Book Reviews

Through The Wall by Cleveland Moffett

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~Through the Wall by Cleveland Moffett (1863-1926)

~Copyright, 1909

~Illustrated by H. Heyer

In an elite restaurant in downtown France (on the Champs-Elysees, to be exact), a man is shot. Not at all the proper sort of thing to do in a ritzy place. Meanwhile a mastermind criminal and a mastermind detective are pitted against each other–which is quite predictable and usual in detective fiction–the cause of the strife, however, is a beautiful girl’s prophetic dreams, which is decidedly not usual.

Peter Whimsey, in The Unpleasantness at the Bellona Club praised this book. It seems to have been well thought-of, and oft-read in it’s own generation, but has largely been sitting around and gathering dust ever since. Merely 11 ratings on Goodreads, at the time I’m writing this. But long forgotten roads and books have held a fascination for me, and it’s apparent history of shelving-after-fame intrigued me.

It was a good, entertaining detective novel of the sort I’d given up ever finding again. I thought, when I finished all 60 of the Sherlock Holmes mysteries at the age of 15, that I had come to an end of stories like that. And I’d resigned myself to the fact that I’d never have the pleasure of watching one unfold before my eyes again. Until years later I found this novel—and discovered with joy that there was indeed one such tale still waiting to be relished.

I do love a good Agatha Christie novel, and Dorothy Sayers is grand fun too. Their stories are great and special in their own way, but they have a different sort of flavor to them all of their own. They have added a lot to the detective culture for sure, but sometimes I got a craving for the old Sherlock type flavor again. And this book, Through the Wall, runs very much in that vein and has the same “Sherlock Holmes-ish” feel to it. With the one exception of the ending perhaps, which almost feels like a Bulldog Drummond film.

The detective himself is not like Holmes. He’s far more normal, and has no strange eccentricities—like Holmes’ scratching away Jack Benny style on violins, or studying in opium trances. This detective, Coquenil, is a bachelor just like Holmes, ’tis true. But he’s an ordinary man aside from his unique knowledge of criminal history and high intelligence.

If you compare Holmes to Coquenil there’s one big practical difference. The stakes. Holmes lives a solo and detached life. No kith, nor kin, nor ties to speak of, nothing that he loves deeply with every fiber of his being—besides his own life. At least not that I can remember. If there was it must have been fleeting. Even his ‘love’ of justice and right is only a part time love. He’ll readily set it aside when it suits him.

Coquenil is not a lone wolf. He functions in a more realistic world with relationships; a dog, a dear mother, and tight friendships–he is a man who has many deeply rooted loves. His own life is not one of them.

He has ideals he won’t sacrifice. And people who he loves far, far deeper than life or job. And that makes him different. The stakes are higher. Higher than they can ever be with Holmes.

When Holmes fought his mastermind Moriarty, the highest stake, the worst thing Moriarty could do, was kill him–Holmes the great detective–and his reputation. But Coquenil’s death was a trivial thought to him. The mastermind he matched wits with could rip away from him far, far more in one hour than Holmes could ever dream of losing in a lifetime. But enough on that.

The plot is complex. The characters are engaging and easy to sympathize with. The pacing is excellent. There are many unique layers. It’s a bit overly theatrical in a few spots with the “new” technology of a lie detector and such. Overall it’s very well told, and the perfect book for a leisurely, rainy day.

Satisfying and entertaining. A nice contribution to the world of American detective fiction.

Currently available in the bookshop!

A few reviews and pages about this book I found interesting:

~A well summed up review of the book on Amazon: the top review by Douglas J. Bassett. (Though I disagree with him in that I personally thought Moffat did a great job keeping it going past the ¾ mark).

~The Goodreads page

~Another page

“Brass Commandments” by Charles Alden Seltzer

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Brass Commandments

by Charles Alden Seltzer

Original Copyright Date: 1922

This edition copyright: June 1924, by Grosset & Dunlap

Illustrated by Modest Stein

“The Brass Commandments” is a tale of a western man who lays down the law to the locals and woos a rustic, western maiden. It’s rather predictable, and there’s not much exceptional about it. It’s not very good, or terrible. Largely just a mediocre western novel. As Ron Scheer put it:

”Along with Zane Grey and William MacLeod Raine, Charles Alden Seltzer is remembered today as an originator of what’s often called the formula western. In it, a cowboy hero of sterling qualities, who is fast with a gun, meets and subdues a vicious villain. While this part of the story plays out, the cowboy also wins the heart and hand of a pretty sweetheart.”

“Brass Commandments” is nothing special, and nothing to get excited over. There are far better western novels (and historical accounts!) to read. It’s a little heavy on romance and the goodness of the primitive “elements and instincts” of mankind. But the one thing that I did enjoy was the author’s dexterity and talent in describing the landscape, people, and things. There were a few fine little spots. And his vocabulary was wide and full of good adjectives. Nothing worth reading the book for, but quite pleasurable nonetheless.

This book is bound to be of interest to two groups of people. It was made into a silent film in 1923 and is sure to interest silent film aficionados. And for the vintage western collector–and Charles Alden Seltzer collector in particular–it’s a rather rare and unread work by one of the past century’s leading western authors. Despite the fact that Seltzer seems to have vanished from the memory of most Americans, he was at one time just as famous and popular in the field as L’Amour and Zane Grey are today.

And that ends this short review. I leave you with a quote on the joys of a being astride a galloping horse, and the scent of leather:

“One thing Perrin had not succeeded in rubbing off the chaps, the boots, and the cartridge-belt with his oil and muscle. That was the strange, pungent odor of the leather itself and the the faint, peculiar lingering scent of horses. The scent brought swift memories to Lannon; vivid, compelling recollections of the past. It brought to him again the old atmosphere, the aroma of new sage crushed beneath Polestar’s flying hoofs, the feel of a steady wind pressing against him; he felt again the ripple of Polestar’s mighty muscles; he experienced again the sensation of freedom from restraint of all kinds, the breathless exultation, the wild abandon…”

Brass Commandments, p.77

“Brass Commandments” is currently available in the shop HERE!

Ernie Pyle In England

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“Ernie Pyle In England”
by
Ernie Pyle

Ernie Pyle in England

written by Ernie Pyle

Originally Published in 1941

Ernie Pyle in England is a straight-forward and moving account of English life during the Battle of Britain in WWII. It’s a phenomenal piece of history told as it should be told: fascinatingly. And by someone who walked the cobblestones under the bombing, drank tea in blacked out hotels, and cracked jokes with the common man.

It’s a tale of courage. A masterpiece painting of a people. Of everyday unassuming faithfulness, fortitude, and guts. Of the workaday life in an ugly war– met by a level gaze of hope. He tells the sort of things I’ve always wanted to know about a war. The things you usually wouldn’t know unless you were standing there yourself breathing in the dust as a bomb settles.

One particularly interesting part in the book is where he tells about Britain’s Home Guard. It’s essentially a deep-line-defence made up of civilians, who, with astonishing efficiency, had everything in running order to defend every home, city, town, village, road, and field of grass in the nation. Entirely manned and maintained by armed citizens– all night, every night. Of course, I’d heard of the Home Guard. But I never appreciated it on the high level it deserved before reading this. The strategy and the people merit some attention and study.

Reading history, and learning of the struggles and daily life of other folks such as this, helps to give perspective to our lives and our times. To quote a great line in the book:

I have friends here [in Scotland] who travel to London weekly and who know what has happened down there. These friends get disgusted with their home folks when they return. “Up here we are all complaining about our stomach aches and rheumatism,” they say. “It sounds mighty trivial when you have just come from London, where they really have got something to complain about–and don’t. I think a little blitzing would do us good.”

The point is NOT  that stomach aches and rheumatism aren’t worthy struggles. Nor that what is a big hardship to one, is a trivial matter to another, and so should be dismissed. But rather, that the folks living with maiming and EVERYTHING a second from being stripped raw and blown to shreds could maintain an uncomplaining and cheerful attitude. “…they really have got something to complain about–and don’t.”

 The point, you see, is the attitude–not the size of  your dragon.  And its a point well woven into what you could almost call a theme of the book.

 

On a personal note, I’m thankful for history like this because it increases my mental toughness. Books of this sort give me courage. They make me stronger and more cheerful. And give me a greater sensitivity and appreciation of beauty. These folks don’t pity themselves. They eschew the victim mentality.

Yes, it’s really just a tiny sliver of English history, but is has the tonic-like affect of a brisk fall wind on a muggy August afternoon. It’s bracing, and makes me ready to tackle life with my chin up.  That’s the power of history books like this. They change your mindset. Your attitude toward life. It’s far better than the best routines and strengthening exercises I could try to inculcate as habits. Those are things imposed from the outside. But once your very mindset has been altered, all else external follows. Because we really do “live like we live, because we think like we think.”¹

 

One of Ernie Pyle’s strongest points is in his quick eye and hundreds of descriptive accounts of the normal little people who make up the population. The average Joe and his breakfast. Or Johnny making ice-cream during a night flying bombing mission.  It’s a theme throughout all his books I’ve read, and one of the elements that gives them such charm.

Here’s a couple quotes before I wrap this review up:

 

“There are thousands of “Davises” serving these harassed people of London.

I have a friend who works as an accountant all day then serves most of the night as a shelter marshal, without pay. I’ve seen girls who clerk all day in a ten-cent store and then go to an East End shelter to serve thousands of people over the canteen counter till ten o’clock at night. And they are up at five in the morning to serve early tea and coffee. They do that every night, and they get no pay for it. In the West End I saw women of comfortable means who go every night to sit on stools and make sandwiches by the thousands to be sold to the shelterers at cost.

Britians’s civil army has it’s big blitz heroes who are the greatest this war has produced. But it also has it’s little heroes by the tens of thousands. I think it’s lots harder to be a little hero, because you have to keep so everlastingly at it.” ~p.123

 

 

“I  sat until 3 A.M. in front of a glowing fireplace with David McQueen, a Presbyterian minister here in Paisley. The Church of Scotland, you know, is Presbyterian; and it used to be a part of the State. Presbyterian ministers here are highly educated in classics. When you sit with Mr. McQueen you are sitting with a man of intellect.

Mr. McQueen is in the war. He has raised thousands of pounds for soldier’s entertainment. His church runs a canteen for the troops stationed here. Wounded R.A.F. fliers come to live with him in his manse, to recuperate. And Mr. McQueen is a private in the Home Guard.

They wanted to make him a padre for the Guard but he wouldn’t do it. He said that if they did that they they should make the pipe organist a bandsman, and no band is needed. So on every duty night David McQueen, Presbyterian minister, is out in the dark fields in uniform, patrolling up and down, looking for Germans.

When his turn falls on Saturday night, he has to go right to church Sunday morning without a wink of sleep, and preach two sermons. He says he has to keep the church cold in order not to fall asleep while he’s talking.

That’s the Home Guard for you.”

 

 

 

 

Ernie Plye has quite a sense of dry humor. As I’ve said before on this blog, his writing is superb, and he is the most engaging newspaperman I’ve read in my life.  His lean sentences, eye for beauty, and “sun-tanned” conversational tone are a delight. As do his other works, this book on the ‘Battle of Britain’ stands out as stellar among it’s peers.

I’ve never been the same since “meeting” Ernie Pyle. And I’m much indebted to the fellow who read his books aloud to me for a couple of years until I realized what treasures they are, and started reading them myself.

If I haven’t convinced you to read this book yet, take a hop over to Goodreads and read a review or two. That should do the trick.

It’s a short 228 pages of fine history by a master writer. If all history were told like this I would be beside myself with joy. But I’m grateful that at least there is this book. Be sure you don’t miss it.

¹ Joe Morecraft

The Orange-Yellow Diamond by J. S. Fletcher

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The Orange Yellow Diamond

Written by J. S. Fletcher

Originally published: 1921

Photos in this post are of the “George Newnes, Limited” edition from London (early 20th century)

 

A lesser-known mystery from the roaring 20’s.  J.S. Fletcher was a very successful author of the last century, whose works aren’t widely read today. But he is read by mystery-loving readers of this day to some extent, and certainly a lot of collectors know how rare and hard to find a handful of his titles can be. He books aren’t often sought out, but when they are it’s with a vigor.

When an elderly pawnbroker is murdered in London, a young down on his luck novelist is accused of the crime. Struggling to make ends meet during the first years of his writing career, his efforts to raise a bit of money land him in an international murder-mystery–as the prime suspect in a court trial.

Old Spanish manuscripts, diamonds, opium dens, and tea cafes keep things lively and mysterious in a twisting London puzzle.

As a contemporary of Sir Arthur Connan Doyle, and a predecessor to Agatha Christie by several years of published detective fiction, he is an interesting part of the history of mysteries. And with well over 100 detective novels to his name, he was quite an influential British gentleman in that field.

‘The Orange-Yellow Diamond’ reads much like an English version of a Hardy Boys book, though for an older audience: it’s full of adventure, chases down London streets in the dark, and a group of men that work together to solve the crime (which differs from the typical single detective approach, or the detective and his sidekick/officer of the law). A group of men/boys has a different dynamic.  However the story is intricate, slightly complex, and full of twists. Unlike most Hardy Boys mysteries.

There are a few strong complains of modern readers towards this book. I’ll only touch on one here. It has been accused of carrying a “shut up and don’t make a fuss, little lady; the men have work to do” attitude towards, and treatment of, women. Which same I found to be entirely false.  The main gal in this story is as quick witted, resourceful, a business woman, competent, and reliable as it could be wished for in her part in the story. Even allowing for contemporary folks misunderstanding of older culture, feminism and work, and the etymology in old books it is crystal clear that that complaint has no grounds in this book.

My final thoughts: The bad men are caught, but the mystery is not wrapped up traditionally or like the reader expects. There might be a revolt among the readers. 🙂 All in all I found it to be a fun lark, but not a favorite. I wouldn’t go out of my way to find it, nor ever read it again. I found Fletcher’s ‘The Eleventh Hour’ a superior novel by far.

 

 

‘Ginger Rogers and The Riddle of the Scarlet Cloak’ by Lela E. Rogers ~Book Review

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I found a copy of this tale while on a book hunt in dusty barn trunks on an old southern piece of farm land. Here’s the official information:

 

The plot of this book is a typical WWII children’s “patriotic” spy-ring mystery.  Ginger Rogers is a telephone operator in a swanky hotel, who gets involved in breaking a plot to steal American bomb technology.  Romance is just as much of the book as the mystery though…handsome and rich men abound and vie for the affection of the little telephone operator.

 

My thoughts on it fall into a couple of categories:

 

Writing quality: It was written by a movie star’s mother (not an official author), and I was curious to see how it would measure up to the average child’s mystery of it’s day. It started out nicely and had the charm I love in that old style. As I kept reading I noticed an abundance of adjectives and extraneous details which made the quality plummet quickly. There were a lot of extra sentences and words explaining things that the reader would have automatically picked up on. A stiff edit could have made it a very pleasant read. Of course, I’m by no means a qualified critic of writing! 🙂

 

The Story: A simple mystery, easy to guess in a few parts, but fun for it’s intended audience. The thing that I loved most about it, was Ginger’s attitude towards her work. She has what many folks would consider a dull and tedious job: eight hours locked in a tiny room working as a switch-board operator for a hotel. In the middle of the night. Day after day. Year after year. Yet she is cheerful and never complains. On the contrary, she find great joy in preforming her job to the best of her ability. She has the old-fashioned pride in her work that is consistent both in old children’s fiction, and among the old folks that I know from that generation. But it is lacking among the fiction and people of this generation.

To them it seemed the occupation never mattered. The pride was in how the job was tackled—not in what it was. The converse is what I find emphasized in today’s fiction: make sure that the job is good enough, “you need to do what you love,” “find a job that makes you excited to wake up and work everyday,” “Is this job fulfilling?,” don’t be satisfied until you find the job of your dreams” and so on.  Whereas the old books tend to whisper the message: “the secret is not in doing what you like, but in learning to love the job you have been given,” “cultivate an attitude that makes you grateful for your job, and a joy for others to be around,” and on and on. This is a topic I could use an abundance of adjectives on. And a few pages of proof and quotes from old books. 😉

The old books did encourage ambition and lofty goals, but not to the exclusion of quiet faithfulness, contentment, and pride in the ‘here and now’… The attitudes considered important stand in stark contrast to the “inspiring” Pinterest quotes and memes of today which sometimes are encouraging, but often tend to make people dissatisfied with their life instead of being grateful and tearing into the job with a ‘gung-ho’ attitude and a cheerful whistle ….

 

The romance and the mother/daughter relationship areas of the story, which made up most of it, weren’t good. Ginger is a Disney-princess “follow what your heart tells you about this man” sort of girl. She has a few good thoughts and evaluations (based on valuable listening to ‘intuition’ that would make Gavin de Becker proud), but mostly it’s unsubstantial. Not the sort of reading that turns little girls into strong or wise women.

 

The Vocabulary:

I was pleasantly surprised.  From these pages came unusual words such as:

  • ermines
  • surcease
  • mezzanine…

 

Overall I don’t think it’s a very worthy book. I was curious to read it mainly because of it being written by Ginger’s own mother. The historical aspect of this series had me curious as well, and I wanted to understand and study a few things about these Whitman books, their popularity, etc.  It was a fun study, and light reading. But not one I’d recommend searching out, or adding to little girl’s libraries.

The folks who might like it are book collectors, as well as historians and Ginger Rogers memorabilia collectors. And there’s a copy in at least one museum that I know of…

 

 

“We’ve just not been grateful enough lately,” Ginger said emphatically. “That’s what’s the matter with us.”

“I haven’t been, I know that,” Mary admitted.

“It’s not only you Mommie. It’s both of us. We’ve been too busy about our silly little affairs to be grateful for all our blessings. That’s why we’re all mixed up.” Ginger thought a moment, then went on, “What a thing for two people like us to do! Both of us know that gratitude opens the way to joy, yet here we are…!”

 

 

Both of the above books are currently available in the Box Thirteen Shop!

 

Do And Dare by Horatio Alger Jr.~Book Review

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Herbert Carr’s father died. His mother’s job was taken away by an ambitious storekeeper. With no means to live on, 16 year-old Herbert takes it upon himself to provide for the two of them. By his ambition he finds several jobs and works cheerfully–even under mean employers, until he finds a proposition that suits him perfectly. He hires on as an assitant and companion to a sick man who came west for his health. His new work brings prosperity to him and his mother, and also sends along all sorts of excitement: being tried for crimes he didn’t commit, attacked by robbers, waylaid by stage-coach bandits, fighting Indians, and like adventures as he “strives to succeed.”

Originally published in 1884 by Porter & Coates, it was one of Horatio Alger Jr.’s famous books for boys: tales of ambitious poor boys who persevere with grit and finally succeed financially by hard work and diligence. Many folks accurately call his stories classic “rags to riches” tales…

Compared to many similar and contemporary works:

It’s far easier to read than G. A. Henty novels, the story pacing is much quicker, and it is geared towards younger boys. It’s not as engrossing as R. M. Ballantyne’s tales, nor is the writing and development of the characters nearly as good. The writing style reminds me a lot of the Bobsey Twins Series by “Laura Lee Hope.”  The similarity is not really surprising considering the connection Edward Stratmeyer had with both series.

Do And Dare is a simple story, packed full of morals and character, some adventures, and old style vocabulary. It is a classic boy’s tale, nothing exceptional and not on my favorites list, but fun nonetheless.

The book Do And Dare is currently available in the shop HERE

The Zeppelin’s Passenger by E. Phillips Oppenheim ~Book Review

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England. WWI. Philippa Cranston is living a normal life, as normal that is, as one can live when ashamed of your husband who is the only man not working in the war effort. She thinks him a pathetic coward. But when a stranger steps in though her parlor window when she is alone with her sister-in-law to-be, and locks it behind him, it quickly becomes apparent that he is a highly trained spy.  An enemy spy.

With his good looks, charm, and a piece of unusual information, he quickly convinces–almost forces–the two patriotic women to shield him and help him in his espionage. What started out as begrudging help quickly slips into affection between Philippa Cranston and Lessingham–the undercover agent. Tension follows as suspicions grow and time is running out…

This tale of espionage and romance is a quick moving and gripping tale. Filled with action, LOTS of dialogue, and narrow twists. I certainly cannot fault the book for any lack of ability to catch my interest and hold it.

It’s the first book I’ve read by Oppenheim, the famous, wealthy, writer of thrillers. I enjoyed his writing style and am not at all surprised that his works were so famous (if this tale is a good sample of his work).

There was one major flaw in the book that kept me from really enjoying it, and that was the main character’s lack of character. Philippa was not only a bad wife after she met the dashing, deceitful spy, but was before he ever appeared in the story. As the book went on, I kept expecting her to improve, but she only became more irritating as the tale plunged on. Near the end she does start to do what she should, but for the wrong reasons. It is merely a change in circumstances that make her decide to fulfill her duties and do what is right at the end—not a change of heart.

And that is very frustrating in a main character!

The story was wonderfully woven with a few delightful new angles and tangles and mysteries not typical to this sort of spy story. It made for a good distraction and a quick novel when I was feeling under the weather one day, and I had great fun tearing apart all Philippa’s poor decisions and coming up with what she should have done instead… Nonetheless, it missed being added to my favorites.

I do love the title, a perfect name for a mystery. 🙂 Zeppelins are airships, much like the blimps of today, and were used extensively by Germany during WWI. They were not a threat to be taken lightly…so when this book came out in 1918 the title carried a strong connection to recent history, especially to all British citizens…

The Zeppelin’s Passenger is currently available in the shop HERE.

Once-(Six Historically Inspired Novels) Book Review

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oncereview

“Six fairy-tales you thought you knew, set against a tapestry of historical backgrounds.”

I dove into this book with mixed feelings. On the one hand I was quite excited to read Elisabeth Grace Foley‘s story that I had been eagerly awaiting for many months.

On the other hand, I tend to gravitate towards old books whenever I’m looking for a fiction book to read. And though there are a handful of modern authors I enjoy tremendously, I tend to shy away from most modern fiction because it is usually lacking in either good craftsmanship, or in good plot/worldviews/morals/meaning/substance/etc.

On top of that, modern “retellings” are not a favorite of mine either, and I tend to be very wary of them. The reason being, that they tend to end up as no more than a watered-down, abridged, emotionalized, or in some cases”sanitized” retelling of what used to be a strong, rich story with good vocabulary and hidden meanings.

I needn’t have worried. 🙂 Each of these six stories was fresh and new, and mostly of top-notch quality. The stories had similarities to the originals, but were far more than your average adaption/retelling. Each one could have stood on it’s own merit and been enjoyed, without leaning on the readers’ knowledge of the tale it was based on.

I enjoyed reading this collection of novellas, they are the perfect length to read in one sitting and full of fun, mystery, revenge, plot twists, and quite a unique look at traditional folk lore.

Now a little bit about each of them individually:

I have a predilection for westerns (as you know if you’ve visited my artist site!), and The Mountain of The Wolf is an excellent little western novella. It’s a retelling of the 10th century folk-story Red Riding-hood, set in the canyons, wide open skies, and dusty lands of the American West.  It starts out in a leisurely way, with hints of the ominous purpose of Rosa Jean—a young lady who lives alone up in the mining country. A strange man, Quincy, rides up one day with a hidden agenda, and the suspense builds as his plans interfere with hers…It’s a delightful tale, with a great climax, and one of my favorites in this set.

I was not really fond of the story She But Sleepeth, but I found the historical note at the end fascinating. History and fiction were woven together seamlessly and with such talent, that I had no idea just how much truth there was to the story. The author makes dead royalty so real and alive I thought they were fictitious! And it does makes one want to visit Romania.

Rumpled was quite a change from my usual fare. I’d never read anything in the steam-punk genre, previously, but it was enjoyable and I thought it was far better than the original Rumpelstiltskin story. The ending is certainly more satisfying!   It’s a sweet story of trust broken and webs of deceit woven for personal gain, but the girl’s conscience will not be silent, and her slow-growing love for her husband only accentuates her agony…

Poignant and realistic. That is what describes the story of the girl with matches in A Sweet Remembrance. As an amateur historian, lover of WWII history, and historical reenactor I especially enjoyed this story. It is a story of a war torn country, and of families under Nazi occupation. The author doesn’t mask the sadness or the realness—and it reads like many of the true stories I’ve been told of the hard life during the war. Stories where agony and separation called forth little unexpected deeds of kindness, nobleness and generosity. Where beauty abounded in the midst of ashes and devastation…

Death Be Not Proud is a fast read. One of those fun thriller-mysteries that has you grinning and turning pages as quick as you possibly can. 🙂 I do love a good mystery, and this one was short and satisfying (not to mention that it made me so curious about a certain scientific medical-phenomenon that I just had to research it!). A mystery, an island, and the tale of a prohibition era jazz singer with a dark past….who could ask for anything more?  Suzannah Rowntree, the author, said that is was written in homage to Mary Stewart and Alfred Hitchcock.  Now, I must confess my ignorance of Mary Stewart, but it does capture the suspense, murder, mystery, and mayhem that makes it reminiscent of the 30’s and 40’s film noir, of which Alfred Hitchcock was the master. Great fun all around!

Rapunzel was never a favorite fairy-tale of mine, but this retelling, With Blossoms Gold, is a fine story of courage, love, heroes, and of conquering the selfish tendencies of isolation and safety—of a girl who challenges herself to strike out with courage and devote her life to others instead of herself. Of denying your feelings in lieu of your duty. It is the most traditional of the six, and takes place among the realms of knights, kings, and castles.

If you are looking for an evening of fun retellings of classic folk lore, take a look at “Once” over on Amazon!

Mrs. Miniver~Vintage Book Review

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mrsminivervintagebookreview

“…and realize that a day without a chunk or two of solitude in it is like a cocktail without ice.”~Mrs. Miniver

Not all great books are majestic, triumphant, outstandingly written, well-known, and follow a well-crafted plot. Or filled with action, adventure, thrills, or excitement.  Mrs. Miniver is none of those. And yet, it is a great book. It is like a cup of tea–warm, quiet, cozy, and filled with everyday moments recounted in a telling way– without being the least bit imposing.

It’s extremely seldom I come across a fiction book of this kind. Or rather, a fiction book of this kind with this kind of caliber. Of course, there is the famous Goodbye, Mr. Chips, which is also a simple, heartwarming tale of everyday life, but even that acclaimed book doesn’t measure up to Mrs. Miniver’s insightful loveliness–in my humble opinion.

Mrs. Miniver offers a glimpse of English life during the 1940’s, and it was said by the New York Herald Tribune at the time (1940)

“All that was best in English life is in this book.”

It is certainly unassuming though. Each chapter is a short 3-4 pages. Nothing big happens. Buying a doll. Cleaning an old orchard. Purchasing a new planner for the year. An evening at dinner. A car ride. Listening to windshield wipers. Those are what the chapters are made up of. Life is quiet. The family small.

And yet, after reading it I found that it had touched me more than I first realized. I started becoming a Mrs. Miniver in my own life. For you see, the book leaves you with your eyes wide open to capture the simple pleasures that slip by everyday. Not that they are great discoveries you may have never seen before, because often you have seen them hundreds of times. But, as Holmes was always telling Watson, you can see something every single day of your life and never really observe it.

I found this book to be one of those that wakens you to observe, ponder, and really notice the everyday things and people in your life. To remember the little gestures, personalities, choices, pleasures, words, and memories you make with your family. The kind of things you will treasure and be so glad for should you ever lose a person close to you, or move away from your homeland and the familiar country and grounds. As a matter of fact, if I could journal like Mrs. Miniver I’d sit down and chronicle the treasures of all my everydays right away!

But here I am raising your expectations of the book to such heights that you will surely be disappointed and think “She got all that from those simple–plain stories!?!”  For they are simple and many may find them dull. But persevere with an open mind and you may surprise yourself with the fondness you will have for Mrs. Miniver, and your appreciation for her wisdom growing by the end of the book, as happened to me.

mrsminivervintagehardcover

Book Details

Title Mrs. Miniver

Author Jan Struther

Date Originally Published: 1939 (from Newspaper articles published 1937-1939)

Book in Photos: published 1940

To read the great review on Goodreads by author Elisabeth Grace Foley that made me want to read the book click here.

One more note before I leave: Mrs. Miniver the book, and Mrs. Miniver the famous WWII film that was so highly acclaimed by Winston Churchill are not similar.  The film was good in it’s own right. So was the book. But there is almost no comparing them as they are only ever so faintly connected. So just enjoy each one separately and don’t worry about their differences and connections! Neither are perfect, but both are worth pursuing!

This book is a beautiful glimpse into old English life.  A book that sharpens your sense of gratefulness, wonder, and joy in everyday life.

“It oughtn’t to need a war to make us talk to each other in buses, and invent our own amusements in the evenings, and live simply, and eat sparingly, and recover the use of our legs, and get up early enough to see the sun rise. However, it has needed one (WWII in England): which is about the severest criticism our civilization could have.”
― Mrs. Miniver



“Cabin Fever” by B. M. Bower Book Review

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cabinfeverbmbowerreview

Cabin Fever

By B. M. Bower

Cabin fever is one of those diseases that plague folks all over the world, and Bud Moore is no exception. An ex-cowboy turned stage-driver (of an auto stage!), he has been married just over a year, and lives in a nice, sturdy house with his wife and baby. Now, the bad news is that Bud is not the only one in the house to have “cabin fever,” his bride, Marie, has a severe case and is even closer to committing a desperate act than he is…

This book is a light reading western that follows the wanderings of Bud as his marriage breaks apart and he is thrust out in the world with only a ten-spot to his once-prosperous name. Taking a job working for another man, he innocently ends up deep in the midst of a crime…and wanted by law officers in several western states.

It is a stand alone book, and is not a part of any of B. M. Bower’s series. It is simple in plot, yet quite original enough to be interesting. Her writing style is simple as well, but she usually has a point that she makes with the story—in this one it has to do with the issues of compassion, understanding, the utter silliness of pride and it’s damaging repercussions, and the theory that “change is as good as rest” (as a side note; Winston Churchill wrote an excellent little book on that subject titled “Painting as a Pastime”).

The book starts with these ominous and intriguing words:

There is a certain malady of the mind induced by too much of one thing. Just as the body fed too long upon meat becomes a prey to that horrid disease called scurvy, so the mind fed too long upon monotony succumbs to the insidious mental ailment which the West calls “cabin fever.”

True it parades under different names, according to circumstances and caste. You may be afflicted in a palace and call it ennui, and it may drive you to commit peccadilloes and indiscretions of various sorts. You may be attacked in a middle-class apartment house, and call it various names, and it may drive you to cafe life and affinities and alimony. You may have it wherever you are shunted into a backwater of life, and lose the sense of being borne along in the full current of progress. Be sure that it will make you abnormally sensitive to little things; irritable where once you were amiable; glum where once you went whistling about your work and your play.

It is the crystallizer of character, the acid test of friendship, the final seal set upon enmity. It will betray your little weaknesses, cut and polish your undiscovered virtues, reveal you in all your glory or your vileness to your companions in exile—if so be you have any.

If you would test the soul of a friend, take him into the wilderness and rub elbows with him for five months! One of three things will surely happen: You will hate each other afterward with that enlightened hatred which is seasoned with contempt; you will emerge with the contempt tinged with a pitying toleration, or you will be close, unquestioning friends to the last six feet of earth– and beyond.

All these things will cabin fever do, and more. It has committed murder, many’s the time. It has driven men crazy. It has warped and distorted character out of all semblance to it’s former self. It has sweetened love and killed love. There is an antidote– but I am going to let you find the antidote somewhere in the story.

Her antidote is is comprised of several things, which I will also leave you to discover in the story. 🙂 The resolution of all the problems wasn’t quite satisfactory to me.

Least you get the idea that Bower turned from her traditional western novels and started in on moralizing, preaching, and making profound social observations, let me put your mind at rest. “Cabin Fever” is just like her other books: full of dialogue, a fun story, humorous moments, and a little action (though not as much in this one as her other novels). This tale has quite a surprising twist at the end! I thought I could pretty well predict the way the story would end, but I didn’t anticipate how the plot would spin at the last minute!

 

“Cabin Fever” details:

Originally published in 1918

Written by B. M. Bower

The book in these photos: published in June 1945 by Triangle Books

291 Pages in length

 

“We all realize keenly, one time or another, the abject poverty of language. To attempt putting some emotions into words is like trying to play Ave Maria on a toy piano. There are heights and depths utterly beyond the limitation of instrument and speech alike.”~Cabin Fever

 

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