Dynamic Woman — Changing Times
This book goes on my devotional classics shelf, alongside my leatherbound copies of My Utmost For His Highest, Streams in the Desert, and The Valley of Vision. In the spiritual tradition of self-examination, Buechner strikes a chord with me on so many subjects.
Author and poet David Romtvedt details the immigrant experience of an unremarkable Basque woman’s journey. In doing so, he draws a larger point. Merely because we exist on planet Earth, we are remarkable.
I can’t help but compare Alice Hoffman’s Shelby Richmond to Lee Chandler, the self-hating protagonist in the film Manchester by the Sea. Both have caused misery to themselves and others. Both have had their hearts ripped out, but in Lee’s case, most of his soul died too. Not so with Shelby. As despairing as the film is, this novel is filled with hope.
I am developing a fondness for this type of historical fiction–plucky girl defies stifling mores of the day to seek justice and self-fulfillment. That it is set in my favorite time period, the early twentieth century, is even better.
I stole some time to finish some books on my night table this week. I’m fudging a bit. Stolen Postcards is the type of book you set down and pick up again and again–unless you are a greedy reader who wants all the goodies in one sitting! Lightning Strikes introduced me to the writing of a local author of promise, and The Explanation of Everything prompted lively discussion about science vs faith here in our little desert hideaway.
But first, a review of the Great Valley Bookfest I ran into local poet Joy Willow at the Great Valley Bookfest in Manteca. I read her poetry collection, Soma Song, a couple of years ago. Our encounter reminded me that I had neglected to review this little gem. So, a few words about the Bookfest, a couple comments about reviews, and then I will sing Soma Song’s praises.
