A Trip to the Humid Cedar Reading Room

What have I been reading lately? I am glad you asked!

In the Forests of Serre, By Patricia A. McKillip. Not a retelling of the Firebird story (that is, not the story I am familiar with: the one Stravinsky used in his ballet), but a riff on themes from Russian folklore. There is a fierce one-eyed king; a Baba Yaga-like witch, complete with moving hut; melancholoy wizards; a grieving prince; a wilful princess; and, of course, a firebird. An elegant little book that is by turns an examination of responsibility, a love story and a fairy story.

Black and Blue Magic, by Zilpha Keatley Snyder. This book is a blast from my past. I remember checking it out from the library as a kid and loving it . It is the story of a pre-teen boy living in a boarding house with his mother, who helps a strange boarder and receives an astonishing gift in return. It is set in San Francisco in the early sixties (the boy has a view of the bay from his bedroom window that a yuppie would trade his BMW for) and Ms. Snyder takes us on moonlight tours of town with our hero. Our hero, always a well-meaning, if clumsy, kid, uses his new magical gift to help people (sometimes by accident). A wonderful book.

Spring-Heeled Jack, by Philip Pullman. This little book is part text, part comic. Mr. Pullman of His Dark Materials fame takes three small children through the foggy back streets of nineteenth century London, where thugs, thieves and the mysterious Spring-Heeled Jack lurk. As is usual in these yarns, the children seek escape from their dingy orphanage and find themselves quickly embroiled in plots and counter-plots. A lot of fun.

Count Karlstein, by Philip Pullman. This children's book is a gothic tale of romance, misplaced heirs, self-reliant British women, and the Demon Huntsman, set in Switzerland in the 19th century. The narrative jumps from one character to another, but the book was pretty entertaining.

Guns, Germs and Steel, by Jared Diamond. This examination of natural and human history to see where some civilizations succeed where others fail. I won't get into his thesis here; suffice it to say that it is a fascinating book for someone like me (that is to say, someone with an abiding interest in history and a superficial knowledge of natural history and anthropology). I learned a lot from reading it and it provoked some serious thinking. Which hurts my head.

Thanks to Grinding Metal for the loan of Guns, Germs and Steel! And thanks to my family for the other books!