Book #55: "The Mourning Dove"

When I wrote this entry, I was at my parents' house, and my mom and I discussed the difference between an allegory and a parable. As it happens, it's a squares and rectangles situation: all parables are allegories, but not all allegories are parables. Specifically, it would seem that "parable" only refers to the allegories taught by Jesus in the Bible.

However, I maintain that "parable" describes this book better than "allegory" does. In addition to being based on this Biblical story, the lessons it teaches about love and forgiveness are worthy of the finest sermon in any church.

My affection for this lovely little book are only increased by its setting, which is my hometown.

Author: Larry Barkdull

Potentially objectionable content: There's a somewhat intense scene toward the end.

Book #54: "The Mystery of the Cupboard"

Back near the beginning of this journey, when I was discussing Douglas Adams and Louisa May Alcott, I came to the conclusion that the last books in their respective series were only really necessary for completists. In Alcott's case, I believe my words were "I doubt I'll ever read it again." 

I have similar but more mixed feelings about this series. (Actually, this is not the final book, but I don't really want to read the next one.) The title of this book is very accurate, since it lays out all the whys and wherefores of how the magic works. And it's fun to read, and it certainly has a lot of ramifications for the various relationships in the story, and yet...I, myself, just don't really want to know that much. I would be content for the cupboard to remain a mystery. 

Part of this probably comes from learning there was a fifth book, which I was previously unaware of, and reading the synopsis of said book. I was just...whelmed. (I was not in Europe, but some of the book takes place there, so I think it's okay.)

(Also, turns out that is not just a reference I love, but an actual word, though it does not mean what I thought it meant. Technically it means "buried" or "submerged", which is what I thought "overwhelmed" meant, and...now I might need to lie down.)

Boy. You make one late-nineties teen movie joke and it hijacks your whole thing. The point is, there's a part of me that wants to read the fifth book, because I am a completist in some ways, and I don't care for it out in the universe somewhere, taunting me. Probably with British insults that I wouldn't even understand because I am so delightfully middle-American. But I also don't care about it (in this moment, anyway) enough to find it and read it. And I didn't really want to know what I learned in this book, so there's the possibility that I would get more information I don't want in the last one. Plus if my reaction to the book is the same as my reaction to the summary, it might taint the rest of the series for me. Aggressive mediocrity can do that. But I did like this book, in the end, and it's not fair to judge a book based on what I think it might be, and...

Okay. That right there is why I shouldn't do this late at night, because the more tired I get, the worse the rambling gets. For now, anyway, the fifth book remains unread. The end.

Author: Lynne Reid Banks

Potentially objectionable content: Covered in detail above

Book #53: "The Secret of the Indian"

Third book in the series, and the first time we get to see what happens to the "toy" characters while they are...I suppose the word would be "visiting" the modern world. This book also quite literally ends (or begins to end-I think it's the penultimate chapter) with a bang, so that's always a good time.

Author: Lynne Reid Banks

Potentially objectionable content: More violence and injuries. Also some of it takes place in an Old West saloon. So there's that.

Book #52: "The Return of the Indian"

The sequel to "The Indian in the Cupboard", and its tone is much...not darker, exactly, though I think the tone of this series does get darker with every volume. More dramatic, perhaps, and more about the impact that the premise (being transported from one world to another) can have on every life that's involved.

This book introduces Matron, who is possibly my favorite character in the series, and also an incredible bit of writing in one small paragraph. I haven't quoted much from the books, but there is no better way to share this than verbatim.

(But before that, a quick aside on spoilers. I have done my level best to avoid discussing plots and whatnot, since part of my purpose in doing this is that someone will be interested enough to read what I have read. But there has to be some kind of...statute of limitations, right? This book was published thirty years ago. I am not going to apologize. So there. End of aside.)

Anyway, here is that moment:

"The bag was there. And the uniform, neatly folded, with the orderly's cap upside down on top of the pile. And the boots. And the puttees, the khaki bandages they wore around their legs in that war. Neatly rolled, inside the cap. Nothing else."

This, if you haven't figured it out, describes what happens when Omri puts a plastic figure in the cupboard whose real-life historical counterpart has passed away. And I have shared it for two reasons. One, this is really the moment where the story begins to delve into the realism and depth of this concept-that the toys are merely the vessel used to bring these actual people into Omri's life. And two, that visual (and the niftily-executed metaphor contained therein) is stunning.

Author: Lynne Reid Banks

Potentially objectionable content: This is by far the most violent book in the series, and places the primary characters in more physical and emotional peril than before

Book #51: "The Indian in the Cupboard"

A word about the book cover images: I am doing my very best to post a picture of the edition I actually read. The two issues that arise with that are: 1) Some of the ARCs I have look different once they are officially published, so I can't find an image online; and 2) I have a really great memory, but even so, I can't always remember what edition of some books I own, and I'm not always at home to check when I am doing this. I am hoping to be better about writing the entries right away, so I don't have such a backlog of titles to get through (counting this one, I have nine more before I'm caught up) but I also know that I l lack both discipline and follow-through. Moving on.

This was a favorite of mine when I was a kid, and it still is. Lots of children's books and movies pose the question: what happens to my toys when I am not there? As adults, sadly, we know the answer is: nothing. They stay where you left them. But here and again here and, oh my childhood, especially here, we are allowed to forget what we know and imagine not what is, but what could be.

And so we have the epic story of Omri and his birthday presents: a small plastic figure and an ordinary white medicine cabinet. And the key that makes these ordinary things magic. It's an adventure, and (politically correctness issues notwithstanding) one I still love, all these years later.

Author: Lynne Reid Banks

Potentially objectionable content: Occasional violence. And the racial sensitivity issue, which I am acknowledging but not discussing

Book #50: "The Guilty One"

Another ARC. This one is especially interesting to me, as it deals with a troubling aspect of the criminal justice system: where should the line be drawn with juvenile suspects? Particularly in the case of violent crime, how much consideration should be given to the age of the perpetrator?

There are many people much smarter and better equipped to answer that question than I. They should probably read this book.
I will say I am not wild about the...I don't know exactly what to call it. Can't really say "secondary" story line because as much or more time is spent on it. "Flashbacks" don't really cover it either, though they do take place in the past. Let's say there's two threads in this story: one that follows a crime allegedly committed by a minor and the subsequent trial, and the main character's childhood story, told throughout in flashbacks.

For one thing, I think the flashbacks were used as effectively as they probably can be, but I don't really care for it as a storytelling device. Especially not when done so repeatedly and out of sequence as in this book. For another, the flashbacks set up a huge reveal about the character and then fail to deliver the necessary impact. Yes, the revelation is surprising, in its way, but my reaction was much more "Huh" than "WHAT?!"

Which brings us to the third thing, and the real flaw: I don't believe the flashback thread tells us enough about the protagonist to make it worth my while. Of course, the rest of the story isn't strong enough to be a book on its own, so there's that. So to sum up: Interesting enough, and I'm not sorry I read it, but I AM glad I didn't spend any money on it.

Author: Lisa Ballantyne

Potentially objectionable content: This is a very adult book. Lots of language, lots of difficult themes and a fairly graphic crime.

Book #49: "Jonathan Livingston Seagull"

After giving it some thought, I have decided that perhaps I should post a picture of each book cover. So I'll start that here and we'll see how it goes.

Anyway, nothing like a good allegory! I first read this probably twenty or so years ago, but did not own a copy until a friend gave it to me for my 25th birthday. And it remains now, as it was then, a beautifully rendered fable about being who you are, about never giving up, and about achieving your dreams.

Author: Richard Bach

Potentially objectionable content: Not really.

Book #48: "Tuck Everlasting"

This is a particular favorite of my sister the Jukebox. I myself didn't read this book until quite a while after I saw the movie, and personally, I prefer the movie. It's a lovely story, but even the most dramatic bits have something of a dreamlike quality, which means they don't have quite the impact that the movie does. Beautifully written though.

Author: Natalie Babbitt

Potentially objectionable content: Some parts might be a little much for very young people