Plumfield Moms

Book Review: A Canticle for Leibowitz by Walter M. Miller Jr.

I usually steer clear of apocalyptic novels because they tend to be depressing, strange, and godless. So when my Tuesday Night Classics Club chose the science fiction novel, A Canticle for Leibowitz, I was hesitant. However, since it is highlighted in Joseph Pearce’s Literature: What Every Catholic Should Know, I decided to give it a chance. To my surprise, it became one of the most thought-provoking books our group has discussed.
 
Set after a global nuclear war known as the “Flame Deluge,” the novel explores humanity’s struggle to rebuild civilization amidst the ruins. In the wake of the war, there is a violent backlash against knowledge and technology, culminating in the “Simplification,” where mobs of “Simpletons” destroy books and kill anyone with learning. Interestingly, a Jewish electrical engineer named Isaac Edward Leibowitz survives the chaos and joins a Cistercian monastery. He is convinced that he must dedicate his life to preserving human knowledge through the secretive “booklegging” of hidden texts. Eventually, he founds the Albertian Order of Leibowitz in the desert of the American Southwest, whose charism is rooted in the preservation of any remnants of scientific and cultural knowledge they can find.
 
The novel is divided into three sections or “canticles,” each set centuries apart. The first, Fiat Homo (“Let There Be Man”), was especially fascinating to me. Set in the 26th century, civilization has regressed to a medieval-like way of living. The story opens during Lent with Brother Francis, a religious novice, fasting and praying in the desert. While keeping vigil, Brother Francis stumbles upon a fallout shelter containing artifacts from the Venerable Leibowitz, igniting a series of events that reflect the tension in the Abbey between honoring Leibowitz and his values and the need to survive in a culture that wants nothing to do with the past or its knowledge.
 
The second canticle, Fiat Lux (“Let There Be Light”), was more difficult for me. Set in 3174, civilization has evolved to an Industrial Revolution-like state. The Abbey, at this point, is both a place of spiritual significance and a center of technological discovery, as the monks work to discover electricity. They have heard the myths that electricity existed before, but many do not believe it, because they cannot believe that man, having had such luxury, would waste it on war. 
 
The third Canticle, though, brings the novel to a powerful close. In 3781, the now technologically advanced society prepares for another nuclear war. The Abbey is assembling a group of priests, sisters, and children to colonize the moon. The Abbot is convinced that history is about to repeat itself, so he sends the gospel, sacraments, relics of knowledge, and innocent children away (never to return) so that mankind can have another chance somewhere away from the nuclear holocaust that has begun. 
 
As the Abbot feared, the bombs begin to drop and the Abbey is overrun with victims and refugees. While the Abbot works to send pilgrims away, he still has to tend to the flock that remained behind. This canticle has an incredible storyline exploring euthanasia as compassionate care. The Abbot and a doctor engage in a powerful debate about what is true care for those who are suffering. 
 
In each section, the Gospel persists. And in each, Christians are faced with intense and interesting ethical dilemmas. The novel’s exploration of faith, human resilience, and the cyclical nature of history is profound. Although I found parts of the second canticle slow and frustrating, the novel as a whole was a rewarding experience. A Canticle for Leibowitz offers a rare blend of science fiction, history, and theology, and I can see why Joseph Pearce considers it essential reading. 

Book Review: Dead-Eye Dan and the Cimarron Kid by Glenn McCarty

Set in the exciting backdrop of the Old West, Dead-Eye Dan and the Cimarron Kid by Glenn McCarty opens with a man in pain who can’t remember who or where he is. At first, he wonders if he’s a lawman—but quickly concludes he must be a poor one, given his state. Then, fearing he might be an outlaw, he feels shame and wonders if outlaws feel shame, and if they do, why it doesn’t convince them to quit their outlaw ways. But within a few pages, it’s clear to the reader–this is no villain. While the man may be strong and dangerous to his enemies, his noble, respectful, and gentle demeanor proves that he is very much the good guy.
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Written with a light and hopeful tone, McCarty’s language is both lovely and lively, pulling readers into a fast-paced story that holds attention from the first page to the last. Dead-Eye Dan, the story’s central figure, is the quintessential cowboy in a white hat—dangerous only to those who try to thwart justice. More importantly, even when he cannot remember who he is, he figures that he’s a man who stands by those in need. 
 
Rescued by a mute boy and his widowed mother, Dan arrives at their farm just in time to be a blessing to them and they to him. As he works with them to protect their crop from blight and their land from one of those bad guys, their kindness to him helps his memories return. When he realizes that he is Dead-Eye Dan, a U.S. Marshall from Santa Fe, everything begins to click into place. 
 
This book hits the perfect sweet spot for family reading—enjoyable for both kids and parents alike. First in a series, it has the hallmarks of a classic Western but with a refreshingly fun and sweet twist that makes it suitable for all ages. McCarty’s Tumbleweed books feature a main character who reads all of the “dime-novel” Dead-Eye Dan stories, which adds a fun layer of connection between McCarty’s worlds.
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While Dead-Eye Dan and the Cimarron Kid maintains a youthful tone, it echoes the spirit of classic Western writers like Owen Wister, Louis L’Amour, and even Willa Cather. It’s the kind of book that would make an excellent family read-aloud or car ride audiobook— well written and refreshingly wholesome and fun for everyone.
 

Our Librarian Life: September 2024 - Special Focus on Picture Book Preschool

Join us as we talk about the newly revised and expanded Picture Book Preschool from Sherry Early! 
 
Show Notes: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/show-notes-our-library-life-september-2024/

Reflection: Strip Off the Old Self

It’s clear from this language, and my own experience, that my old self isn’t going to come off as easily as that itchy dress I was supposed to wear. I have to formally disown it and divest it of all authority. The t.v. show was called “Branded” because the soldier had been convicted of cowardice. That is what I have to do to the things that are earthly in me; rip off all vestiges of their authority, expose their pathetically pale underbelly, and renounce their cravenness. That is what those earthly things are. They are garments and accessories my old self uses to disguise its abject impotence before its Creator.  

Author Interview: SD Smith 2021 Conversation in Potato Peel Pie Society Group

This is another one from the archives. Have you ever heard our conversation with SD Smith in the Potato Peel Pie Book group? 
 
Check out our SD Smith page on our website: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/s-d-smith/ 

Book Review: Swallows and Amazons by Arthur Ransom

Swallows and Amazons, written by Arthur Ransome in 1930, is one of the most perfect children’s adventure novels I have ever read. My only regret is in taking so darn long to get to it.
Despite being a reader and lover of English children’s literature, somehow I never knew about Swallows and Amazons until I started homeschooling. When I sampled it, I knew that the literary value was extremely high, but I wasn’t in a place where I could appreciate the adventure of it all. I wasn’t feeling well back then, and my kids weren’t old enough to enjoy it yet. I acknowledged its value and made a note to have it in my home, but then moved on to things that were better suited to the season we were in. When I opened my library, all of that changed. 
My patrons (boys 8-12 in particular) could not get enough of the series. Longish books, written with sophisticated English, and full of old-fashioned references, this series didn’t seem like it would appeal to the average boy reader of today. I do have above-average boys in my library, but I wasn’t expecting how popular this series would be with them. When my own Jack read it and loved it and insisted that I try it again, I considered it. Still, there were so many things making claims on my attention, that I wasn’t sure I had the time to commit to it. In between other books, however, I tried. And the first two or three chapters were interesting, but not compelling. I set it aside feeling more disappointed in myself than in the book. 
Finally, this summer marked the close of a particularly stressful and intense season for us. My brain was ready for adventure. Plus, the weather was warm and inviting, and I was ready to read about children camping on an island. I started anew. And this time I was swept up in the magic and found the story very hard to put down. 
I offer all of this context in case the mama reading has, like me, tried and failed to love these books. I offer that if you are reading this, maybe you too were in the wrong season? Maybe it is worth a try again. 
“…with a lake as big as a small sea, a fourteen-foot dinghy with a brown sail waiting in the boathouse, and the little wooded island waiting for explorers, nothing but a sailing voyage of discovery seemed worth thinking about.”
The Walker family is a normal English family in the non-specific time between WWI and WWII. Father, a sea captain, is away on a voyage to Hong Kong, and Mother has taken a cottage for the summer on a small lake. The children (John-12, Susan-11, Titty-9, and Roger-7) are smitten with the idea of “discovering” the uninhabited island in the middle of their lake, and they petition their parents to let them camp out on the island by themselves. 
“BETTER DROWNED THAN DUFFERS IF NOT DUFFERS WONT DROWN” read Daddy’s telegram which meant, of course, that he gave his approval to the idea. And so, Mother set to work making tents and packing provisions while the children made “Ship’s Articles,” and prepared the dinghy named Swallow for sail. 
As a mother, I was a little aghast at the idea that Mrs. Walker would turn her children loose on a lake and let them camp on the island unsupervised for an extended period of time. But Mother is smart. She arranges with a local farmer to have milk and other provisions available daily for the children and requires them to sail over to the farm every morning to collect their goods and check-in. She also wisely pops in unannounced periodically and recruits the help of other locals to keep an eye on the children. It is a great scheme! The kids have a true adventure and Mother keeps a distant but watchful eye. 
Once the idea is realized, the children adopt the language and imagined life of a sailing crew. They delight in the morning baths in the lake, living off of sea-worthy provisions, fishing in Shark Bay, pearl-diving, and the joy of exploring Wild Cat Island and the area around it. But to make this a true adventure story, there needs to be a foil to their crew. And, they find it in the crew of the Amazon. 
“The four explorers of the Swallow stood facing the two pirate girls from the Amazon. The Amazons were bigger than most of the Swallows. One of them was bigger than Captain John. The other was about the same size. If it had come to a fight, it might have been a very near thing. 
But it did not come to a fight. 
‘Let’s parley first and fight afterwards,’ said the leader of the Amazons”
Nancy (12) and Peggy (11) Blackett and their widowed mother are residents of Holly Howe farm, and they have their own dinghy named Amazon. The Amazons claim Wildcat Island as their own from years of visiting it. The two crews decide to be friendly enemies and to band together against the evil houseboat captain who seems to hate them all. (Many have speculated that the houseboat captain is, in fact, Arthur Ransome himself.)
This is high imagination at its best! It has all of the wonder and fun of Narnia but the children are firmly in this world. They take everything they are doing and pretend it is something straight out of the classical children's books they love. The siblings are good to each other, good to their friends the Amazons, and obedient and respectful of their mama. The Amazons are spunky, smart, less respectful of adults, and they make everything they do exciting. In essence, these children are very realistic and fun to love. 
Like Anne Shirley of Anne of Green Gables, my storybook reading as a child led me into living two lives – the regular one and the one I was loving inside my imagination. A walk home from school was the chance to be Laura Ingalls walking home from her school, a walk in the woods was a search for Robin Hood, and a quiet Saturday in my room was an invitation to be Rebecca, from Ivanhoe, trapped in the tower. When I was reading this amazing story, I wanted to be 12 again and have this adventure with them!
Modern readers may notice that the Swallows consider themselves to be able seamen, the Amazons pirates, and everyone else natives. The use of this word is not disparaging, and it is in keeping with the vocabulary of that time. 
I cannot recommend this book more highly. The language is excellent, the story is fantastic, the values are on point, and Ransome teaches the reader so much about ships, the natural world, and pirate lore. This is a must-read. I cannot wait to use it as a spring book club in my library! We may make a Plumfield Guide for this classic.

Book Review: Shipwrecked: The True Adventures of a Japanese Boy

Shipwrecked cover
 
What a coincidence that Shipwrecked was donated to my library just as Sara and I were putting the finishing touches on our Kensuke’s Kingdom book club packet, for which we are using this same cover!
In the Author’s Note for Shipwrecked, Blumberg says she became fascinated with Manjiro while doing research for her book about Commodore Perry.
“Instead of accounts of landmark events and world-famous leaders, here is the story of a poor fisher boy who became a famous samurai, a rescued castaway who became the first Japanese person to live in the United States. Manjiro subsequently worked on New England whale ships, then risked his life when he returned to Japan as an outcast. . . .
His life reveals much about the social and political climate of Japan and the United States during the mid-nineteenth century. Manjiro’s ordeals, adventures, and accomplishments seem sensational, melodramatic, and fiction, but they are true.”
Manjiro was nine years old in 1836. With the death of his father, he became responsible for supporting his mother, three sisters, and two brothers. Because his father had been a fisherman, he had to be a fisherman as well. That had been a law in Japan for hundreds of years. 
When Manjiro was fourteen years old, he was hired onto a fishing boat. On his first trip out, their boat was damaged by a fierce storm. They were blown off course and rode out the storm for a week. On the eighth day, a strong current carried the boat to a truly deserted island. They survived on the island for five months eating seaweed, raw albatross meat, and whatever shellfish they could find clinging to the rocks. The only fresh water was what they could find trapped in hollow rocks after it rained. 
This was the time of the Great Peace, the 250-year period of a strict closed-door policy in Japan. The Japanese people were forbidden contact with anyone from another country. Foreigners were not allowed to come into the country, and Japanese people were not allowed to leave. If they did, they were considered to have been poisoned by barbarians and were not allowed to come home. 

 
Manjiro and the six men with him were rescued by a whaling boat, the John Howland, captained by William H. Whitfield. Though the John Howland sailed near Japan, it was too risky for Captain Whitfield to sail close enough to take Manjiro and his friends home, because the Japanese would try to destroy the ship. Even if Whitfield had been successful in getting them close enough to put them ashore, because of their contact with the foreign ship, the Japanese men would likely have been put in prison rather than being allowed to go home.
When the ship eventually docked at Honolulu, Manjiro’s friends decided to stay in Hawaii, but Manjiro chose to stay with Captain Whitfield’s ship. After two and a half years away from home, Manjiro arrived in New Bedford, Massachusetts. He “was the first Japanese person to set foot in the United States.”
Captain Whitfield had no children, so he took Manjiro in as a foster son. He sent Manjiro to school when he was sixteen. After two and a half years of school, Manjiro was an apprentice to an oil-cask maker, then he went to sea again.  On this voyage, after some tragic events, he became first mate.

 
When Manjiro heard news of the Gold Rush in California, he decided to try his hand at mining. After two months of panning, he had $600, which was enough to attempt returning to Japan. He stopped in Honolulu and picked up two of his friends who also longed to go home, then waited for a ship that would dare to take them to Japan. 
Once they were back in Japan, they were imprisoned for six months and went to trial eighteen times. Because of Manjiro’s experience with Americans, and because he spoke English so well, when Commodore Matthew Perry came to Japan and demanded an audience with the emperor, Manjiro was sent to interpret. He proved to be an excellent ambassador and was instrumental in helping open Japan to the western world. 
Manjiro’s life was full of exciting twists and turns. It is truly incredible that a lowly son of a fisherman rose to the level of samurai, and his life is an example of industry, diligence and perseverance earning him respect everywhere he went. 
This book is available at Amazon.
Please visit biblioguides.com to see other buying options for Shipwrecked.
 

Book Review: The Mysterious Voyage of Captain Kidd

Captain Kidd was commissioned to capture pirates and, as Britain was perpetually at war with France, he was also authorized to capture French ships. This type of venture could be extremely profitable for everyone involved in the voyage, from the financial backers to individual sailors, as each of them would receive some percentage of the take. But somehow, Kidd was able to sail for months in pirate-infested waters and never encounter a pirate. This meant the crew was away from home working for nothing. 
There seems always to be a risk of mutiny when sailors get too discontent. What’s a captain to do when his crew rebels in the middle of the ocean thousands of miles from home? And whose testimony will be believed if the matter comes to trial. Typically, the captain’s. But what if the crew has burned his meticulously kept ship’s log? And what if crew members have been bribed with their lives to lie?

Reflection: Pitch a Tent in Hope

"My meditation on Acts 22:26 is something like, My flesh shall pitch a tent in confident expectation. This is not a confident expectation that God will arrange things in my life for my comfort and convenience. This is an expectation that God, who cannot lie, will do what he has promised."

Our Librarian Life: August 2024

Join us for a rambunctious conversation about book clubs, summer projects, and fall programs in the libraries. 
 
Show Notes: https://plumfieldandpaideia.com/show-notes-our-librarian-life-aug-2024/