Bored and Brilliant:
How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self
Manoush Zomordi

I’m listening to Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self by Manoush Zomordi on libro.fm. This is one of those social science nonfiction books I love to geek out on now and then. The author is a radio show/podcast host of Note to Self. The thesis of the book is that in order to be more productive/creative, a person needs to be bored periodically in order to jumpstart the brain. By being bored, Zomordi means having quiet, contemplative time that is not interrupted by work or social media. Much of the book focuses on the apps, specifically game apps, on smart phones that many Americans are hopelessly addicted to. While this isn’t a major concern of mine, I did download an app (ironic, I know!) recommended by the author that tracks how much time a smart phone user spends on his/her smart phone and how s/he spends that time. It’s interesting and maybe, now that I know what I’m doing is being tracked, I’ve lessened my smart phone use, even if I’m the only one who looks at the results collected by that app. As a creative, it’s a good reminder that filling every moment of the day can slow down creativity. I’m also reminded of how when I was a student, I was amazed at how much good even a 10-minute walk could do to clear and reset my brain while studying. The book is read by the author, who is a good reader (no surprise, you would hope a radio show/podcast host would be.)

All the Ugly and Wonderful Things
Bryn Greenwood

I’m re-reading All the Ugly and Wonderful Thingsin preparation for the Beagle Women’s Book Group’s June discussion. I presented this book at Night/Morning-In this past January. The novel focuses on Wavonna, known as Wavy, who is being raised in a dysfunctional home. Her parents are drug users with little thought given to raising their children. When Wavy is about 8, her dad hires a man with a criminal history and a soft heart to work in his garage. This man is Kellen. He sees Wavy’s neglect and takes her under his wing. He makes sure she goes to school, has boots to wear, and takes care of things that her selfish parents are not attending to. This story covers nearly 20 years. The pacing is brilliant. You’ll likely learn more about poverty in this book of fiction than anything else you’ve read. There are incidents in this book that will make most readers Uncomfortable. It is absolutely dynamite for book group discussion and I can’t wait to hear what my fellow book group members think! Caution: this book contains a lot of profane language, which I’m ordinarily not a big fan of, but I do think it’s necessary for this book.

Blithe Spirit
Noel Coward

I’m repeatedly reading a script called Blithe Spirit, as I’m directing that show at Long Lake Theater (produced by Vision Theatre) and it opens mid-June!

Searching for Minnesota’s Native Wildflowers
Phyllis Root and Kelly Povo

In 1949, my grandfather inherited the family homestead in Wright County from his bachelor Norwegian farmer uncle. The property, located off a gravel road, consisted of 13 acres with a small farmhouse and two outbuildings. The house featured kerosene lanterns, an icebox, and a woodburning stove. A hand pump and outhouse were outdoors.

Our family began an intense love affair with the property, which we called “the ranch.” The land included an orchard, wetlands (which we called “the swamp”), a meadow, and woodland. It all seemed exotic to city kids and, as we grew, we had the run of the property.

Exploring with my brother and on my own was wonderful, but my most treasured memories are of tramping the property with my grandmother. Her particular interest was sleuthing out the wildflowers which were abundant on the property. She introduced me to trillium, jack-in-the-pulpit, blue flag, lady’s-slipper, violets in several colors, milkweed, black-eyed Susan, red columbine, and many more.

Throughout my life, I’ve retained the interest in wildflowers which my grandmother instilled in me. However, I no longer have a companion to sleuth them out with me, and to share their names and information about them. I’ve become adept at using most guidebooks, but for some reason, I’ve struggled to use wildflower guidebooks. For years, I’ve wondered about the name of a yellow flower which grows on the property where our cabin is located. Guidebooks have pages and pages of yellow flowers, but I could never find the one I was looking for.

Enter Phyllis Root and Kelly Povo and their new book with the unwieldly title of Searching for Minnesota’s Native Wildflowers: A Guide for Beginners, Botanists, and Everyone in Between. Root and Povo are friends who have spent ten years exploring Minnesota in search of wildflowers. The resulting book is not a typical guidebook. Instead, they offer themselves as companions on the search for wildflowers, sharing their preparation, field notes, and the help they received along the way. The book is divided into ten habitats, which include Big Woods, North Shore, Prairie, and Minnesota Wetlands. The sections move throughout the year, from early spring in Big Woods to autumn in Prairie Fall. The flowers they found in each habitat are listed alphabetically by common name, although they note that many flowers are found in more than one habitat. Each wildflower is accompanied by one of Povo’s stunning photographs. Her goal was to take a portrait of each wildflower, and she’s succeeded magnificently. At 7.25” x 8.25”, the book is larger than other field guides, but well worth the effort of carrying along.

Searching for Minnesota’s Native Wildflowers gives me the companion on my wildflower walks that I’ve been without since I was a girl wandering the property on “the ranch” with my grandmother. Oh, and that yellow flower I wondered about? It’s a Large-flowered bellwort.

This review was printed in the Park Rapids Enterprise on May 26, 2018.

By the Book
Julia Sonneborn

I will readily admit to being a sucker for books about books, and this one is close enough to qualify. It’s about Anne, a young English professor whose life is mostly all about books, except for the pressure of the quest to achieve tenure at her college. Her life is complicated when her former fiancé shows up at her school—as its new president. The book is a great summer read, following Anne as she tries to balance her duties as a teacher, writing a book, caring for an aging father, and her love life. The book is a re-telling of Jane Austen’s Persuasion, but stands on its own.

Paris by the Book
Liam Callanan

I’m also a sucker for books about bookstores, and this month I’ve been listening to the libro.fm audio of Paris by the Book. Leah and Robert fell in love with Paris through books. The Red Balloon for Leah, the Madeline books for Robert. After years of marriage and two daughters, Robert disappeared after leaving their Milwaukee home early one morning for a run. The police found no trace of Robert, and his credit cards, bank accounts, and cell phone show no signs of use. Robert was fond of leaving notes with clues for his family while away from home, and after his disappearance, they discover through such a note that he had purchased plane tickets to Paris for them. Leah and the girls settle into life in Paris, which includes living above a bookstore which Leah runs. It’s all improbable, but nonetheless, I found myself suspending disbelief and being drawn into the story. (Okay, I didn’t suspend disbelief about the bookstore. Running one requires a lot more work and worry than Leah gave hers.) The themes of the book include the nature of commitment, the nature of creativity, and the ways in which individuals cope in the face of catastrophe, all wrapped in an entertaining story.

A Gentleman in Moscow
Amor Towles

 In 1922 Count Alexander Rostov is placed under house arrest in Moscow's Metropol Hotel for writing a poem that is deemed to be a threat to the state. A Gentleman in Moscow relates how the Count makes a life for himself as he interacts with the Metropol's employees and visitors. The story spans the years from 1922-1954. Through the Count and his acquaintances, readers become aware of the political and social realities of twentieth century Russia. We learn about the history of The Soviet Union as well as Count Rostov's personal history. Difficulties and dramatic change are part of both realities. But A Gentleman in Moscow is much more than an historical account. It includes a delightful cast of characters often exemplifying the best in human nature. Just as reality is full of surprises, so is Count Rostov's story. The book club that I belong to recently read A Gentleman in Moscow. As our discussion came to a close, one member said that she would like to keep a copy of this book on her bookshelf just for future reference and enjoyment. I couldn't agree more.

When Books Went to War:
The Stories that Helped Us Win World War II
Molly Manning

Hitler ordered the burning of millions of books in Europe. America did the opposite by furnishing millions of books for our people in the armed services to read and share. The GI's had lots of downtime between conflicts which contributed to boredom, loneliness and depression. Books seemed to be the answer. How they were collected and distributed makes fascinating reading. Included are letters from service people about how reading affected their lives and helped them get through the tough times. In the back is the complete list of the small pocket books that were sent out each month. Fun to see how many you may have read.

The Maid of Fairbourne Hall
Julie Klassen

It's the early 1800's in England, a time when wealthy women have no choice in life but to be married and raise a family. Margaret's stepfather has her husband picked out. She runs away to avoid the marriage. In order to earn some money, she finds work as a housemaid. Margaret has never even made her own bed before! This is a fast-paced story with a new catastrophe every few pages. The author lives in St. Paul and loves all things Jane—Jane Eyre and Jane Austin. This book is good escapism and loads of fun.

Fall Out
Sara Paretsky

I've been indulging in a V.I. Warshawski marathon, inspired by a recent opportunity to meet Paretsky. I was impressed by her fondness for her fictional characters; they seem quite real to her. They are aging, but in slow motion, and their physical prowess diminishes only to a point. Her dogs don't age at all: Paretsky says there's too much in reality to make us sad without Peppy getting old. Paretsky mused that she needs to make sure no one can take over the series after she passes: she doesn't want anyone else writing V.I.'s story.

Fall Out is the most recent: it's set largely in Kansas, and old nuclear missile silos are part of the plot. There is usually a social issue explored as part of the plot. Another favorite of mine is Hard Ball. This one takes us back to the Martin Luther King march in Chicago: Paretsky was working with the activists there. It's how she came to Chicago.

NEWS! The next book in the series, Shell Game, will be set in northern Minnesota and include native Americans! 

Indemnity Only
Sara Paretsky

This is her first novel, introducing the first female noir detective, V.I. Warshawski. The 30th aniversary edition includes a description of how it came to be, how V.I. was born when Paretsky's annoying boss outraged her one day, how the wonderful Stuart Kaminsky helped and encouraged Paretsky, and how much rejection she suffered before finding a publisher. Can you imagine being an editor that turned down the first book in this very successful series? What were they thinking? 

Lying Awake
Mark Salzman

Instead of a murder mystery, a spiritual mystery. Sister John has been living in a small, cloistered nunnery in the middle of LA for almost 30 years, seeking to live each moment in prayer, seeking to be one with God. She achieves ecstacy, and shares her experiences with the world in a book of poems. The book sells so well that the convent will be able to make much needed repairs to the roof. But it turns out that she's still seeking, and she learns that she has a very hard choice to make to preserve the delicate relationships in her community, possibly losing her vocation. This small novel is exquisite. You don't need to be Catholic, or even religious, to be enthralled.

Ginny Moon
Benjamin Ludwig

I read this book because Sally asked me to give my opinion of it as an educator and as the mom of an autistic child. In this book, Ginny is an autistic girl. The author does a great job of portraying some of the characteristics we can see in an autistic child. Ginny is a young teenager who is dealing with both a traumatic past and trying to fit into an adoptive family. I really appreciated the author’s ability to let the reader into Ginny’s mind and hear her thinking. I was taken aback by the surprise woven into Ginny’s past that is affecting her present thinking. I was also saddened by the reality that our educational social care systems sometimes fail these special people because we try to fit them into our boxes and yet we are often missing things. Benjamin Ludwig is an educator of English and writing. He and his wife are also adoptive parents. I really loved this book. I couldn’t put it down. This book was a gentle reminder to stop and pay attention to what the students in my class are really saying.

Ahab’s Wife, Abundance, and Sherlock in Love
Sena Jeter Naslund

I’ve listed these books in the order I read them.

I Read Ahab’s Wife hoping that it would be something along the lines (maybe in the style) of Melville’s Moby Dick. Interestingly it was, though there was a good deal more to Naslund's story than I had anticipated. It's the story of a young woman growing up poor in rural Kentucky, who through a series of astonishing events marries Captain Ahab. Much to my amazement, Naslund, portrays him as a romantic and ardent lover. I wouldn’t have anticipated that. The novel is about a character who has outgrown the conventions that surround her.

Abundance is the story of Marie Antoinette, told in the first person, from the time she leaves Austria, to marry Louis XVI until her death. Another character study, as well as a sound attempt to re-create the style of the time.

Sherlock in Love is the story of Holmes' falling in love with Irene Adler, as told by Dr. Watson. You see different time, place, and style. Not only are the stories well written and interesting, but Naslund's willingness to sensitively re-create the atmosphere is fascinating.

Hillbilly Elegy
J. D. Vance

Last month I read Madeline Albright's Fascism, so reading Hillbilly Elegy this month came as a gift. I've had a rough time understanding the politics of those who support the present administration in Washington. To me, their position seemed opaque and impenetrable. No doubt it's a failing on my part, a lack of experience, ignorance, something missed or not shared that causes their reasoning to appear to me bizarre. While I still do not agree, I begin to understand a little better the deep unease and fear that has made the promises being made in Washington, seem a lifeline to some people. I believe that in order to make progress, we must understand those with whom we disagree. This book has gone a long way towards helping me understand.

Road to Heaven: Encounters with Chinese Hermits
Bill Porter

This book came as a complete surprise to me. I knew nothing about a three thousand year long history of Chinese Tao and Buddhist hermits living in a remote mountain range in China. The book contains interesting personal histories of some of the best known religious recluses, poets, artists, and scholars. At times it is funny and at other times heartrendingly sad, but at every twist and turn thoughtful and wise. Some great poetry too!