May Wrap Up
Middlemarch, Mac Barnett, & the Mandolorian
I recently shared my top reads so far this year- I want to add Middlemarch by George Eliot! May has been pretty rough for me because I had surgery and then an ER visit before going back to work. I'm doing well now, but I watched way more tv than usual. I watched the BBC Middlemarch miniseries on Amazon Prime and loved it so much I immediately listened to the 32 hour audiobook! It is long, but well-paced despite having so many characters and it's beautiful, dramatic, and uplifting. (I love Susan and Caleb Garth!) It's definitely one I will read many times over.
I spent time scrolling through my Goodreads Want To Read to try out books I added a while ago (for reasons I don't remember!) Unfortunately there weren't many I read above 3 stars (just okay.) I did read a couple light mysteries and finally finished The High King's Tomb (bk 3 of the Green Rider series) by Kristen Britain. This book was great, but I stopped halfway through last year because I got distracted with others! Thankfully it's a fantasy series easy to jump back into.
“But the effect of her being on those around her was incalculably diffusive: for the growing good of the world is partly dependent on unhistoric acts; and that things are not so ill with you and me as they might have been, is half owing to the number who lived faithfully a hidden life, and rest in unvisited tombs.” -Middlemarch
There was a lot of online buzz about a new release- Make Believe: On Telling Stories to Children by children's book author Mac Barnett. It was free on Libby so I read it and listened to the 2 hr audiobook. It's an interesting collection of essays, humorous and slightly irreverent but nothing controversial in my opinion. Most of his ideas are echoed by others (Charlotte Mason included!) and he's just lamenting how people don't take writing for children seriously (or take it too seriously-making it didactic or utilitarian.)
There were a couple statements he made I might take issue with, but overall it was interesting. I don't think I've ever read any of Barnett's children's books (I'll have to check them out now.) There’s also tidbits about some famous children’s authors and he dives into Goodnight Moon (which has always unsettled me but now I have a new appreciation!)
“We don’t recognize children’s books as a real art form because we don’t think children are capable of understanding art.”
“Kids are certainly more willing to engage deeply with stories that demand the reader’s active participation, books we might call art fiction or literary fiction. This surprises a lot of adults, who assume that if something is difficult for a grown-up, it’ll be much harder for a child.”
“I don’t even believe that making great art for kids must always be our goal! A healthy children’s literature will contain great works of art, but there should also be plenty of trash, because trash is a necessary byproduct of art making, and also because trash can be fun to read, and children have as much a right to enjoy trash as adults do.”
(I’m not totally sure about that one but I think I see where he’s going.) I agree we shouldn't be too pretentious. I read an article on Substack this week where a lady promoting good and beautiful literature said Eric Carl’s art was trash. 🤦♀️)
My husband and I went on a much needed date night to see The Mandalorian and Grogu. We had pretty low expectations going in- we are huge Mando fans (I mean who doesn't love a space western with a ruthless but good hero!) but you can't trust Disney to serve it's fanbase. But it was awesome! Even if you are a Star Wars fan that hasn't kept up with all the background lore or even finished the Mandalorian series, it's such a fun movie. (And there's not even one desert planet!)
"The old protect the young, and then the young protect the old. This is the way."
I really enjoyed Middlemarch! And I'm excited to see The Mandalorian and Grogu! I've been a huge Star Wars fan for a very long time! Also, hope you're doing better now. Praying for you.