OCTOBER 2024 READING LIST
Peeter Neeffs the Elder. Antwerp Cathedral, c. 1650/1655. National Gallery of Art
THE PILLARS OF THE EARTH BY KEN FOLLETT
Set in twelfth-century feudal England, the story centers on the construction of a magnificent cathedral. Follett vividly reconstructs the rough, vibrant England of the Middle Ages, capturing every detail. The expansive forests, fortified towns, castles, and monasteries form a recognizable landscape.
Set against a richly imagined and intricately woven backdrop of war’s devastation and the rhythms of daily life, the story features Tom, the master builder; Aliena, the noblewoman of great beauty; Philip, the prior of Kingsbridge; Jack, the talented stone artist; and Ellen, the forest woman with terrifying curses. Each character is vividly portrayed, from humble stonemason to powerful monarch.
After reading the introduction and not knowing if I wanted to delve into another medieval story, I started reading the prologue, and the story immediately swept me away. Follett’s writing is brilliant and compelling. I could tell that he was familiar with the use of proper cliffhangers at the end of a chapter or point of view. Cliffhangers should be in just about every book, in my opinion, and not just kept for thrillers.
I greatly enjoyed reading about the building of the cathedral and the many twists and turns. Some of my favorite parts of the book were when the prior, Phillip, outwitted his superiors. What I did struggle with were the explicitly sexual scenes. Historically speaking, I have read enough medieval fiction and non-fiction to know what life was like for women, but the scenes were still difficult to read.
The character development, as well as the pacing, was excellent. I could not put the book down. My main disappointment with the book was the dissatisfaction with the ending. For all the pain and suffering some of the characters managed, their punishments in the end seemed too quick and too simple. There does seem to be a theme of how quickly a person can fall from grace and also find themselves completely destitute. However, for the time put into the development of the evil of some of the characters, I would have liked to have read a slower account of their fall from favor and their utter demise.
In the end, I am glad I read the book. Follett does a wonderful job writing characters and utilizing different points of view to propel the reader forward. Even so, I will not continue with the sequel. It could be that I am more sensitive to some of the harshness of the time period at present, or I just have a sensitive soul. Either way, I am going to move on to other historical fiction reads.
4.25/5 Stars
Unidentified Artist. Scales and Clock, 20th century. Harvard Art Museums
A WRINKLE IN TIME BY MADELEINE L’ENGLE
The story centers on teenager Meg Murry, her talented brother Charles Wallace, and friend Calvin O'Keefe as they travel through space and time to save her father, a scientist trapped by a cosmic evil called IT. Guided by three celestial beings—Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who, and Mrs. Which—they use a “tesseract" to fight the dark forces of conformity.
I admit it: I had never read L’Engle’s famous work until now. After searching for a lighter read, this book seemed to be a good compromise between a complex storyline and themes gentle enough for young readers.
I found the characters of Meg and Charles Wallace to be enjoyable and consistent throughout the book. I found the names of the three ‘W’s endearing and their personalities distinct. I also liked the spiritual symbolism in the story. There is a good versus evil theme that permeates throughout the book. I tend to like the spiritual undertones in books as they create a greater complexity to the story.
I also found the part about the planet of Camazotz and its forced conformity by the controlling group IT intriguing. It reminded me of The Fountainhead (one of my favorite books of all time) and the confrontation between the conforming society and the individual who would not be controlled. The power of love was also a theme, and although some people may not believe that love can circumvent evil, I do.
There were several spots in the story where I was confused and did not always follow the storyline, but I did enjoy the book. A Wrinkle in Time truly is categorically unique. It is an interesting read for youth but still thought-provoking for adults. Certainly worth reading.
4/5 Stars
James Casebere. Prison Cell with Skylight, 1993. Harvard Art Museums
MURDER IN MURRAY HILL BY VICTORIA THOMPSON
I listened to this book through Libby. This is book sixteen in the Gaslight Mystery series.
Although I enjoyed reading (listening to) this series by Victoria Thompson, this installment was difficult to read. Young women are responding to ‘lonely heart’ advertisements, hoping to find an adequate male companion. What they find instead is enslavement and their own personal kind of hell. This story resembles the modern version of sex trafficking and exposes the evil that men can be capable of.
The lightheartedness of Sarah Brandt and Detective Malloy saves this book from becoming completely depressing. These characters add a sense of normalcy to the Gaslight world, where corruption and wickedness prevail. The ending offers a satisfying conclusion in that the female victims are empowered rather than dismissed. Still, the theme remains difficult, and I was happy to finish the book quickly.
3.75/5 Stars
Trigger Warning: There are no scenes, but the victims of sexual assault share descriptions. I would not recommend it to someone who has experienced sexual assault themselves, or the idea of such harm would be too much for the more sensitive.
Jasper Francis Cropsey. Warwick Castle, England, 1857. National Gallery of Art
LITTLE LORD FAUNTLEROY BY FRANCIS HODGSON BURNETT
After reading Mistress of the Art of Death and the most recent book in the Gaslight series, I wanted to read something heartwarming. I am a big fan of Burnett, so I reread her famous book about the young American boy who becomes heir to an English earldom.
I was immediately delighted by the descriptions of young Cedric and his mother. The grandfather, with his prejudice towards Americans, believing them to be uncultured and coarse, added a lovely character arc. His transition from a gouty, foul-tempered miser to a warm-hearted, caring grandfather and earl is wonderful to read.
There is a wonderful theme in the book about what constitutes true nobility. On one end is the cold, superior, and harshness of the earl. On the other hand, young Cedric has a kindhearted, humble, and brave attitude. The Earl lives in a castle with much wealth but is lonely, while Cedric is poor and makes friends wherever he goes. Stories like these are simple in their approach but make the point nonetheless that kindness, generosity, and humility are greater assets than superiority, selfishness, and cruelty.
4.5/5 Stars