'd give this author a try.  

Of All Things!

Of All Things!

by Robert Benchley

(Cobbled Together) Blurb:

This is a collection of humorous essays by Robert Benchley, an American humorist who worked as a columnist and film actor. Best known for his many years writing essays and articles for Vanity Fair and The New Yorker, and his acclaimed short films, Benchley's style of humor brought him respect and success during his life, from New York City and his peers at the Algonquin Round Table to contemporaries in the burgeoning film industry.

My Reaction:

I don't believe I had ever heard of Robert Benchley before reading this, though I've since learned more about him (such as that he's the grandfather of the author of Jaws) and watched one of his short films (How to Sleep, which is available for free on YouTube).  I think I saw his name on a list of authors to read if you like P.G. Wodehouse, so Donald and I gave this freebie a try between other books. 

It's been months since we finished it, but I think my impression was that it was amusing in spots, but that it felt more dated and less funny than Cuppy's How to Be a Hermit.  Cuppy's book is the more recent of the two—published in 1929, while these essays by Benchley were published in 1921—but the choice of subject matter make the more recent one feel fresher and more relevant (to me) than a mere eight years' difference should make.  

For example, one of these essays relates the process of college football fans gathering to listen to the progress of a game being played at a distant stadium.  But because this was before radio broadcasts of sporting events, the events of the game were communicated via telegraph, with an announcer relaying the play-by-play.  There's a great deal of confusion and mistakes, and the whole thing feels bizarre and far-removed from the modern experience.  (Some of the essays are less severely dated than this, but this one stands out in my memory more than most of the others.)

Anyway, it's been too long since reading it for me to make many more comments.  I'd consider reading more of the author's work. 

How to Be a Hermit, or a Bachelor Keeps House

How to Be a Hermit, or a Bachelor Keeps House

by Will Cuppy

Blurb:

Humorous memoir by a socially-challenged book reviewer living alone in a shack on an island off Long Island, New York, in the 1920s.

My Reaction:
I had never heard of Will Cuppy until we found him on a list somewhere, recommended to fans of P.G. Wodehouse.  We started with The Decline and Fall of Practically Everyone, which we thought was funny in parts, but could have been better.  (You really need to know more ancient history than either of us do to get a lot of the jokes.)  

I believe it was in the afterward for The Decline and Fall that we read that Wodehouse himself was a fan of Cuppy—specifically, that he read How to Be a Hermit multiple times a year!  I don't know if that's true, but it was a good enough reason to try it ourselves, and I'm glad we did.  I found this book much the more entertaining of the two, and while I won't make an annual tradition of reading it, I certainly wouldn't mind returning to it at some point.  

If you're a fan of Wodehouse, I do think you might enjoy this—if what you love about Wodehouse is his ability to turn an amusing phrase.  If intricate plotting is what you're after, then no, you won't like How to Be a Hermit.  It really has no plot.  It's just a loosely linked collection of essays about his life as a "hermit" in the 1920s.  The majority of the essays relate to food in some way, or that's how it seemed to us as we read our way through them.  

I always find it amazing how much the same the human experience remains across time.  Admittedly, the 1920s aren't ancient history, but 1929 (when this was published) is nearly a century in the rearview mirror!  So many of the things he wrote about here had me nodding along in agreement.  There might be some differences (his medical book compared to our "Dr. Google"), but the results are the same (anxiety and convincing yourself that your minor complaint is a symptom of any of a dozen serious diseases).  

Because we'd already read a brief outline of Cuppy's life, certain elements of the book took on a darker, more melancholy tone that they otherwise would have had, thanks to an awareness of what lay in his future—but putting that to the side, this was a fun read.  I'll be interested to try more of his work!

The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody

The Decline and Fall of Practically Everybody: Great Figures of History Hilariously Humbled 

by Will Cuppy

Blurb:

Ever wonder what Nero did before he began fiddling about in Rome, or wanted the bare facts about Lady Godiva? Maybe you've found the story of Lucrezia Borgia a bitter pill to swallow, or wanted the straight skinny on corpulent King Henry the Eighth, but you haven't the stomach for stuffy history books. Now these and twenty-two more of history's most famous personages are brought brilliantly to life, in this collection of unfailingly accurate yet undeniably hilarious biographies. You'll laugh while you learn about the very real people behind the legendary names, including why Montezuma was so vengeful, and why Catherine was so Great. You'll even finally lay to rest the rumor that Charlemagne was called "Chuck" by his friends.

My Reaction:

Donald and I read this one together to fill in the gaps between 372-Pages books.  I think one of us found it recommended on a list of "if you like this, try that" books/authors.  It's been a while since we read this (because I've fallen out of the habit of updating this blog in a timely fashion), but from what I recall, we thought it was amusing in parts, but also maybe a bit less funny than it could have been if we were in on more of the jokes.  I guess we just aren't big enough history buffs to get some of the references.  Anyway, it was something different to try, and we're now reading something else of Cuppy's and enjoying it more than this—so if this doesn't quite hit the mark with you, either, some of his other work might be more to your taste.  

American Predator

American Predator: The Hunt for the Most Meticulous Serial Killer of the 21st Century

by Maureen Callahan

(Truncated) Blurb:
A gripping tour de force of investigative journalism that takes us deep into the investigation behind one of the most frightening and enigmatic serial killers in modern American history, and into the ranks of a singular American police force: the Alaska PD.  

Most of us have never heard of Israel Keyes. But he is one of the most ambitious, meticulous serial killers of modern time. The FBI considered his behavior unprecedented. Described by a prosecutor as "a force of pure evil," he was a predator who struck all over the United States. 


My Reaction:
While parts of this investigation were vaguely familiar, it was definitely not one I immediately recognized or knew much about.  So as far as that goes, it was interesting, but it's one of those cases that just make you angry.  Listening to transcripts of this guy talk is enough to make you want to reach back through time and knock him out, to be honest.  He's infuriating.  The whole situation is infuriating.  

The book wasn't quite what I was expecting:  Based on the subtitle, I thought there would be more mystery—more of a manhunt.  There's plenty of mystery (far too many unanswered questions, in fact), but most of the book takes place after law enforcement have got their man.  It's much less about struggling to identify or locate a murderer than the title led me to believe.  Instead, the story is mostly woven around interrogation, strategic mind games, and trying to get the p.o.s. to talk after he's been apprehended.  

I listened to the audiobook version, which reconfirmed for me that I don't like it when narrators put too much into "doing the voices".  The male voices in particular just irritated me.  (Maybe it didn't help that I was already in a bad mood because of the subject matter.)

I've watched and listened to a lot of true crime, but it's rare I read books (or listen to audiobooks) in the genre.  I do find it interesting, but it can also feel a little too much at times.  Maybe I've just had enough for now.  I will say that my curiosity was piqued by the fact that this was a serial killer from my own generation.  Keyes was only a year older than I am, and most of the "big name" serial killers I'm aware of are from previous generations.  However, his upbringing was so utterly different from my own that I couldn't draw many parallels between our experiences, which was what would/could have been of interest.  His life during his formative years was far from typical.  Well, what did I really expect?  Few people who end up as serial killers have had an otherwise perfectly normal life.  

So, that's it.  The whole thing ends with a feeling of dissatisfaction, and there's nothing you can do about it.  

Ask Not: The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed

Ask Not:  The Kennedys and the Women They Destroyed

by Maureen Callahan

Blurb:

The Kennedy name has long been synonymous with wealth, power, glamor, and—above all else—integrity. But this carefully constructed veneer hides a dark truth: the pattern of Kennedy men physically and psychologically abusing women and girls, leaving a trail of ruin and death in each generation’s wake. Through decades of scandal after scandal—from sexual assaults to reputational slander, suicides to manslaughter—the family and their defenders have kept the Kennedy brand intact.

Now, in Ask Not, bestselling author and journalist Maureen Callahan reveals the Kennedys’ hidden history of violence and exploitation, laying bare their unrepentant sexism and rampant depravity while also restoring these women and girls to their rightful place at the center of the dynasty’s story: from Jacqueline Onassis and Marilyn Monroe to Carolyn Bessette, Martha Moxley, Mary Jo Kopechne, Rosemary Kennedy, and many others whose names aren’t nearly as well known but should be.

Drawing on years of explosive reportage and written in electric prose, Ask Not is a long-overdue reckoning with this fabled family and a consequential part of American history that is still very much with us. At long last Callahan redirects the spotlight to the women in the Kennedys’ orbit, paying homage to those who freed themselves and giving voice to those who, through no fault of their own, could not.

My Reaction:

Biographical nonfiction is a genre I only rarely ever read.  When I have, the subject has usually been an author rather than a politician, much less an entire family of politicians—but this sounded interesting, and I thought maybe it would be an entertaining way to learn a little more about this period of American history. 

In school, we always seemed to cover the more distant past in great detail, while anything more recent than WWII was skimmed over hastily, which is a shame.  As important as our earlier history is, there are many lessons in relatively recent history that are just as valuable and possibly more relevant to an understanding of current events.

Anyway… Thanks to my upbringing, I’ve never understood the obsession with/admiration for the Kennedys, and I didn’t know much about them beyond the basics you almost can’t help but absorb as an American adult who sometimes pays attention to politics. 

From skimming others' reviews, I gather that the book has some factual details wrong—things that should have been easy to check during editing.  That's a shame, as it encourages questions about the accuracy of the rest of the book.  Another complaint is that the book sometimes feels a bit gossipy, and I can't disagree, but to be fair, that may be difficult to avoid, given the nature of the material covered.  

On the whole, I feel confident that “enough” of this is accurate to present a reasonably fair idea of who many of these people were/are. The meat of the book is not facts, figures, and details, which can be looked up online at any time, but rather the broader picture of the attitudes, values, and behaviors that seem to have prevailed among so many members of this famous family.  

As someone with no illusions about the Kennedys, I’m not surprised that they’re worse than I knew—and that’s just the stuff that’s evidently widely known and accepted as fact.  I also have to say that few of the “women they destroyed” come out looking good, either—particularly the women who seem to have gone into their relationships despite having plenty of evidence that it was a terrible idea.  The Kennedys weren't the only ones in this book who were driven by an excess of ambition and a lust for power.  

All in all, this was a depressing reminder that the best of us rarely end up in positions of political power, and sometimes even scummy, dishonorable individuals are almost worshipped, if they have the right look, excellent PR, and enough of the media covering for them—oh, and money or influence, either of their own or borrowed from people who are using them for their own nefarious purposes.  It’s disgusting, honestly.  I wouldn't say that no Kennedy ever did anything good for the country, but I certainly don’t believe they deserve the many decades of adoration they’ve enjoyed in our nation, and the notion of “Camelot” makes me sick, quite frankly, especially now that I know the backstory. 

On a personal note, every time I listened to this book, I ended up in a bad mood!  This isn’t the best genre for me, clearly. 

Into the Uncanny

Into the Uncanny

by Danny Robins

Blurb:

Into the Uncanny is the story of ordinary people who have experienced extraordinary things and want to make sense of them. Each one is a brand-new case never shared before; modern day, real-life ghost stories that will make your blood run cold. It is also a journey of self-discovery, as Danny explores what the paranormal means to us and the exciting and terrifying prospect that we are not alone.

From poltergeists and apparitions, to UFOs and messages from beyond the grave, Into The Uncanny is a thrilling, adrenaline-filled supernatural adventure. Whether you're Team Believer or Team Sceptic, all you need is an open mind and a bit of courage. So, are you ready to investigate?

My Reaction:

After enjoying the Uncanny podcast, and then gobbling down the host's earlier, similarly themed podcast, Haunted, I figured chances were good that I'd like his book, too—and I did.  There's something endlessly engrossing about ghost stories and tales of the paranormal, and both the podcasts and the book left me wishing for more!  

I listened to the audiobook version, which is read by Danny Robins himself, so it has much the same feeling as listening to the podcast (with the caveat that it's one person talking the whole time).  If you're a fan of one, you'll probably at least like the other. 

Painting Happiness: Creativity with Watercolors

Painting Happiness: Creativity with Watercolors

by Terry Runyan

Blurb:

Combat stress and anxiety and release your own inner creative with this beautiful mindful watercolor book.

In this simple and vibrant guide, hugely popular Instagram muse @TerryRunyan explores the art of watercolor through the lens of mindfulness, presenting activities and projects which you can paint along with as you allow your creative side to flourish.

This watercolor guide is easy and accessible for beginners, as Runyan gently delves into the basics of the artform, starting with simple techniques which you can follow along with, as well as presenting some fun projects ideas for painters to explore.

Alongside beautiful examples of the techniques and styles explored in the book, Runyan also encourages readers to practice mindfulness as they paint, and explores the ways in which art can be used to help improve mental health. Exploring the idea of 'perfectly imperfect watercolors', Runyan places emphasis on self-expression and allowing yourself to make mistakes.

Painting Happiness  also includes fun projects for readers to try at home, From technical skills and notes on materials to insight into the creative process, this book has everything you need to start flourishing in watercolor.

My Reaction:

I wanted to use up some points I had accumulated on Amazon and was interested in spending more time getting familiar with watercolor.  When I came across this book, I thought the style was cute and "do-able" for a beginner like myself.  To summarize the review to follow, I enjoyed the book and would recommend it to people who are more interested in encouragement and enjoying the experience of painting than in highly detailed tutorials of specific techniques.  The book does include exercises and introduces basic techniques, but it's more about the experience and letting go of preconceptions—accepting and even embracing imperfections instead of feeling you must strive for an unobtainable ideal.  My takeaway was this:  Let go of perfectionism and overthinking.  Live in the moment—and just let yourself have fun painting!

I didn’t realize it until I started reading, but I’ve actually seen this artist’s work before, in fabric.  She has a very specific “mid-century” illustration style that reminds me of children’s books from the 1960s, like many of the books I loved so much as a child.  It’s a simple, happy, playful style that is less likely to be intimidating to a beginner.  And while the book isn’t really a step-by-step guide to learning or mimicking her unique style, looking at the illustrations is fun and inspires me to try to take some of her ideas (and that retro look) and put my own spin on them.

The book is mostly about letting go of self-critiques and just enjoying the process—releasing your own innate creativity—with suggestions for exercises to help you get more out of the experience.  It’s about exploring the joy of creative self-expression with less judgement and worry, approaching art as a journey rather than a destination.

To be honest, some of the language is a little more reminiscent of a self-help book than I was expecting.  One phrase in particular—”you are made of well-being”—is particularly befuddling to me, and I’ve never felt I completely understood the whole “mindfulness” thing.  But I do value activities that are supposedly conducive to “being present”, etc., and maybe this language makes more sense to others and helps them silence their overbearing inner critic.  It’s definitely an encouraging book and one I’d recommend to anyone who struggles with self-doubt in their creative endeavors.  

The first suggested activity involves simply painting for at least five minutes every day for 30 days in a row.  It goes into a little more detail than that, and there is a list of prompts, if you’re in need of inspiration.  I decided to give it a try, and I found it beneficial.  It can take time to really let go of worrying about whether what you're making is good enough, whether you're wasting materials, etc., but if you stick with it, it does get easier over time.  

I see now that the author has just published another book about painting cats, titled... Painting Cats.  While cats are cute, I'm really more of a dog person—but I'm adding it to my wish list anyway! (I'd assume that many of the ideas can be applied to any animal you prefer, and I'm sure there's plenty of inspiration to be had.)

(I originally posted most of this review in this post on my craft blog, back when I first read the book.)

The Gift of Fear

The Gift of Fear

by Gavin de Becker

Blurb:

TRUE FEAR IS A GIFT. UNWARRANTED FEAR IS A CURSE. LEARN HOW TO TELL THE DIFFERENCE. A date won't take "no" for an answer. The new nanny gives a mother an uneasy feeling. A stranger in a deserted parking lot offers unsolicited help. The threat of violence surrounds us every day. But we can protect ourselves, by learning to trust-- and act on-- our gut instinct.

In this empowering audiobook, Gavin de Becker shows you how to spot even subtle signs of danger-- before it's too late. Shattering the myth that most violent acts are unpredictable, de Becker, whose clients include top Hollywood stars and government agencies, offers specific ways to protect yourself and those you love, including... how to act when approached by a stranger... when you should fear someone close to you... what to do if you are being stalked... how to uncover the source of anonymous threats or phone calls... the biggest mistake you can make with a threatening person... and more. Learn to spot the danger signals others miss. It might just save your life.

My Reaction:

I kept seeing this book being mentioned, and I became curious.  I listened to the audiobook version, which probably increases the chances that I'll actually finish a work of nonfiction, but also means I might not be paying full attention the whole time I'm "listening".  My retention suffers when I only listen, too.  But hey, at least I gave it a try.  

Parts of the book are interesting and potentially helpful, but there's also a lot of repetition, less useful information, and statements that awoke my inner skeptic.  The author is only human, and I don't agree with him on a few points.  (He doesn't seem to believe that guns can be useful for self-defense, for instance. I know that's wrong.  Sometimes the only way to survive violence is to have a weapon of your own.  By all means, don't buy a gun if you don't want to, but there's nothing wrong with someone else wanting a gun for self-protection, so long as they are responsible, practice gun safety, and keep it out of the hands of children.) 

Some of the information feels a little outdated, which is not surprising, considering that it was published in the late 90s.  Technology has advanced by leaps and bounds in the past twenty years, and the Internet and social media have opened up new risks and areas of concern.

The section about assassination and celebrity stalkers is not relevant to the average person, and it doesn't seem to fit with the rest of the book.  It does seem that the author chose to write about it because it interests him, since it's his job and allows him to mingle with famous people.  I disagree with his attitude that assassinations are the most important crimes in the world.  Sure, the course of history will most likely be affected more by the murder of a world leader than by the murder of an ordinary person, but personally, I care much more deeply about "everyday crime" than assassinations.  Besides, how likely am I to ever need to know about assassins or celebrity stalkers?  It's not something I need to think about or waste my energy on-- because it doesn't interest me, as an average, everyday person.

I think I was expecting more practical, real-world advice on how to identify danger and react to it in specific situations.  Instead, this book's message is mostly just "trust your instinct", or your gut, or whatever you want to call it (but don't worry, because that's bad...).  I already try to do that, and I think I have decent survival instincts, so... I'm not sure how much I learned.  

One thing that I'll try to remember from this book is the fairly boring advice to "simply" ignore someone who is an annoyance but not an active threat.  It's something we've all heard before.  Your little brother is pestering you?  Ignore him.  He'll soon get bored and go away.  The same holds true for adults, according to this author.  If someone is "refusing to let go" (pestering, making a nuisance of themselves, not picking up on hints to leave you alone), give them one clear message that you are not interested.  Don't phrase it to encourage hope that it's a temporary  or conditional refusal, but avoid being insulting.  Leave them their dignity to avoid provoking them into aggression.  After that clear, uncompromising message, stop engaging.  Some people crave attention in any form, and if they can't get positive attention, they're satisfied with negative attention.  Ignoring them is like robbing a fire of oxygen.  It's the fastest way to quell the flames.  It sounds easier said then done, but it's probably a wise strategy. 

Addicted to Scraps

Addicted to Scraps: 12 Vibrant Quilt Projects
by Bonnie K. Hunter


Blurb:

Forever change the way you look at scraps! Best-selling author, Quiltmaker columnist, and esteemed teacher Bonnie K. Hunter shares 12 large, multicolored scrap quilt patterns in her signature style. Learn how to sew leftover strips into usable fabric that's readily available for projects with Bonnie's easy-to-use Scrap User's System. This complete guide to scrap quilting includes full-size templates, 2 paper-piecing patterns, and a full chapter on quiltmaking basics for scrap addicts.

My Reaction:
Bonnie K. Hunter is known for her scrap-friendly style of quilt design.  If you love quilts that use up anything and everything (including "ugly" fabric, out-of-fashion prints, and small leftover bits and pieces), you owe it to yourself to take a closer look at her patterns.

This book has patterns for a dozen quilts in her colorful, playful, scrappy style.  I recommend visiting this post on Bonnie's blog to preview the patterns in Addicted to Scraps.  There are a lot of small pieces in some of these quilts, and yes, they can be a bit "busy".  But "busy" isn't a four-letter word (ha ha) for some of us.  So-called busy quilts are usually what I'd call happy, energetic, and fun.  If you agree, you'll probably find a lot to love here or in one of the designer's other books. 

If you're interested in organizing your jumbled bags or boxes of scraps into more readily usable cuts of fabric, be sure to check out the information on Bonnie's Scrap User's System.  I've yet to implement it, but one of these days...

String Fling

String Fling: Scrappy, Happy and Loving It!
by Bonnie K. Hunter


Blurb:

Bonnie is back! And this time she's introducing us to a world of string piecing. Strings are strips and scraps usually too small to be useful for other projects, but they are just right for these 13 new quilts. Within these pages you will find a twist on traditional, time-honored designs along with some new ideas straight from Bonnie's scrappy imagination.

My Reaction: 
If you love a scrappy style of quilting, you'll want to look at some of Bonnie K. Hunter's patterns.  She has that "everything including the kitchen sink" style that (in my ever-so-humble opinion) feels truer to the classic "mend and make do" quilt aesthetic than the matchy-matchy, perfectly coordinated style, where every piece of fabric comes from one collection of prints.  That's not to say that a matchy-matchy quilt is inferior or wrong in some way.  It's just a different style.  Personally, I find a busy mix (and sometimes even intentional clash) of prints and colors charming.  If you do, too, give this a look!

The patterns in this particular book (as you might have gathered from the title) all include string piecing.  I won't bore you with definitions and descriptions you could easily look up on your own; suffice it to say that string piecing is easy, fun, and addictive.  I'd say string piecing is an ideal introduction to quilting, since there are so few rules to follow.  If you can sew a (reasonably) straight line, you can string piece.

These patterns take the idea of string quilting and run with it in different directions-- and in varying degrees of difficulty.  There's room to grow new skills in these pages.  Recommended for fans of the scrappy style!

(This book also describes Bonnie K. Hunter's system for cutting and storing scraps so that they're at their optimal usefulness.  I haven't implemented her system in my own relatively young stash, yet, but it's interesting, and I'm keeping it in mind for the future.  If you're drowning in scraps, it does seem like a great way to create useful cuts of fabric that are easier to transform into quilts.)

Potted and Pruned

Potted and Pruned: Living a Gardening Life
by Carol Michel


Blurb:

Carol Michel, author of the award-winning blog May Dreams Gardens, has penned a delightful book of gardening stories recounting her years speed weeding, scolding plants for their poor manners, experiencing the magic of a clover lawn, searching for elusive "rare in cultivation" plants, narrowly avoiding tussles in the garden center, formally evicting drought from her garden, and offering advice for those new to gardening. 

Is it possible to be utterly charming and wickedly funny at the same time? Yes, and avid gardeners will find themselves nodding along and laughing out loud as they turn the pages, recognizing their own quirks reflected back to them in Michel's words. Whether it's the chapter about the four phases of houseplant care or the gardener's unique interpretations of time, measurements, and quantities, one can't help but point and say, "That's me!" and then read a snippet or paragraph aloud to one's friend or significant other. 

Through 36 light-hearted essays, readers are treated to a glimpse behind the gate at May Dreams Gardens and the philosophies and musings of its caretaker. There's take-home wisdom for gardeners new and experienced between the pages.

My Reaction:
This isn't primarily a book of gardening advice and instruction (though there are some useful tips, here and there), but rather a friendly conversation from one gardener to another about the highs and lows of coaxing plants to grow where we want them. Anyone who gardens and spends a fair amount of time thinking, talking, or day-dreaming about gardening will recognize him- or herself in these essays. It's an inside joke. It's vegetable soup for the gardener's soul.

Certain essays appealed to me more than others, of course, and I wish the book had been longer-- but the good news is that if you enjoy these essays, the author has a gardening blog with a whole blog archive to read through.


Random Tidbits:
--"Now the idea of completely getting rid of the ditch lilies in my garden, as much of a nuisance as they are, seems to me like getting rid of a cherished family memory. So I keep them and contain them as best I can."

I think most of us who grow orange daylilies feel pretty much like that about them... They're more family mementos than plants!

--"The vegetable garden also tells stories of family gatherings where okra and eggplant picked that same day were then battered and fried and served at suppertime. When I'm out in my vegetable garden, I still hear the congenial arguments among my uncles about whether tomatoes should be sugared or salted."

--"I begin flinging mulch from one bed to another and hope by some miracle it will actually cause now full-grown weeds to wither and die while the plants I planted will flourish.  Since this is rarely the case, I drag out a variety of weeding tools and begin the battle."

...That sounds (all too) familiar!

--"However, every gardener knows or soon learns that stolen seeds, cuttings, or even plants will not grow in the thief's garden."

That's funny, because I've heard the exact opposite-- namely, that "stolen" seeds and cuttings grow best. It's probably related to the belief that you shouldn't say "thank you" when someone gives you a plant or a cutting, because if you do, the plant won't grow. That said, I wouldn't dream of stealing plants from a private garden-- or even taking cuttings without permission.  Plants that have clearly been abandoned or thrown away, on the other hand, seem like "fair game" (though of course it depends on the circumstances).

--"Then one day, it happens. Motivation disappears. It's hot. There are mosquitoes. Motivation doesn't like heat and mosquitoes. Motivation gets discouraged, too, because not everything turned out as we thought it would. Motivation likes pretty flowers, but runs and hides at the sight of weeds."

--"Every gardener, at some point, should learn when it is appropriate to scream in the garden and when it is better to cuss."

--This book taught me about the Pomodoro Technique (not sure I'll use it, but it's interesting).

The Egg and I

The Egg and I
by Betty MacDonald

My Blurb:

In the late 1920s/early 1930s, a very young wife supports her husband in his dream of running a chicken ranch in a very rural part of the Pacific Northwest.  This humorous memoir recounts the trials and errors of building a life on the isolated ranch, interactions with outlandish neighbors, and assorted musings on the beauty of the Olympic Peninsula. 

My Reaction:
I found The Egg and I to be thoroughly readable, often interesting, and frequently amusing (though only rarely laugh-out-loud funny).  It is true that her some of her stereotypes jar on modern sensibilities, but it may help to remember that the author and her work are products of their time, which should alleviate at least some of the insult.  (How would any of us fare, if judged by the standards of certain other eras?  In one way or another, I'm sure we'd fail to measure up.)  Indeed, the copy I read had what amounted to a disclaimer or apology as a foreword, written by MacDonald's children on behalf of the woman herself.  If their mother had still been alive, they assured the reader, her views would have changed with the times.

Because this is a memoir (and one written twenty years down the road from when the events took place), I find myself wondering how accurate certain portrayals are.  For instance, her husband sounds absolutely awful to me (despite the fact that we are told repeatedly that he's handsome and handy and a natural at chicken-ranching)-- so perhaps it shouldn't have come as a surprise to learn after reading that she eventually divorced him.  (I'm much more surprised that after she re-married, she and her second husband also took up chicken ranching!  I would've thought she'd had enough of that lifestyle.)

Then there are the neighbors and the Indians... I have no doubt that at least most of the specific incidents she relates were based in truth, but... wow.  That sums it up: WOW.  No wonder some of her neighbors sued her after the book and the film came out!  I did wonder how she dared publish some of those depictions, if these people were still her "friends" and neighbors.  It explains a lot that she had since moved away.

While reading, I had the passing fancy that it would be even more interesting (to me, personally) to read a similar account of rural life in my own little section of the country, back in the 20s/30s, when my great-grandparents would've been carving out lives of their own from this wilderness, with its own set of challenges, beauties, and bounties.  Then I paused and had second thoughts.  I don't know that I'd like to read this author's version of the area and the people...

My biggest surprise was at the foul language (of certain secondary characters) and the distastefulness of some of the topics addressed.  I knew little about the book, going in-- just that it was a funny book about chicken "farming" and that it had been made into a movie in the 40s.  I guess I foolishly assumed that the book would have the same flavor (and comparative innocence) as your typical humorous 40s film.  I was certainly not expecting so much cursing (though it's mild compared to what you can easily encounter today)-- not to mention things like "laying up" (extramarital affairs), abortion, syphilis, alcoholism, etc.  Of course those things existed back then, but I wasn't expecting to encounter them in a humorous memoir of the period.

Though parts of the book were amusing, it also had many moments of bleakness, unhappiness, and disgust.  I found it an odd mix.  It also seemed to end rather abruptly.  Since it's a memoir and not a tightly-plotted novel, that may be par for the course-- but it felt abrupt, all the same.

I wouldn't mind reading some of the author's other memoirs, at some point-- especially Onions in the Stew.  At least I now know what to expect!

Tough Plants for Southern Gardens

Tough Plants for Southern Gardens: Low Care, No Care, Tried and True Winners
by Felder Rushing



Blurb:

Tough Plants for Southern Gardens is written for novice and accomplished gardener alike, and for all gardeners who value their leisure time. They also value the appearance of their home and appreciate the benefits of well-placed landscaping; however, they do not want to devote too much time to keeping it beautiful.

My Reaction:
As someone who only began to take her garden seriously within the past few years, I still have a lot to learn-- but one thing I picked up pretty quickly is that some plants are much easier to keep alive than others, and gardening is much more enjoyable when the bulk of your garden is made up of these "easy plants".  I've also learned to value the wisdom and experience of those who garden in my own part of the world, so I try to get my information from as local a source as possible.  As the title suggests, the focus of this book is tough plants ("easy plants") for the southern United States-- perfect (for me, a relatively lazy gardener who lives in Alabama)!

This doesn't have to be a cover-to-cover read, though it can be.  It's thoroughly readable-- somewhat less chatty and informal than Passalong Plants (also co-authored by Felder Rushing), but more useful for quick reference.  It's great for dipping into for a few minutes here and there, and the index makes it simple to find a specific plant right away.

Divided into sections of types of plants, this book covers everything from fool-proof annuals and dependable perennials to easy-care trees and shrubs (and everything in between, as the saying goes).

Each plant was selected on the basis of its "toughness" and suitability for the Southern garden.  Most featured plants get one full page including a photo, common name, Latin name, sunlight requirement, description of the flower (if applicable) and plant as a whole, soil/water needs, best propagation method(s), and "interesting kinds", which suggests specific, named varieties or cultivars (helpful for narrowing the field when making a wish list).  There's also a small snippet of chit-chat about each plant, as well as one "tip" per entry-- some are about that plant, others are more tangentially related, but all are either informative or entertaining.

At the beginning of each section, there's a list of plants that are "Best for Beginners" and another that can be "Kinda Tricky" (probably self-explanatory).  Then at the end of each section, there's a page or three of short blurbs about "Other Good Grasses" or "Other Great Garden Bulbs"-- plants that didn't quite make the "best of" list (for whatever reason), but which are also promising candidates for the Southern garden.

As much as I like this book, I do have one quibble.  "The South" is a large area covering several states and USDA hardiness zones.  The region is frequently divided into four gardening sub-regions: Upper South, Middle South, Lower South, and Coastal South-- and that's not even including the Tropical South, which is mostly confined to southern Florida.

The Upper South gets more of a real winter than the Coastal South (where I live), which means its gardeners can successfully grow plants (some bulbs and fruits, for instance) that need a little winter chill.  Those same plants don't perform well this far south.  On the other hand, I can grow delicate, subtropical plants outdoors.  They may die back to the ground, but they reliably return with spring.  Someone growing them on the northern edge of "the South" will have to dig them up every year or grow them in containers that can be moved into shelter for the winter.

Now, it is just a quibble, but just because a plant is included in this book doesn't mean it will be ideal for your garden.  A little further research might be in order before you start your plant wish list, just to be on the safe side.  (Besides, isn't researching plants part of the fun?).  You may have a Southern garden, and the plant in question may be "tough" in some Southern gardens, but there's still the potential for plant failure and disappointment.  Of course, you don't need to compare regions to witness the fickleness of Mother Nature's green children.  Your next-door neighbor may rave about a plant that refuses to "do" for you.

To be fair, the author acknowledges all this, right there in the beginning!  In gardening, there are no guarantees, even with so-called tough plants, but this book does give you a good shot at success, and I do believe that by far most of these plants will perform well through most of the region.  I whole-heartedly recommend it-- particularly to beginning gardeners or anyone who's interested in learning more about plants that really want to grow in the hot and humid South.

Passalong Plants

Passalong Plants
by Steve Bender and Felder Rushing

Blurb (from back of book):

Passalongs are plants that have survived in gardens for decades by being handed from one person to another.  These botanical heirlooms, such as flowering almond, blackberry lily, and night-blooming cereus, usually can't be found in neighborhood garden centers; about the only way to obtain a passalong plant is to beg a piece from the fortunate gardener who has one. 

In this lively and sometimes irreverent book (don't miss the chapter on yard art), Steve Bender and Felder Rushing describe 117 such plants, giving particulars on hardiness, size, uses in the garden, and horticultural requirements.  They present this information in the informal, chatty, and sometimes humorous manner that your next-door neighbor might use when giving you a cutting of her treasured Confederate rose.  And, of course, because they are discussing passalong plants, they note the best method of sharing each plant with other gardeners.

My Reaction:
This book was a Christmas gift from my parents-- something I'd added to a wishlist because the description sounded promising.  I don't often read non-fiction cover-to-cover, but if you're a Southern gardener with a soft spot for old-fashioned, traditional, "hand-me-down" plants, this book is well worth a look.  It's only within the past few years that I've only gotten more seriously interested in gardening, and I'm in the process of building my garden from scratch, so the subject-- plants that have historically done very well in this part of the world-- holds a lot of personal interest for me.

The book was published in 1993, and though (I think) the edition I have (paperback) was printed in the early 2000s, it doesn't seem that the text has been updated from the original '93 version.  Difficult as it is to believe, it's been over 20 years since 1993, and as I read, there were a few times when I wondered if the authors would change anything, given a chance at a rewrite.  One or two plants that they thought rare or underused in '93 strike me (in early 2016) as being fairly commonplace-- certainly not that unusual, based on what I've seen and read in the blogs of fellow gardeners around the world.  However, the book has aged very well, over all-- not surprising, considering that the subject is heirloom plants, some of which have been passed along for hundreds of years!

When it comes to recommending plants, you can only be so objective, so there are occasional plants that the authors treat favorably, but which I find to be undesirable weeds-- and on the other hand, there are plants that they seem a bit less excited about that I really enjoy.  But that's only to be expected, since no two people ever agree on everything (in a garden or out of it).  Possibly it's a reflection of the fact that I live further south than either of them (and some plants might go a little crazier along the Gulf Coast than they do where the authors live, in more central Alabama and Mississippi).  Maybe, too, some things have changed in the last twenty years...

Perhaps the biggest change to come along in the past 20 years is the explosion of the Internet.  When this book was published, it was difficult to locate sources for many of these old-fashioned passalongs.  Therefore, the carefully cultivated list of nurseries that sold each one was probably an invaluable tool for someone set on growing an impossible-to-find-locally plant.  These days, it's so much easier to search out rare plants and order them online-- not to mention the possibility of doing plant swaps with people you've met online.  (Personally, I'm still a little scared of ordering plants online-- but if there's no other option and you're desperate for a particular plant...)

I heartily recommend the book to Southern gardeners with an interest in plants that have proven to do well in the South-- plants with a sense of history and place, including many that you'll probably remember from the gardens you grew up in.  It's written in a casual, conversational style that makes for easy, enjoyable reading, but there's also plenty of information, including helpful hints about propagation methods and where each plant performs best.

Many of the plant descriptions are accompanied by color photographs, but some are not, so one of these days, I intend to page through the book again, look up the ones I didn't recognize by name, and make a wish list of the most exciting candidates for my own garden.  And I'll be keeping the book for a handy reference (the index makes it simple to locate a particular plant's entry).

Come Along With Me

Come Along With Me
by Shirley Jackson


Blurb:

In her gothic visions of small-town America, Jackson, the author of such masterworks as The Haunting of Hill House and We Have Always Lived in the Castle, turns an ordinary world into a supernatural nightmare. This eclectic collection goes beyond her horror writing, revealing the full spectrum of her literary genius. In addition to Come Along with Me, Jackson's unfinished novel about the quirky inner life of a lonely widow, it features sixteen short stories and three lectures she delivered during her last years.

My Reaction:
Shirley Jackson's unique style shines through here-- more so in some pieces than others.  My favorites from this collection would probably be Come Along With Me (though of course it's unfinished), "The Summer People" (though I skipped it this time, as I'd read it fairly recently), "A Visit", "The Rock", "A Day in the Jungle", "The Little House", and "The Bus". 


Specifics (with SPOILERS):
--Come Along With Me
I enjoyed this unfinished novel more than any of the short stories.  Memorable.  Amusing, but also curious, with a good seasoning of the bizarre.  What a shame that it will never be finished!  

-"He looked at me; I must say I like it better when they look at you; a lot of the time people seem to be scared of finding out that other people have real faces, as though if you looked at a stranger clearly and honestly and with both eyes you might find yourself learning something you didn't actually want to know."  ...It depends on how I'm feeling.  I think I used to make eye contact and smile more often than I do now-- unless I'm in an especially good mood.  These days, I'm more likely to be one of the people avoiding that connection.  Sometimes, you just don't want the stress of human interaction.  If I can help someone by speaking to them/answering a question, I'm glad to do so, but to make eye contact with every stranger I pass... No, it doesn't hold much appeal.

-"'I've just buried my husband,' I said.  'I've just buried mine,' she said.  'Isn't it a relief?' I said.  'What?' she said.  'It was a very sad occasion,' I said.  'You're right,' she said, 'it's a relief.'"

-On having the second sight:  "I could see what the cat saw." 

-"If more people kept more things to themselves this world would be a better place."  ...Good thing you didn't live in the Internet age, lady.

-Mrs. Angela Motorman's dislike of department stores-- and enjoyment of a good fight with them and the telephone company-- reminded me of some of Jackson's other works that I've read.  Trouble with/dislike of department stores seems to be a theme with her!


--"Janice".
Wha...?  I don't think I completely got this one.  Maybe there's nothing to get, beyond a feeling of deep unease over the disconnect between Janice's cheerful, casual manner and the troubling nature of what she's saying.

-- "Tootie in Peonage"
Ugh, M'Tootie is one of those characters that you can't help but hate.  (Or at least that was my reaction to her.)

--"A Cauliflower in Her Hair"
Another that was an exercise in frustration.  Mr. Garland needs a good slap across the face, but Mrs. Garland irritates, too.   ...Still, I reserve my finest dislike for Mr. Garland.  Irk irk irk!

--"I Know Who I Love"
This one... I was sad for Catharine, but at some point it felt a tinge too melodramatic.  And then the end... Sad, again.  Emptiness.

--"The Beautiful Stranger"
I don't know what to think!  Very, very odd-- and oddest of all, that ending.

--"The Summer People"
I've read that one before, so I skipped it this time.

--"Island"
We're probably "supposed" to sympathize more with Mrs. Montague than Miss Oakes... I have sympathy for both, but the part of the story from Mrs. Montague's perspective just tires me.

--"A Visit"
After starting this one, I recognized it as one I'd already read, but I decided to stick with it, as it's an intriguing story. 

--"The Rock"
This one leaves me with questions-- which is true for just about all of Jackson's stories, I think.  Is the mysterious Mr. Johnson Death?  (He's come for one of the two lady visitors-- "It had to be one or the other of you..."-- though he doesn't care which he gets.)  Or is he the Devil?  (He seems to spend most of his time sowing seeds of discontent and suspicion-- trying to stir up doubt in Paula's mind about her relationships and her future.  He casually suggests that parts of the house could be at risk of fire, but she'd be perfectly safe in this room... Hint, hint.)  Why can the landlady, Mrs. Carter, see and hear him?  Is she a ghost?

--"A Day in the Jungle"
After starting out as the story of a woman fleeing an unhappy marriage, this tale suddenly veers off to a very odd place.  On a short walk through the city, the protagonist suffers from a series of bizarre fears, one following closely on the heels of another-- and by the time she reaches her destination, where she's meeting with her estranged husband, she seems to have forgotten why she left him at all, in her relief at the safe familiarity he represents.  Is she using his familiarity as a crutch?  By staying with her "safe" husband, is she settling for the devil she knows?  Or is her husband perhaps not so bad after all?  Maybe this mental/emotional instability/unreliability is the norm for her.

--"Pajama Party"
This brought back memories of elementary school slumber parties and sleepovers.  Yes, there's a lot of truth in this story.  However, the father seems like a grump.  (Of course an eleven-year-old can handle a party with four of her friends!  Good grief!)  And the older brother seems to think he runs the joint... But aside from that and the rather ridiculous "dueling record players" segment, I enjoyed this jaunt down memory lane.

-"When Jannie came home from school I made her lie down and rest, pointing out in one of the most poignant understatements of my life that she would probably be up late that night."

-"Linda's party dress was of orlon [acrylic], which all of them simply adored.  Linda said if she did say it herself, the ruffles never got limp."

 --"Louisa, Please Come Home"
We never really learn why Louisa has run away (since apparently it's not all due to her trouble at college), but I found it easy enough to just focus on what she does tell us (how she made her way) and not think about the family she's left behind-- until the end.  ...And then it's all very strange.  It feels like Louisa herself may not know why she left.  The fact that she was an adult-- 19--when she ran away makes her actions all the more bizarre.  At that age, why not just tell your family that you want to move out and live on your own?  I'm sure her parents wouldn't have been pleased, but legally, they couldn't have stopped her.  Though she took money from her father when she ran away, it doesn't seem that she actually needed much of it, since she got a job and was supporting herself in very short order.  This is an odd one. 

--"The Little House"
Thinking back on this story, I enjoyed it... but at the time, I found parts of it a little melancholy.  All the things left behind by "Aunt"-- everything just where she last set them down before her death... We lost Granny L. in January, and I find myself thinking about her a lot, these days... That aspect of this story hit close to home, so I was (unreasonably?) angry with the niece for her increasing callousness toward her Aunt's home and belongings.  On one hand, I understand that she needs to make the house her own.  It shouldn't remain exactly the same.  It's not a museum.  On the other hand, there are ways of making the house your own without being disrespectful of the woman from whom you've inherited it.  ...And so, yes, I approve of the "busybody" neighbor women and their (blatantly false) insinuation that there's a murderer who keeps an eye on the place.  (Heh heh heh... (g))

--"The Bus"
This one feels like a nightmare from start to finish.  Is Miss Harper stuck in some sort of Twilight Zone loop?  Is the Ricket's Landing roadhouse her own childhood home in some alternate reality?   What's up with the young voice on the bus-- the one who says she's running away?  The doll's rejection of Miss Harper ("Go away, old lady") feels particularly poignant...

--"Experience and Fiction"
An interesting essay on fiction-writing-- specifically, how an author's real life experiences can translate into effective fiction.  I was especially intrigued by the tidbits about The Haunting of Hill House.  Also, this: "Let me just point out right here and now that my unconscious mind has been unconscious for a number of years now and it is my firm intention to keep it that way.  When I have nightmares about a horrid building it is the horrid building I am having nightmares about, and no one is going to talk me out of it; that is final."

--"The Night We All Had Grippe"
Jackson wrote that this was the most direct "real life to short story" translation she'd penned (if I remember correctly).  Though it had several amusing anecdotal moments, most of it felt like a too-detailed description of a game of "musical beds".  The payoff wasn't quite high enough for me. 

--"Biography of a Story"
The story in question is Jackson's most famous-- "The Lottery".  There's some fascinating background information here-- and I loved the snippets from the mail readers sent in-- but at some point, those snippets became repetitive.  Paring them down slightly to include just the best might have helped.

-"One of the most terrifying aspects of publishing stories and books is the realization that they are going to be read, and read by strangers."

--"The Lottery"
I skipped it this time, since I've read it multiple times in the past.

--"Notes for a Young Writer"
It's always interesting to get a glimpse into how a successful author approaches writing.  Many of these tips will be familiar to anyone who's ever read anything about writing fiction, but they still provide insight for those curious about Jackson's particular style.

-Jackson indicates that she wrote these notes at least partially for the benefit of one of her daughters, who had expressed interest in writing.  I wonder if that daughter went on to do much writing...

-"It is not enough to let your characters talk as people usually talk because the way people usually talk is extremely dull."

-"Also, if your heroine's hair is golden, call it yellow."  Ha!

In a Sunburned Country

In a Sunburned Country
by Bill Bryson


Publisher's Blurb:

Every time Bill Bryson walks out the door, memorable travel literature threatens to break out. His previous excursion along the Appalachian Trail resulted in the sublime national bestseller A Walk in the Woods. In A Sunburned Country is his report on what he found in an entirely different place: Australia, the country that doubles as a continent, and a place with the friendliest inhabitants, the hottest, driest weather, and the most peculiar and lethal wildlife to be found on the planet. The result is a deliciously funny, fact-filled, and adventurous performance by a writer who combines humor, wonder, and unflagging curiosity.

Despite the fact that Australia harbors more things that can kill you in extremely nasty ways than anywhere else, including sharks, crocodiles, snakes, even riptides and deserts, Bill Bryson adores the place, and he takes his readers on a rollicking ride far beyond that beaten tourist path. Wherever he goes he finds Australians who are cheerful, extroverted, and unfailingly obliging, and these beaming products of land with clean, safe cities, cold beer, and constant sunshine fill the pages of this wonderful book. Australia is an immense and fortunate land, and it has found in Bill Bryson its perfect guide.

My Reaction: 
(I read this with Donald.)

It was about on par with A Walk in the Woods, I'd say.  Much better than the memoir about his childhood... The Life and Times of the Thunderbolt Kid (had to look it up), but that in itself is not glowing praise.  The comparison to A Walk in the Woods is far more flattering. 

The thing about Bill Bryson is... he kind of gets on my nerves, sometimes.  When he's at his best, he's an entertaining writer.  (Though, after Donald did a little background reading on one of the historical anecdotes, we wonder how often he embroiders, tells part of the story, etc. when a harsh-light-of-day account of the facts leaves something to be desired.) 

Anyway, as I was saying, Bryson presents some interesting information in a very readable format, but every now and then something else sneaks into the book-- a glimpse into the attitudes of the author himself, one assumes-- and it's not charming.  Also, the man seems to be absolutely obsessed with having a (few) drink(s) every night.  Maybe I just can't relate, as a non-drinker... I get that some people enjoy a drink every now and then-- but every night?  Does every place he stays have to have a bar or pub within walking distance?  Both of us noticed it, by the way, so it's not just me being picky.  ;o)

...Overall verdict:  We were entertained-- he certainly makes Australia (or parts of it at least) seem appealing-- but I'm glad to move on to something else, now. 

The Devil in the White City

The Devil in the White City
by Erik Larson


Publisher's Blurb:

Erik Larson—author of #1 bestseller IN THE GARDEN OF BEASTS—intertwines the true tale of the 1893 World's Fair and the cunning serial killer who used the fair to lure his victims to their death. Combining meticulous research with nail-biting storytelling, Erik Larson has crafted a narrative with all the wonder of newly discovered history and the thrills of the best fiction.

My Reaction:
I tend not to read much nonfiction (excluding the news, how-to books, and the like).  I'm afraid I view nonfiction with the suspicion that it will be boring-- or dense-- or depressing-- or possibly all three.  While I certainly didn't find (much) of this book to be an edge-of-my-seat page-turner, it has proven that nonfiction needn't be dull.

Now, at times, I did feel a bit bogged down in detail.  The detail was interesting-- but (on some topics, at least) there was so much of it!  ("Another tangent?")  Also, it sometimes felt as though the author was tantalizing his reader with the merest tidbits of the crime side of the book in between huge helpings of the tamer fair fare. (*pun-induced smirk*)  I realize that unless he meandered pointlessly, there was only so much of that story to tell, so he had to ration it-- (plus, he was trying to stick to a consistent timeline between the "progress" of the fair and the serial killer)-- but I will confess to an exasperated sigh or two.

Ultimately, though the book was entertaining-- and educational, too! (g)-- I was ready for it to be over, by the end.  I'll try to work a little non-fiction into my reading, but I don't expect it will ever take the place of fiction for me. 


Random Specifics (with SPOILERs):
-- "'The eyes are very big and wide open,' a physician named John L. Capen later observed.  'They are blue.  Great murderers, like great men in other walks of activity, have blue eyes.'"  Hah!  I wonder what color eyes Dr. Capen himself might have had...(Let me guess...)

--  With a name like "Herman Webster Mudgett", no wonder he preferred to go by an alias.  (I'm sorry, but "Mudgett"?  ...I have now incurred the wrath of Mudgetts everywhere.  Oh well.)

--  Rudyard Kipling on Chicago:  "Having seen it, I desire never to see it again.  It is inhabited by savages."

-- Tangent:  My hometown (or, well, the city nearest to the rural community where I grew up) in southernmost Alabama was founded in 1905 by the Southern Plantation Corporation of Chicago.

--  "Minneapolis was small, somnolent, and full of Swedish and Norwegian farmers as charming as cornstalks."  What?  Farmers can't be charming?  Clearly the author has never read the Little House books.

--  And then this:  "In Minneapolis there had been only silence and the inevitable clumsy petitions of potato-fingered men looking for someone, anyone, to share the agony of their days."  Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha!  "Agony of their days"?  Good grief!  Getting a little overwrought there, aren't you, Larson?  And "potato-fingered"!  Poor Minnesotan farmers! 

--  "At first alienists described this condition as 'moral insanity' and those who exhibited the disorder as 'moral imbeciles.'  They later adopted the term 'psychopath,' used in the lay press as early as 1885 in William Stead's Pall Mall Gazette, which described it as a 'new malady' and stated, 'Beside his own person and his own interests, nothing is sacred to the psychopath.'"

-- Regarding the above:  I've heard/read some claims that serial killers are a relatively modern phenomenon, but... surely that can't be true.  I don't think human nature has changed-- and neither do I believe that it's anything new that some human beings lack a conscience (or somehow choose to ignore what little they have).  Possibly there could be fluctuations in their prevalence throughout history, but it seems more likely that they simply escaped notice or were not recorded.

--  "Why anyone would even want a soundproof vault was a question that apparently did not occur to him."  Yes, so many of Holmes' particular "activities" would (I hope) be nearly impossible, today.  ...At least, I think people would be more suspicious, these days... and certainly our law enforcement is better at keeping track of criminals and criminal behavior.  (Which is good... But at the same time, it's sad that such suspicion and efficiency is necessary...)

-- "Beyond the fairgrounds' new fence, turmoil and grief engulfed Chicago.  Union leaders threatened to organize unions worldwide to oppose the fair.  The Inland Architect, a prominent Chicago journal, reported: 'That un-American institution, the trades union, has developed its un-American principle of curtailing or abolishing the personal freedom of the individual in a new direction, that of seeking, as far as possible, to cripple the World's Fair.'"  Are we "supposed" to sympathize with the union leaders, here?  Because... while I don't want to see people working in unsafe conditions for unreasonably poor pay, I have to agree that unions often do "curtail or abolish the personal freedom of the individual"-- and their leaders can be just as corrupt and callous as the worst of the demonized Boss-Men.  But whatever.  Go on blindly worshiping the Union, guys...

--  "...Dr. Cigrand, the dentist, who saw so little joy from day to day as he reduced grown men of proven courage to tears."  Good grief...  Was dentistry really so much worse back then?

--  The side story of the failed attempt to pipe water from Waukesha into the fairgrounds?  Very interesting!  "Hygeia secured rights to lay its pipe from its springhouse in Waukesha through the village itself but failed to anticipate the intensity of the opposition from citizens who feared the pipeline would disfigure their landscape and drain their famous springs."  So Hygeia planned to send a special train with supplies to Waukesha and dig the pipeline at night, hoping to escape notice until it was too late for anyone to do anything about it.  Word got out, though, and as the train pulled into the station, "someone rang the village firebell, and soon a large force of men armed with clubs, pistols, and shotguns converged on the train.  Two fire engines arrived hissing steam, their crews ready to blast the pipelayers with water.  One village leader told McElroy that if he went ahead with his plan, he would not leave town alive.  Soon another thousand or so townspeople joined the small army at the station.  One group of men dragged a cannon from the town hall and trained it on Hygeia's bottling plant.  After a brief standoff, McElroy and the pipelayers went back to Chicago."  (In the end, they bought a spring in a town twelve miles away from Waukesha and piped water from that, instead.)

-- While looking up the Waukesha incident online just now, I found this story from 2010.  Apparently, Waukesha's been having water problems of their own, in recent years. There is radium in the well water on which they depend (or depended-- no idea if the issue's been resolved in the past few years...).  Building a treatment plant would be very expensive, so one of the most promising options seemed to be... to pipe in water from Lake Michigan. 

--  The Pledge of Allegiance was composed in honor of the dedication of the fair.

--  The first Ferris wheel debuted at the fair.  It was designed in response to a plea for some American engineering marvel that could top France's Eiffel Tower. 

--  That little tune that everyone associates with belly-dancers and snake-charmers-- and that schoolchildren use when singing, "There's a place in France..."-- was composed on the spur of the moment to accompany a belly-dance demonstration/preview of the type of entertainment the fair had to offer.

--  "McCallister in a column in the New York World advised 'it is not quantity but quality that the society people here want.  Hospitality which includes the whole human race is not desirable.'"  Sounds like such a delightful person.

--  "Hull House had become a bastion of progressive thought inhabited by strong-willed young women, 'interspersed,' as one visitor put it, 'with earnest-faced, self-subordinating and mild-mannered men who slide from room to room unapologetically."

--  "They saw the first moving pictures on Edison's Kinestoscope, and they watched, stunned, as lightning chattered from Nikola Tesla's body.  They saw even more ungodly things-- the first zipper; the first-ever all-electric kitchen, which included an automatic dishwasher; and a box purporting to contain everything a cook would need to make pancakes, under the brand name Aunt Jemima's.  They sampled a new, oddly flavored gum called Juicy Fruit, and caramel-coated popcorn called Cracker Jack.  A new cereal, Shredded Wheat, seemed unlikely to succeed-- 'shredded doormat,' some called it-- but a new beer did well, winning the exposition's top beer award.  Forever afterward, its brewer called it Pabst Blue Ribbon.  Visitors also encountered the latest and arguably most important organizational invention of the century, the vertical file, created by Melvil Dewey, inventor of the Dewey Decimal System."

-- "Prune makers sent along a full-scale knight on horseback sculpted out of prunes."  Ah, to have been alive then and there to see it!  A full-scale knight-- on horseback!-- sculpted out of prunes!  How glorious it must have been!  (Why a knight?  Not sure what the subject matter should have been, though, so maybe a better question is-- why not?!)

--  "Buffalo Bill promptly declared Waif's Day at the Wild West and offered any kid in Chicago a free train ticket, free admission to the show, and free access to the whole Wild West encampment, plus all the candy and ice cream the children could eat.  Fifteen thousand showed up."

--  "...the earliest visitors to Jackson Park saw immediately that the fair's greatest power lay in the strange gravity of the buildings themselves.  ...  Some visitors found themselves so moved by the Court of Honor that immediately upon entering they began to weep."  It's difficult to imagine...  What would it take to move a modern person to tears, with architecture alone?

--  "Leaves hung in the stillness like hands of the newly dead."  Um, what?  Setting a mood, I guess, but it seemed to come out of nowhere.

--  (Warning:  This section is gruesome...)  The authorities had people identify the remains of loved ones by teeth alone, in some cases.  Of course I've heard of bodies being identified by dental records-- and people being asked to look at the face of a corpse to confirm an identity--  but this is the first time I've come across the expectation that a person would remember someone else's teeth well enough to give a positive ID.  I honestly don't know if I'd be able to recognize even my closest family by their teeth alone-- but maybe it's easier than I think, because Mrs. Pitezel "recognized Alice's teeth immediately".  (Maybe teeth were more easily recognizable in the past, before modern dentistry and orthodontics...)

--  "'We do know that Holmes advertised his "hotel" as a suitable lodging for visitors to the world's fair; that no fewer than fifty persons, reported to the police as missing, were traced to the Castle; and that there their trail ended.'"

--  "Early in the twentieth century the fair became a source of heated debate among architects.  Critics claimed the fair extinguished the Chicago School of architecture, an indigenous vernacular, and replaced it with a renewed devotion to obsolete classical styles."  Oh, boo hoo.  (Yeah, not the biggest fan of "modern" architecture, in general.  I think a lot of it's UGLY.  Frank Lloyd Wright?  Overrated.)

--  Burnham's obsession with not being "accepted" at Yale and Harvard leaves me completely unmoved.  "His past failure to gain admission to both universities-- the denial of his 'right beginning'-- had haunted him throughout his life.  Even years after receiving the awards, as he lobbied Harvard to grant provisional admission to his son Daniel, whose own performance on the entry exams was far from stellar, Burnham wrote, 'He needs to know that he is a winner, and, as soon as he does, he will show his real quality, as I have been able to do.  It is the keenest regret of my life that someone did not follow me up at Cambridge... and let the authorities know what I could do.'"  Oh, barf.  (Sorry, but... yuck.)  Burnham, your son needed to know within himself that he was "a winner".  (Though the term triggers a gag reflex for me... There are better ways of phrasing it.)  No acceptance from any school-- however self-important-- is going to make up for that lack. 

-- "The execution intensified Darrow's already deep hatred of the death penalty. 'I am sorry for all fathers and all mothers,' he said, years later, during his defense of Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, accused of killing a Chicago boy for the thrill of it. 'The mother who looks into the blue eyes of her little babe cannot help musing over the end of the child, whether it will be crowned with the greatest promises which her mind can image or whether he may meet death upon the scaffold.'"   Hm.  And what about the mother who learns that her child has met his end tragically and prematurely-- needlessly-- at the hands of a pitiless murderer?  Go ahead and sniffle over a convicted murderer's "death upon the scaffold".  My tears are reserved for their victims. 

...and on that dark note... I'm off to decide what to read next.