Ms. Hen reviews Spindle Splintered

 Spindle Splintered

Alix E. Harrow

Tordotcom

2021

Ms. Hen decided to read this book because she read about it on her library's email newsletter about science fiction books. She got the book from the library; it took a little while for it to come when she ordered it, since it is so popular right now. She understands why there is a waiting list for this short book.

This novel is a reimagining of SLEEPING BEAUTY, the main character, Zinnia Gray, is a twenty-one year old woman with a fatal disease, and does not have long to live. She has been obsessed with SLEEPING BEAUTY since she was young, and she studied folklore in college. Her best friend, Charm, throws a birthday party for her in an abandoned prison tower, and Zin gets whisked away to a fairy tale land, after she pricks her finger on a spindle that Charm brought to the party.

Zin finds herself magically transported to the setting of SLEEPING BEAUTY, and she rescues Princess Primrose from having to marry the prince she isn't interested in. They go to the forest to find the fairy that cursed Primrose, and discover the truth about the curse. Zin and Primrose travel back to the castle, only to find they cannot end the curse. Zin comes up with a plan, and they might live happily ever after.

This is a SLEEPING BEAUTY story with many twists. It's very contemporary, and the characters are queer. Zin's friend Charm is gay, and Zin claims she leans toward that way a little. This novel takes SLEEPING BEAUTY and turns it on its head, there is the fear of death, and the desire for love, and the quest for love and justice. 

This novel is very short and Ms. Hen read it fast. It's a perfect book to cheer someone up, by letting them slip into a fairy tale world. This is a strange book, but that's okay, because Ms. Hen likes strange things. The stranger the better is what she says. She doesn't really say that, but she wishes she did.

Ms. Hen reviews The Bookshop

 

The Bookshop

Penelope Fitzgerald

HarperCollins

1978

Ms. Hen picked this book up at a Little Free Library near where she lives. She had read other books by this author, and she remembers enjoying them. She also liked the title, because she thinks it is intriguing.

This novel is about a woman who opens a bookshop in a town that doesn't want one. Hardborough is a seaside town in England, with not a lot happening; the town needs other businesses, but it does not need a bookshop. Florence struggles to keep her shop afloat. She hires a ten-year old girl as an assistant, and prominently displays the novel LOLITA, which she understand is a new classic. This novel takes place in 1959.

Ms. Gamart, one of the richest people in town, wants to buy the property that Florence bought for the bookshop, called The Old House, because she thinks it would be a wonderful arts centre. Florence does not want to sell her property and close the bookshop, even though business is flailing, and the building is haunted.

In this novel, the characters and situations are described in a very particular way. Everyone is strange, and the author portrays them that way. A small town is always full of quirky people, most of whom are somewhat provincial. The citizens don't want a bookshop because they don't want to read to enlighten themselves and broaden their horizons. An arts centre would most likely not be well received either, but the novel doesn't get that far.

The protagonist encounters a hen, "Florence put her hands lightly on the slumbering mass of feathers. The old fowl sunk into a soft tawny heap, scarcely opening her slit-like eyes. Her whole energy was absorbed in producing warmth. The basket itself throbbed with a slow and purposeful rhythm." The hen is broody, and is about to lay eggs. Florence lays a figurative egg with her bookshop, so she relates to the hen.

Ms. Hen enjoyed this novel. She read it very quickly, mostly on Thanksgiving Day. She is thankful that she has the whole weekend off for Thanksgiving including Friday, and she left work early on Wednesday. She is thankful that she has enough books to read, a job, and food to eat. Ms. Hen is thankful that she found this book, even though it is very sad. But sometimes life can be sad.

Ms. Hen reviews Set Me Free

 

Set Me Free

Ann Clare LeZotte

Scholastic Press

2021

Ms. Hen picked this book up at a Little Free Library near where she lives. She knew nothing about the book or the author, but she liked the cover, and she read the back, and it sounded interesting to her. She discovered that the author is Deaf, and Ms. Hen does not remember reading a novel by a Deaf author before. She's not sure why, but there aren't many Deaf authors.

This novel is a sequel to another one by the same author, entitled SHOW ME A SIGN. This book is a stand alone, and can be read without having read the previous one. SHOW ME A SIGN is about a man who kidnaps a Deaf girl, Mary Lambert, from Martha's vineyard in the early nineteenth century, and does experiments on her.

In SET ME FREE, Mary is still in the process of recovering from her ordeal. She wants to be a teacher, even though she is Deaf, and her teacher she had in school helps her. She lives on Martha's Vineyard in a deaf community. Lots of Deaf people were born on Martha's Vineyard, and an explanation why this occurs is not known. Mary receives a letter from her friend Nora, who is living in a house in Waltham as a maid, and Nora tells her that a young girl who is considered a savage lives in the house.

Nora thinks that the girl is deaf, and Mary could be her teacher. Mary gains employment, and she travels to the house. The girl is chained to a bed, and the servants treat her like an animal; she lives in her filth, and does not know how to communicate with anyone other than grunting. Mary becomes frustrated, but she tries to help the girl, and to teach her to use sign language. The household participates in the girl's captivity.

When Ms. Hen read this, she immediately thought of the story of Helen Keller, THE MIRACLE WORKER, and how her teacher had to tame Helen when she was young in order to teach her. This book was inspired by that. Ms. Hen also was reminded of JANE EYRE, with the madwoman locked in the attic. This novel is like a combination of those two novels.

Ms. Hen isn't sure if she liked this novel. She understand that it's a children's book, even though adult problems are discussed. She thinks the voice of the narrative might be stilted, and she imagines it might be because the author was trying to write in the style of the early nineteenth century, but she also imagines that a Deaf author has a difficult time finding musicality in language. Ms. Hen likes to listen to the music in words, and she believes that a Deaf author might have a hard time with that. She doesn't think there's anything wrong with writing as a Deaf person, but Ms. Hen was cognizant of this as she read.

Ms. Hen doesn't think this novel is bad, but it's not the best book she has read lately. She did find the story interesting, and she read it fast. She doesn't think she'll read the first book, but she knows it's out there somewhere. Ms. Hen thinks that some people would love this book, but she's not the one.

Ms. Hen reviews Toastmasters

 Toastmasters 

https://www.toastmasters.org/

Many years ago, someone suggested to Ms. Hen that she join Toastmasters to help get over her fear of public speaking. She had never heard of the organization, but she learned about it, and joined a club in Cambridge, Massachusetts, at MIT, to help her when she finished graduate school. She didn't last long at the club at MIT, because she was still afraid of public speaking, and the other people in the club were incredibly talented public speakers, and she was a little intimidated. 

Years later, she started working at Massachusetts General Hospital, and she decided to join the Toastmasters club there, because she wanted to learn to be a better public speaker to help her writing career. She became more consistent going to this club, and she was offered to take over an officer role when someone dropped out. She said yes, and she has helped the club since.

A lot of people don't know how to explain Toastmasters, and some might think it's a cult, or it's for people who have social anxiety, but it's not. The purpose of Toastmasters is to help people become better communicators and leaders. There are prepared speeches at every meeting, that are usually five to seven minutes long. There is also a Table Topics section that helps with impromptu speaking. Members can take different roles at a meeting such as the Toastmaster, who runs the meeting, the Grammarian, who comes up with a Word of the Day, that people are encouraged to use, and who also keeps track of filler words such as um and uh, and a Timer who keeps track of the time of everyone's speeches and the meeting. And of course, there are the evaluators who critique the speeches, which is important, because people want feedback.

Ms. Hen was discouraged when her Toastmasters club had to have meetings on Zoom last year. She didn't think doing a speech on a computer had the same effect as in person. She initially thought there would be something lost, but people can learn how to speak effectively on Zoom, and meetings are run the same way.

Ms. Hen decided to do a speech for Toastmasters last year about Amelia Earhart, in costume, and in character, because she has had the costume for a long time. The members of her club were so impressed, that she was encouraged to do a series of speeches on the same subject. This gave Ms. Hen something on which to focus her attention during the dark days of the Covid pandemic, and it brought her joy, and she made herself laugh. She learned a lot about Amelia Earhart, and found her way back to being a performer again.

The President and the Vice-President of Education were so impressed by her speeches about Amelia Earhart, and her also her work as Vice-President of Public Relations, that she was encouraged to become the President of Toastmasters General. At first, Ms. Hen was reluctant, because she never thought of herself as very presidential, but she said yes, and she is the current president. She was given the gavel to preside over meetings by the last President, and the club is running well.

A lot of members have other things happening in their lives, because most people work at the hospital, and are stressed out, since the world is strange right now. Ms. Hen benefits from Toastmasters, and it has helped her to be a better communicator and leader. Ms. Hen knows that Toastmasters can change people's lives, but it's a process and it takes work, like most things that are worthwhile. She is a hen who is willing to work to be better at what she does, and Toastmasters helps her on her journey.

Ms. Hen reviews The Humans

 

The Humans

Matt Haig

Simon & Schuster

2013

Ms. Hen decided to read this because she saw it at a Little Free Library near where she lives, and she grabbed it. She read THE MIDNIGHT LIBRARY by the same author earlier this year, and she loved it. She loved this book, too.

THE HUMANS is about an alien who comes down to Earth, and takes over the body of a mathematician, Professor Andrew Martin, because this person solved the Reimann problem, which is about the pattern in prime numbers. The alien is sent to earth to stop Andrew from publicizing his findings, because the society from which he comes believes that if Earth has this answer, they will enter into a new age, and the Universe is not ready for that.

The alien in Andrew's body is sent to Earth to kill the people that know about his discovery. But the alien is fascinated by the imperfections and messiness of humanity, he finds that music, poetry and peanut butter sandwiches are things humanity should be proud of. The alien comes from a planet where there is no strife, pain or death, and everything that exists is perfect because of mathematics. He calls TV The War and Money show, because that's what he believes is the highlight of the news. He learns about love, however, and that changes his mind about humans.

Ms. Hen is fascinated by this character. He comes from a world completely different from Earth, and he doesn't come in a ship. She thinks this is more of a novel about philosophy than science fiction. She thinks this is an important book because it looks at humans as if from an outside point of view, what would aliens think of Earth? This is an honest depiction of what an outsider would think.

Ms. Hen loves the description of the alien's home planet. Ms. Hen has been watching a lot of STAR TREK lately, and the description of this planet is the opposite of anything on STAR TREK. In this novel, the beings live in peace, and they don't have to worry about anything. In STAR TREK, the universe is full of humanoids who fight with each other like humans fight on Earth. If the aliens in this novel absorbed STAR TREK, they would think it's ridiculous that humans believe that the universe is full of creatures like them.

The alien does not eat meat, and is disgusted when his wife is making a stir fry with chicken, "The breast of a chicken. The breast of a chicken. 'That looks like meat,' I said. 'I'm going to make a stir fry.' 'With that?' 'Yes.' 'The breast of a chicken.' 'Yes, Andrew, are you a vegetarian now?' The alien could not bring himself to eat meat, and Ms. Hen admires this.

This is a novel that could change the way humans see themselves. Ms. Hen doesn't think that this book could be a film, but it's possible. Anything is possible, including aliens living amongst us, watching us, and judging us, and possibly falling in love with humanity, imperfect as it is.

Ms. Hen reviews Passing

 

Passing

Directed by Rebecca Hall

2021

Ms. Hen decided to watch this film because she saw the preview, and she thought it looked interesting. She was mesmerized by the artistry of the film, and the visual aspects of the film were lush, and they drew her in. But that's not what the film means to do. It's about a woman who becomes reacquainted with an old friend who is passing as white.

The film takes places in the 1920s in New York. Irene is shopping and is passing as white uptown in New York. She goes to a hotel, and she runs into a friend from her youth and her husband, who is white. The women go to Clare's hotel room, and she shares with Irene that her husband doesn't know she's Black. Irene, horrified and disgusted when she meets Clare's husband; he insults her without knowing.

Clare comes back into Irene (or Rene's) life. Rene has a respectable position as a doctor's wife in Harlem. She thinks it's dangerous for Clare to come to visit her, but Clare says she wants to be around people like her again. Tension mounts, and Rene and Clare don't see eye to eye on some matters.

This is a film that doesn't answer any questions, it just asks them. The questions it asks are, is it okay for a Black person to pass as white? Do they need to? Would their lives be better because society sees them as white? Why does Clare think she needs to pass to get by in the world? This film took place one hundred years ago, and the questions people ask are different now, and the way Black people move in the world is different. There is no answer to these questions, but society is still dysfunctional, though great strides have been made.

Ms. Hen thought PASSING was beautifully made, the filming and the costumes and the lighting made her feel like she was in the 1920s. People moved differently then, and the actors captured that. 

Ms. Hen also enjoyed that Rene mentioned that the family was having chicken for dinner. She told the housekeeper to "save the chicken for tomorrow," because she bought yams. Ms. Hen likes chicken and yams alike.

This is an important film, and Ms. Hen thinks that it will be nominated for several awards. It's an escape to a time that doesn't exist anymore, thank goodness, but we're not finished yet, and Ms. Hen knows we still have more work to do.

Ms. Hen reviews The Cat Who Saved Books

The Cat Who Saved Books

Soske Natsukawa

HarperVia

2021

Translated from the Japanese by Louise Heal Kawai

Ms. Hen happened to find this book at a Little Free Library near where she lives. She read the back, and when she realized that it is translated from Japanese, and it about a talking cat, she knew she was meant to read this, and she took the book home. She didn't realize at first that the book is an uncorrected proof, and it is not available in bookstores yet. She isn't sure who would put a book like this for anyone to take, but she's happy this person did.

This novel is like a children's book, or a fairy tale. It's about a teenage boy named Rintaro whose grandfather dies suddenly. His grandfather owned a bookstore, and Rintaro spent all his time with his grandfather there. Rintaro gets depressed after his grandfather dies, and is visited by a cat who talks, who tells the boy that they have to save books. 

They go on adventures through the wall in the bookstore that only appears when the cat is there. They save books from being destroyed or abused in different ways. Sometimes the cat and Rintaro are joined by Sayo, his class rep who brings him his homework because he is not going to school. The cats saves books, but also saves Rintaro.

This book reminds Ms. Hen of Haruki Murakami in the way that it is strange, and a talking cat appears. The story is very simple, and is like a quest story, such as THE WIZARD OF OZ, or THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA. Ms. Hen is not sure if this is meant for young adults, but she thinks it could be read by anyone.

This novel is about the love of books, and why they should be saved. Rinato explains to the woman he meets in the empty bookstore, " 'I think the power of books is that - they teach us to care about others. It's a power that gives people courage and also supports them in turn.' " Ms. Hen has known this fact for a long time.

Ms. Hen enjoyed this book, but she thinks it might not be for everyone. It's a little preachy, and is meant to teach readers the importance of books. Ms. Hen is not a hen that needs to be taught this, for she knows this is true.

 

Ms. Hen reviews Song of Achilles

 

Song of Achilles

Madeline Miller

Harper Collins

2012

Ms. Hen decided to read this book, because she was chatting with her hen coworker, and Ms. Hen told her she had read another book by this author, CIRCE. Ms. Hen's hen coworker lent her the book, and they talked about it a little bit when she started it. They both agreed that the beginning was slow, but then it gets juicy.

This novel is about Patroclus, a companion of Achilles. Patroclus is an odd child when he is young, whose mother is simple, and his father sends him into exile when he accidentally kills a boy because the boy wanted to steal his dice. Patroclus is sent to the home of Peleus, who adopted boys in order to build his army. Patroclus befriends Achilles, and they become companions. The boys are sent to stay with the Centaur Chiron in the forest where they are supposed to learn fighting and medicine. 

Achilles is fated to be the greatest warrior of his generation, "The Best of the Greeks." Patroclus and he become lovers while they stay with Chiron. Achilles' mother, Thetis, does not like Patroclus. She thinks he is a danger to her son. The boys eventually go to fight in Troy to bring back the beautiful Helen to her husband. The war goes on for ten years. Achilles is a fierce warrior and nobody can beat him. Patroclus stands by him until the end.

Ms. Hen does not know that much about Greek mythology, but she did some research about Patroclus. He is a lesser known figure, some experts say that he and Achilles weren't lovers, but some newer scholars disagree. Ms. Hen thinks that Patroclus is similar to Circe, in the way that they are not as prominent, but are important in their own right.

Ms. Hen found her mind wandering while she read parts of this novel, especially at the beginning. She wondered why it took Patroclus so long to find his way to medicine while the soldiers were at Troy; she thinks he should have been working as a healer the whole time. The book did not describe in depth Chiron's surgery lessons with Patroclus and Achilles, they were more implied.

Ms. Hen thinks that Patroclus and Achilles were good people, and they wanted to do the right thing. Ms. Hen doesn't know how scholars would interpret this story, but stories are just that, stories, they can be passed down through the generations, and they can change, and become something entirely different from what they started out to be.

Ms. Hen thinks this is a lovely novel about two men who are heroes, who were in love. They fought against their enemies, even though some of the enemies were on the same side. Sometimes, people have to learn who they should trust, and it's not always obvious. Love should be able to solve everything, but it doesn't always happen that way.