The Merry Books of May: Ft. 1 Mystery, 1 Moving Castle, and Very Many Martyrs

Hello, guys! IT'S JUNE!!! Summer is on its way and I'm sure that means freedom for many of you, so CONGRATS. I hope you are relaxing with lots of outdoor time and a good book at your elbow.

If you happen to need book suggestions (ha ha that's funny--when are bookworms not struggling to lighten the load of their TBR from off their shoulders?), then mayhap I can be of assistance. I've finally gotten back into some sort of reading habit this spring, and I am here to spill my guts about all the books I consumed throughout the merry month of May.

So here goes. 

Expanding my initial notes on the below books has made me realize something about the way I do book reviews on my blog:

they're not objective book reviews so much as they are the story of how this book affected my soul when I was reading it. 

...I mean, some of them are low-key objective. But others are just. Very personal and subjective and egotistical.

But I figure that's fair, for a blog? Part of discussing books is discussing why the books worked (or didn't work) for US INDIVIDUALS, right?

Well anyway that disclaimer aside. Here are the books I read in May. (Also the movies, but I didn't spend as much time on the movies this time, because I only watched 2.) 

Images courtesy of Goodreads unless otherwise noted.

Howl’s Moving Castle, by Diana Wynne Jones 

(technically I finished this the last day of April, but whatevs)

I feel like I'm the last person on the planet to read this book so I probably don't have to give a summary. Sophie, the eldest of three, gets cursed and ends up in a moving house with doors that open on different places in the company of three very interesting guys: 1) Calcifer, the fire demon who lives in the fireplace and gives me grouchy cat vibes; 2) Michael, the wizard's apprentice who is really quite a sweet and attentive young man; and 3) Howl, the wizard, who is renowned for his wickedness but in person turns out to be mainly quite vain. And also a coward. And also a hypochondriac. 

The characters were my favorite part, naturally. 

Am I uncomfy with Calcifer being a “demon”? You betcha. 

Is he still my favorite character? Well, that’s a little bit more complicated because you see, there is Howl.

Howl is a lot of fun (as advertised), but he’s also got a surprising amount of heart. His relationship with Calcifer. I can't. 

And then there's Sophie, who has quite the interesting character arc. I love the way she's the heroine, but is constantly in denial about being the heroine. She thinks her life is over before it had a chance to begin. And when adventures do start to happen to her, she thinks she's disqualified from being the heroine of the adventures because of the curse. If it were a different sort of curse then doubtless she'd be able to see the romance of her situation; but the curse is very unromantic, so she's STILL in denial about being the heroine because she doesn't LOOK or FEEL like the heroine. 

Actually, scratch that. It's not that Sophie's in denial about being the heroine. It's that she never has even the slightest inkling that she was supposed to be the heroine. She thinks she's invisible and unimportant...and then it turns out she's quite an important person indeed.

I really liked that about her. 

As for plot--the beginning bored me, and the climax confused me (both of which are probably me problems), but in between, I was a highly entertained, highly endeared, squealing-without-dignity kind of reader.

And the CONCLUSION. I LOVED THAT CONCLUSION SO MUCH. SO MUCH, I TELL YOU. All the right feels in all the right sequence. It was so COZY. 

I am pleased. I am pleased muchly.

The Enigma Game, Elizabeth Wein 

i love this cover so much

I finally read one of the prequels to Code Name Verity! And I must echo what Sarah Seele has said elsewhere: Code Name Verity is technically more impressive, but The Enigma Game is more delightful for me personally. Like its predecessor, it has all the WWII vibes my heart could desire, including plenty of airplanes and lots of warm, desperate camaraderie between brave people doing their best to fight the Nazis. But now we get to hang out chiefly with JAMIE BEAUFORT-STUART instead of his wee sister. (Don't get me wrong, I love Jamie Beaufort-Stuart's wee sister. And we do get glimpses of her in The Enigma Game, too. But JAMIE. There's a reason he's a fan favorite.)

This story is set almost entirely at an air base town and in the air; and I LOVED that. It also features an enigma machine and submarine warfare, which are things that have piqued my interest in the past, so. Das fun. 

The air battles were so well-written. So intense. So scary. So sad. Jamie needs a hug. All his friends need hugs, too. But Jamie especially needs a hug, cuz he's trying to do right by the boys under his command while feeling caught under the thumb of a commander who Doesn't Get It.

POOR JAMIE. All his struggles with following orders that he didn't agree with really hit me. I relate, my man. I relate. It's hard to be responsible for one group of people while also being answerable to another group of people. Eventually, he has this moment where he's able to see his superior as a fellow human being struggling with a lot of the same issues that he is. The chain of command is rough, but it's necessary. An inconvenient fact of life. The pitfalls of it don't make your commanders evil. A lot of times they just...don't have the same view of things that you do. Which means, yes, sometimes their decisions make this or that aspect of your situation worse rather than better. But also, it means that you don't have the same view of things that they do, and often the decisions they make do help things big picture, even when you don't see it. And that is an encouraging thought. 

Anywho, Jamie was probably my favorite character, but Louisa was a close second. I loved that girl so much. She's grieving her parents, she desperately wants a way to fight back against the Nazis, she's musical, she's kind. She is so, so kind. And I loved how her practiced politeness was at once a skill set that showcased her self-control, and a weakness--she had to learn to stand up for her dignity rather than hiding behind her politeness. Seeing her come into her own throughout the novel was quite satisfying.

And Ellen was cool. I didn't love her as much as Jamie or Louisa, but she was cool. 

This one was a little more international than Code Name Verity, which was cool; Louisa is a British subject from Jamaica, her elderly friend Jane is from Germany, and some of Jamie's pilot pals hail from Australia and Poland. (And probably other countries that I'm forgetting. I could check, but my copy is upstairs and I am far too cozy, on this cloudy Saturday morning, to move from my perch on the couch.) The themes had a lot to do with diversity and respect and friendship, and I thought they were handled very beautifully.

Another thing that hit me hard was Louisa's realization that she actually ISN'T responsible for keeping her beloved flyboys safe; they're grown men, they make their own decisions, and they can deal with the consequences of their job. But even though she's not actually responsible, Louisa will always FEEL responsible. And that's kind of horrible. 

Anywho. Apparently I really loved this book?

But OH. OH OH OH there was ONE THING that made me REALLY MAD. And that was what happened to Jamie's pal Silver. 

...It didn't actually make me mad from a structural story standpoint. Not the way the moral decision at the end of Code Name Verity makes me mad. Actually, I greatly preferred the Sad Thing in the end of The Enigma Game to the Sad Thing in the end of Code Name Verity, because in Code Name Verity the decision was lowkey admired, and in The Enigma Game the decision was very much portrayed as Not Okay. 

Which makes me want to write an analysis of the sacredness of human life in Code Name Verity vs. The Enigma Game, kind of, because it's INTERESTING, you see, how the same author could write the same two scenes. It makes sense. But at the same time, it doesn't quite jive. It...interests me. It interests me greatly. 

The Case of the Left Handed Lady, Nancy Springer

I am sorry to say that I did not enjoy Book 2 in the Enola Holmes series nearly as much as I enjoyed Book 1. 

When I finished Book 1, I was really happy because even though the story got off to a rocky start for me personally, the ending left me super excited to continue the series. And I thought Book 2 would be more fun than Book 1, because I thought we would start to strengthen Enola's connection to recurring characters. 

And we did a little bit? Sherlock Holmes comes in a good deal, and we are introduced to Dr. Watson, who is possibly my favorite character. But Tewksbury is still AWOL. ("Absent without whose leave," you ask? My leave. I did not give Tewksbury permission to just disappear after Book 1.) 

...I realize that Enola's whole identity is wrapped up in being "alone" spelled backwards, and that my #1 Fictional Pet Peeve is Characters Being Alone, so maybe I am not the best person to be reading this series. 

But in the movies the whole POINT of the story is that Enola ISN'T alone, and she figures that out quickly enough; and I just want the books to give me that narrative, too. 

I did have other quibbles with the book, like Sherlock Holmes showing too much emotion too quickly (the prologue would have had me squealing had it been a scene at the very end of the series, but since there wasn't a torturously long lead-up it didn't HIT). 

I do want to continue the series. I'm just...not feeling it at the moment. 

Narrative of a Captivity Among the Mohawk Indians, and a Description of New Netherland in 1642-43, by St. Isaac Jogues

There be Catholic/historical fangirling ahead. 

*squeals* 

I recently had the opportunity to visit the National Shrine of the North American Martyrs in upstate New York, where St. Isaac Jogues and his companions were killed in the 1640s. (If you ever get a chance to go, go. It's beautiful.) I thought I knew the story; but actually, I was surprised to make the acquaintance of St. Rene Goupil, the first canonized martyr killed on what is now U.S. soil. He enchanted me so much that I had no choice but to come home and find this book online and read it ASAP. 

(Look. You can find it here. I have given you the link.)

If you know anything about Fr. Jogues, you know he was captured by the Mohawks, endured a lot of torture, escaped back to France (minus most of his fingers), and then came BACK to the New World to preach to his former captors. And was killed. 

Kind of like St. Patrick in the return to his place of imprisonment; kind of like St. Sebastian in his double martyrdom. 

It's an epic story.

But what makes it even MORE epic is RENE GOUPIL. 

I love this man so much.

He wasn't even a priest; he was a layman and a doctor. He'd applied to join the Jesuit order only to be turned away on account of a hearing impairment. But he went to New France with the missions anyway. In the wilderness, he used his medical skill to help both the missionaries and the native people whenever they were ill or wounded. He was with Fr. Jogues during his first captivity, and endured many of the same tortures, including the loss of a thumb. They encouraged one another in their captivity, and Fr. Jogues heard Rene's confession every other day.

And then Rene got killed first and left Fr. Jogues all alone. 

Which is really sad to think about.

But it's also just such a beautiful story. 

Because Fr. Jogues was there to give his friend absolution as he died. 

And I think...I think it's the happiest death I've ever read about. Because Fr. Jogues is standing there in a sort of double role as human comforter + in persona Christi. And...yeah. 

I JUST APPRECIATE THEIR FRIENDSHIP SO MUCH. 

wherein i attempt fan art of very epic martyrs
 in my very juvenile style.

Fr. Jogues describes Rene Goupil as "an angel of innocence," and says of his attitude in captivity: "He did not see the danger we were in so clearly: I saw it better. This made me often tell him to hold himself in readiness." So I get the feeling that Rene was a cheerful, phlegmatic soul, and that Fr. Jogues was a little bit more serious in a number of ways. 

(They remind me of my characters Tortxof and Gubrettij.)

(And I don't really believe that Rene didn't know they were gonna die. They had already had their fingers crunched at this point, and been captive for several weeks; and Rene talked a lot about being a martyr. I think he was just cheerful about it.) 

I want a movie about it, actually. One that focuses specifically, not on the gory torture scenes, but on the holy friendship between these two men. Their dynamic could be so sweet on screen: Rene gently tending all the physical hurts, Fr. Jogues doing most of the spiritual care, Rene being all humble and bumbling and calm, Fr. Jogues weighed down with many sufferings and preoccupied with concern for Rene on top of it all because HE DOESN'T SEEM TO GET THAT WE'RE ALL GONNA DIE, DOES HE KNOW? I NEED TO MAKE HIM UNDERSTAND SO HE'S NOT CAUGHT UNAWARES. (And then Rene is just like "Yeah, I get it, that's what we signed up for, right?" and proceeds to make the sign of the Cross over a sick Mohawk child.) 

Rene's death and burial could happen maybe halfway through the movie, because Fr. Jogues has quite a few adventures left before his own martyrdom; but his presence would never be allowed to go away. We would need a heartbreaking montage of Fr. Jogues cutting crosses in the trees during a lonely winter, praying the rosary, and missing his friend. We would get quick visual reminders of Rene all through the fast-paced escape sequence. Fr. Jogues would talk about Rene when he gets back safe to Europe. We would see him writing the account of Rene Goupil's martyrdom (which starts on page 61 of this online document). And when he goes back to the New World and is captured again--when he's dragged back, for the last time, to the very village where Rene was killed--talk about the potential for effective cinematic drama. 

(He had a new companion with him at this point, a priest this time, St. Jean de Lalande. Now I'm sure Fr. Jean de Lalande was his own interesting person and has his own personality to bring to this hypothetical movie; but I also think, from a sheer storytelling standpoint, he should be at once a parallel to Rene and a foil for Rene.) 

And then I'm sure you could bring Rene into Isaac Jogues' death scene in some super beautiful way. You wouldn't have to be quite as on-the-nose as having him appear a la Fantine in Les Miserables, maybe. But you could go for the same feel. Y'know? 

Hm. A North American Martyrs musical. Now THAT would be very interesting. 

Ahem. Anywho. St. Isaac Jogues is the best. St. Rene Goupil is the best. And if you want their story in St. Isaac Jogues' own words, then this is the book for you. (Again. It's right here. I have given you the link three times now, so you have no excuse not to read it.) 

(I also recommend the shrine in upstate New York, 10/10. 11/10, actually. If that be possible.)

A Man for All Seasons, by Robert Bolt

AGH. 

HOW GORGEOUS. 

This play is a thing of beauty. So much so that I have no words. I read it early one morning when I was ill and staying home from work, and it was just exactly the ticket for my rather weary soul. 

I must see the movie again. Now that I'm old enough to, y'know, understand it.

When I tell you it made me cry. 

I cry fairly easily when it comes to fiction, so that's not necessarily saying much? But it's not like I cry at the drop of a hat, either. But the scene where he says goodbye to his wife and daughter. Oh, it got me, man. It got me. 

Anyway it was kind of cool to read this for the first time and be reminded of the movie that I saw when I was a pretty small girl, and be like, "OH I remember that! This scene actually made a pretty big impression on me! Even though I didn't understand it!"

And the English is just SO GOOD. So many beautiful lines. So many well-written lines that happen to be spiritually beneficial as well. 

It was also cool to see in writing the prayer that my family learned from the movie: "Dear Lord, give us rest tonight, and if we must be wakeful, cheerful, careful only for our soul's salvation, for Christ's sake. Amen." I remember my mom being like, "That's an amazing prayer, we need to write it down," so we did, and ever since then my family has kept it part of our nightly prayer routine. 

Which is just...kinda cool. It makes the play feel really personal, even though it's not something I actually grew up with. Y'know? 

Yeah anyway. I loved this. You should read it if you haven't. 

Edmund Campion: A Life, by Evelyn Waugh

Clearly, Edmund Campion has forgiven Queen Elizabeth and her administration for putting him to a gristly death on trumped-up charges of treason.

Clearly, Evelyn Waugh has NOT forgiven Queen Elizabeth and her administration for what they did to his hero.

*shakes head fondly at Evelyn*

(It took me, like, a solid year to get through this. FUN STORY THO. When I first moved into the house where I'm currently living with my four lovely roommates, I was super homesick, right? And I wished that I had brought Brideshead Revisited, right? But I hadn't, silly goose that I was; so it was a comfort and a boon and a grace to me to discover that the previous occupants of our house had left behind a copy of Edmund Campion, by Evelyn Waugh. I was thrilled because I'd always wanted to read it but had so far been unsuccessful in actually acquiring said book. So I squealed and hugged the book to myself and crept out to the porch in the early morning sunshine to read for a quiet hour. And lo and behold, my roommate Ginger was also out there reading a book. [she is not actually a ginger. but i like the name "ginger" for her anyway.] Now, for whatever reason, I was woefully intimidated by Ginger at that early phase in our acquaintance. So I perched on the chair across from her with my Evelyn Waugh clutched like a talisman in my lap and timidly asked what she was reading. And she was like, "Oh, you know, Brideshead Revisited." And I was like NO WAY THAT'S MY FAVORITE BOOK. And it was maybe the first moment that I actually believed that Ginger and Nutmeg could maybe be friends after all.) 

(I feel compelled to admit that Ginger has never actually finished Brideshead Revisited. It isn't really her cup of tea. But that's okay. It turns out that Ginger is one of the coolest people I know, even though she doesn't drool over novels by 20th century Brits.) 

And that be the extent of my books from May! On to the movies. 

Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Eeep me likey. Quite a lot, actually. It was super fun and super scary by turns, and really very sweet, and the scandy content wasn't too scandy (I mean, don't get me wrong, it was unnecessary, but it could've been worse), the MANLY FRIENDSHIPS WERE EVERYTHING MY HEART DESIRES FROM FICTION, the ending was really quite satisfying, and--

--oh, I haven't seen the original Top Gun. But I am a little bit curious about it now. Just a wee bit. Even though I know what happens to Goose, who would seem to be the only point of watching Top Gun. 

(I'm exaggerating a bit. I just get the feeling Goose is everything.) 

Return to Me (2000)

Yes, I already watched this once this year. 

I think it's what the kids call a comfort movie. Along with Rio Bravo. Which isn't similar at all. 

We're funny creatures, we humans, aren't we? 

And that is all I have for you today, my friends! I hope you have enjoyed this foray into the fiction (and nonfiction, actually) of the Nutmeg's May. Or at least, not been tortured by it. Not felt like you were getting your fingers chewed off, or anything. 

Now tell me--what have you been reading this spring? Anything good? Anything that made you cry? Anything that made you want to become a filmmaker and have a say in what Hollywood is churning out these days? Tell me all the things.