More on Books

It has been so long since I have posted that I got a bit long-winded the other day. At the same time, I realized I did not get to write about Hilda van Stockum or Graham Greene.

At any rate, this past summer I read through the three Mitchells books from Hilda van Stockum; The Mitchells: Five for Victory, Canadian Summer, and Friendly Gables. I had a great time. Nothing makes for relaxation better than a good children's novel or two. The first was written at a time when most American families had servants or hired hands of some sort. My grandmother was a hired hand with my grandfather's family within a decade of when the story takes place. I liked the Mitchell children because they reflected both the naughtiness and goodness of children everywhere. The Mitchell family started with four children and grew by three more by the time the books ended. Other families in the books were larger, reflecting the time when children were perceived as a good, and not a burden. At one point Joan remarked that she wished she came from a family of 16! Her parents and the parents of neighbors were loving, confident and competent. I was reading a book on St. Marguerite Bourgeoys at the same time that I read Friendly Gables, which was very cool because they talked about her in Friendly Gables. I learned just a tad more about Canadian history and custom, and got an insight into the influence of Catholic culture in Quebec. Hilda van Stockum had some lovely descriptions of seasons and landscapes in her work. I am not accustomed to marking books, but I may go back and copy a few parts into my old nature journal. Those portions would be perfect for dictation or copy assignments for penmanship.

I also did not get to mention another book which elicited great sensual response when I read it, Grahame Greene's The Wind in the Willows. It has been many years, but shortly after reading it a group to which I belonged was writing a cook-book, and I submitted quotes from the book for inclusion, so strong were my reactions. The two parts I still remember were the places where Mole is talking about hot buttered toast, and then when he reminisces about his own home with the smell of sausages and onions hanging from the ceiling. Oh, but did I ever feel like eating when I read those passages! No television commercial or adulterated junk food needed. What a way with words.

Arthur and I took an hour's  walk around Quarry Park Nature Reserve today. The sun refused to come out, but it was still pleasant. We were alone except for in the parking lot. We came very close to a young, white tailed deer. The smell of leaf mold was heavy in the air. Not a good place for people with allergies!

From Mitford to Father Tim, and the Influence of Books

Having read the last of the Mitford books, I delved into the last Jan Karon book which I had at home, In the Company of Others. This book is the second of the Father Tim novels. I 'fess that I tossed it into the fireplace after finishing it. I did not like the way the Catholic Church and the sacrament of confession were presented in the story. First, instead of confiding in their own priest, the Catholics in the story turned to Father Tim for counsel and solace. Second, at the end of the story when a Catholic character was on her deathbed, the sacramental confession which she made was done in  public and in a very vague and incomplete fashion. Last I heard, confessions have not been public for almost 2,000 years, never mind the seal of confession for which a priest is excommunicated if he breaks it. The seal extends to anyone who accidentally overhears a confession. The character had not gone to church for years, and the only thing she could think of confessing was how she had hurt people with her anger. Nothing about the offenses she committed against God by refusing to attend mass or make her annual Easter duty of confession and reception of Holy Communion. I get that it is just a book, but I doubt that anyone who really believes what the Church teaches would describe a confession in such a manner. As a Protestant, Jan Karon showed her ignorance as to what confession really is.

That off  my chest, later in the summer I found a second hand copy of the first Father Tim novel, Home to Holly Springs. This was a quick and easy read, but not nearly as enjoyable as the Mitford books. It did have a few twists  and turns unveiling Father Tim's past and his relationship with his father, but as I read the story was so incredible that I felt like I was watching episodes of 24 or NCIS. It got tiresome.

Of both series of books, I must say that I liked the Mitford books the best. The Mitford characters have a certain warmth and realness about them, and I like the way that faith and prayer are presented in their lives. They have been good examples of what a prayer life can be.

The Karon books have also piqued my interest in certain foods. I can do without Cynthia's lemon bars, and my husband would not like Fr. Tim's baked ham because of the sauce on top, but Esther's Orange Marmalade Cake sounds interesting. I also had to clip a recipe for pimento cheese out of the St. Cloud Times when I saw it last week. It'll surely add pounds to my hips, but  I have to try it. It will be my lunch today.

My little reader and I started the complete Winnie the Pooh book this summer. I have never read the book before, only seen parts of it on television. Rabbit is a gentler, kinder character in the book when Pooh gets stuck in Rabbit's hole.

My little listener and I have been reading Beatrix Potter, which I like far better than Pooh. I love the personifications, from Hunca Munca's feeling the need to make restitution, to the foxy gentleman, and to Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle's complaining about not being able to get the smell of onions out of   Mrs. Rabbit's "handkersniff". Lucie's "pocket handkins" and "pinny" remind me so much of Miss Maria and her "mantis". Delightful.

Vsion Therapy continues. I am suddenly not feeling dizzy anymore. I am feeling eye twitches which seem to mimic the alternate wink muscles. No more "Drunk Lady" exercies, a.k.a. Doll's Eye Finger Touches this week. We had loads of fun with those last week.