The Girl Who Drank the Moon by Kelly Barnhill

I found The Girl Who Drank the Moon by happy accident. I was in my local bookstore one evening and just perusing the shelves when I saw the beautiful cover. I read the title and was intrigued and after reading the summary on the inside of the jacket, I was sold. It was surprising that I had never heard of the book before since it has won the John Newbery Medal. In any case, the book found its way to me and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

This is a special book. It has magic and a small dragon and other beautiful elements. The focus is on a town that sacrifices a baby every year to the evil witch who lives in the woods. It begins with a woman whose baby is the chosen one that year. She goes mad with loss and grief. The witch, whose name is Xan, actually has no idea about this sacrifice. All that she knows is that every year a village leaves a child out to die. So she rescues each child and gives it to a family in other towns who will care and love for it. On her journeys she feeds the children starlight, but this particular baby she accidentally feeds moonlight to. The result is that this baby, who is then named Luna, is enmagicked. Xan decides then and there that she must keep the child and love and care for her and teach her magic. But Luna's magic is very strong and she cannot control it, so Xan has to put her in a coma of sorts and block magic from her until Luna is thirteen. Once Luna turns thirteen and her magic is unleashed, Xan will die. So the book follows Luna as she grows up, while also following her mother "the madwoman" who has been locked up. There is a third character named Antain who lives in the village and his life is followed as well. I don't want to give away anymore as I enjoyed the twists and turns, but that is the gist of the story.

This was a delightful novel. It did not have quite the feel that I expected but I enjoyed the journey anyway. It felt like there were a lot of allegories in it for my own life and that personal aspect is what made me really feel connected to the story, more so than I probably would have. Luna was my favorite character by far but I also liked Glerk, the swamp monster. I especially loved the descriptions of magic in this novel.

Overall, The Girl Who Drank the Moon is a novel I would recommend only for those who enjoy young adult novels. I feel that if you are a reader who does not often delve into YA, then you would not get much from this book. But for me, it was filled with love and magic and wonder. I don't know if I will reread it alone, but when I have kids I will definitely read it to them. 

1984 by George Orwell **spoiler warning**

Painting found on Pinterest. Artist unknown.

1984 was always one of those novels that I heard a lot about, but somehow never read. Its not that it did not interest me, I think it is more that I was just waiting for when the time felt right. Granted, when I did decide to read it, I did not have that moment of saying: "Oh, now is definitely the time to read this book". But I think that somewhere in my subconscious I knew it would be prudent. It is a novel many today are referencing,  and in the current political climate I try to be informed and knowledgeable. Thus, when our March Audible came around, I decided to listen to 1984.

Listening to this book gave it even more of a horrific air, I felt. Although I do wish to someday reread this book and actually hold the novel and take notes and so on. But I am glad that I decided to listen to it because the narrator did an amazing job. The inflections and tones were all perfect and I think George Orwell would have been proud. It gave me the chance to work through the book more quickly, as well. I happened to have a lot of driving to do in the past couple of weeks so I would just connect my phone and listen to the book.

This novel is profound. It is part philosophy, part political theory, and part essay on the human condition and what it can handle. There is so much packed into it that I know I missed things. The general basis of the story is that all of Britain, which is now Oceania, is ruled by INGSOC or English Socialism. INGSOC is headed by Big Brother, who has a religious and cult like reverence about him, and has four main ministries. The Ministry of Love, which ironically focuses on hate and keeping up with "the two-minutes hate" and "hate week", moments where everyone is required to watch films of the "enemy" Goldstein and scream at the tele-screens and just get into a general state of mania. The Ministry of Truth, which focuses on changing the past via rewriting news articles and stories. The main character of Winston Smith works at this ministry. The Ministry of Peace, which deals with war and the military. And the Ministry of Plenty, which deals with economics, or rather, creating scarcity. There are also three main parties: Inner Party, those who are at the top of the top economically and politically, the Outer Party which contains those who work in the ministries, and the Proles who are the bottom 85% of the population. This is just a brief summary of the main political themes within the story. There is also the detail that everyone is always watched via the tele-screens that litter the streets and are in every office and every home. There is the fear of being arrested by the "thought-police" for something as small as a wrong facial expression. There is a language called "new-speak" the main goal of which is to do away eventually with all language and thought. Overall, it is a terrifying climate.

Winston begins the novel beginning a diary. He knows that just by buying the journal he could be arrested and by further writing in it he is sure to die, but something in him propels him to write down his thoughts. His thoughts are even worse for he hates Big Brother and wants to have sex and wants to think. However, he is able to get away with his secret diary for quite some time. The novel mainly follows him in his day to day life and through his thoughts about any and every thing. Eventually he begins an affair with someone he works with, Julia, and they are even able to keep this a secret. But of course, they are caught. There are moments where I thought they would not be, that maybe they would get away and they would be able to change the world, but it was not to be. The entire third part of the novel deals with Winston being arrested and tortured and essentially brainwashed. By the end, he loves Big Brother and his whole thought process has changed, and then he is shot.

I loved the end of the book. Well, not because Winston died, but because Orwell did not give the book a cheap finale. He stuck to his guns about the philosophy and the power of Oceania and Big Brother and so it was more believable of an end. The finality of it was perfection. There is no escaping or changing Big Brother.

I have a thousand thoughts about the philosophy and politics in the book, but this is a book blog and not a political blog so I don't want to take this post there. Just know that 1984 will make you think but it will also terrify you. I did not love any of the main characters but I don't think that as the point anyway. I think the characters served as vessels for the philosophy to be written out. The point of the novel was not Winston Smith, it was INGSOC. And that is why it remains such a poignant and relevant novel sixty-eight years later.

In conclusion, 1984 is quite the novel. My husband and I joked that it should be required reading before people are allowed to vote. (Of course we don't mean this.) But the meaning behind the joke is that there is a lot to process from the novel. It talks so much about the consequences of not thinking for oneself and what that can do. Or even the consequences of putting total trust in the government. Even if you don't care about all of the politics, it is still interesting because it keeps you on the edge of your seat. The whole book is filled with the threat of Big Brother and the thought-police. So if you just want a good thriller of sorts, 1984 would fill that criteria. Whatever the reason for you deciding to read this book, do so soon. It is a novel that speaks a lot about current times and serves as a warning to us all. 

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by JK Rowling

Oh, Harry Potter. I have such a long history with this book series, but I won't go into detail in this post. By the beginning of summer I should be done with the whole series and then I will post an epic rambling of my Harry Potter shenanigans. I am currently reading/re-reading the series because I had lie to my husband when we started dating saying I had read all the books. Now that we are married he has made me promise to actually read all the books. In the past I have only read #1, 2, 3, & 7. I skipped #4,5, & 6 which are, apparently, the best in the series. So here I am, finished with book three and ready to plunge into uncharted territory after this post.

So far Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is my favorite book. It has been in the past when I have read it and it has also been my favorite of all the films. Rereading it was a joy because there was more that I had forgotten than I realized. This book also marks the beginning, in regards to the films, where much is changed or left out. Thus, even though I have seen the movie recently, there was much to be rediscovered.

What I love about this book is that it really broadens the wizarding world for the first time. I love exploring Hogsmeade and learning more about Azkaban and The Leaky Cauldron. The depth of characters like Sirius, Lupin, and Snape is also an aspect of this novel that begins to showcase Rowling's true talent and transcends the book from "children's lit" to just "literature". Hermione begins to shine in her own right during the third year, not just in regards to her classwork and the time turner, but also in her opinions, loyalty, and confidence. She is my favorite character in the series so being able to see her growth and burst out of her shell is always exciting to read. (Plus, who wouldn't love a book where Hermione slaps Malfoy?!)

Harry Potter is a truly defining series of this generation. I am late to the ball game but happy to find that I am enjoying this rediscovery of the book series. Even though I have seen all of the films I am excited and eager to move on to the next book. There is something about reading through these adventures, as opposed to seeing it, that lends the series its magic. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban is where that magic begins to pull me in every time.

Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen

I love Jane Austen. I first read Pride and Prejudice when I was 12, (I know, a bit ambitious). From then on I was hooked. I read five of her six novels, as I could never finish Emma. But I remember absolutely loving Northanger Abbey, although now I cannot tell you why. The chance to reread it was an exciting one.

Surprisingly, I did not like it at all. I mean, the novel was funny for sure, but I did not like a single character. Catherine seemed weak and silly. Her imagination laughable. Isabella was transparent from the beginning. Henry felt ridiculous to me for still wanting Catherine even after finding out how naive she is. There was not a true plot and it took three-quarters of the book for something exciting to really happen. Then it finished with an anti-climatic happy ending. The wedding scene was pretty much glossed over entirely. Whereas in other Austen novels the happiness at the end is at least lingered on enough to feel satisfactory.

All in all, I was unimpressed. I could not at all figure out what I loved about it. Perhaps it was that Northanger Abbey is so wildly different from all of Jane's other novels. Or maybe it was that I liked the silly, mystery in it. But to look at it now, almost ten years later, the only thing I can appreciate about it is that it is a nice and comical attempt at a novel. Since it was Jane's first written novel, although not published until after her death, it makes sense why it is an oddball among all of her other work.

It is no longer my favorite Austen novel, but I did still enjoy rereading it. I would not recommend
it as the novel one would use as an introduction to Jane Austen. But for one who is well versed in other Austen novels, it is worth reading. If only to see the growth she made from Northanger Abbey all the way to Persuasion. Everyone has to start somewhere.

The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching by Thich Nhat Hanh

This is the fourth book I have read by Buddhist monk Thich Nhah Hanh (or Thay, as some refer to him) and it was by-far my favorite. I consider myself a Buddhist and Thay was a big part of bringing me on this path. Prior to this I had read some of his books on specific things but I had not read anything that was on Buddhism as a whole. So I was very excited to begin reading The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching.

Thich Nhat Hanh's light shines through the words and his explanations are not just lists or descriptions, but true explanations of how to implement the elements of Buddhism into one's daily life. I hate referring to Buddhism as a religion, because to me it is more of a life practice, but from what I have read this is as close to a Buddhist "bible" as I have come, (aside from the Nikayas, but that is another story). He writes about the basic elements of Buddhism as well as some of the more complicated elements. He explains the difference between the three main Buddhist schools of thought as a sort of guide for anyone looking to study further. He quotes Buddha and gives his own interpretations. It was just a great book overall.

The Heart of the Buddha's Teaching is one I want to carry everywhere with me and keep by my bed. It is one I want to reread in sections and as a whole. It is not a book I would recommend unless you are interested in Buddhism or are a Buddhist. Simply because it is a very comprehensive book and might seem dull to someone who tried to read it just for fun. However, if this type of thing does appeal to you, it is a must read. Not only was it comprehensive but it was written in a way that did not make it boring which I think is so important when one is trying to truly learn. Let me know if you read it or have read it and share your thoughts in the comments!

The Young Messiah (Christ the Lord: Out of Eqypt) by Anne Rice Review

Let me begin this by saying that Anne Rice is one of my all-time favorite authors. I will more than likely be posting about her books often. I have read her vampire, witch, erotica, and angel books. I have read her memoir and some of her stand alone novels. However, I had never delved into her two books on Jesus Christ. Part of this was due to disinterest and part of it due to a worry that the books would not reflect that Anne Rice I know and love. I only took the plunge because of the movie based off of the first book, which was released today. (I am hoping to see the movie this weekend and will post a comparative review once I do!) The trailer looked interesting but I wanted to read the book before heading to the theater. So yesterday I snuggled into bed with my husband and devoured the novel.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that I loved it. The Young Messiah, as it was re-titled, is a beautiful poetic novel from the point of view of seven-year old Jesus who does not know who he is. Only that there is something different about him. The novel felt a bit like the first Harry Potter, in a good way, in the sense that Jesus kept accidentally doing things which no one would explain to him and which he was forbidden to discuss. Seeing the childhood of Jesus through his own eyes made the novel move quickly and also made it interesting. Israel was definitely interesting enough in its own right during his childhood, but I think if the novel had not been from the boy's point of view it may have felt more like a historical novel instead of a child's quest for knowing who he is.

I gave the novel 4 stars on Goodreads. I refrained from giving it 5 just because it was not my favorite Anne Rice novel and although it was an original telling of Jesus' story, it was not an original story. Given that it is close to the Christian holiday of Easter I found my timing of the reading was perfect. (I suppose that is why the film is being released this week, too...yay, for my unoriginal thoughts!). The book is fantastic though, for Non-Christians and Christians alike. If you have the time, The Young Messiah is worth it.