A Curious Statistical Anomaly

The Lost is composed of four novellas, one from each of the authors listed on the cover. Each of the stories deals with loss in one way or another — literal loss of a body, loss of self, a loved one, direction, family, connections. While loss in our own lives might not have so happy or satisfactory a solution, each story is, in its own way, gripping, fascinating, and or comforting.

The first story “Missing in Death” by J.D. Robb is, of course, an Eve Dallas murder mystery. This time Eve and Peabody are called in to investigate a missing woman and a women’s room with a deadly amount of blood on the floor on a Staten Island ferry. So with 3,000 plus possible suspects, they have their hands full. This one has a missing person, missing time, and missing body. As usual it’s a tightly woven plot with some surprising twists.

Patricia Gaffney’s “The Dog Days of Laurie Summer” is a very surprising story of a life lost and found. There are more ways to lose one’s life than dying. The Laurie we meet at the beginning of the story is definitely not the Laurie at the end. Reminded me very much of “The Christmas Carol” without Christmas and the ghosts but definitely some of the same message comes through.

Continuing the theme of redemption is Mary Blayney’s “Lost in Paradise”. A nurse, Isabelle, travels to a small island with a priest to help give medical care to the population. On the way, a storm destroys the ship, nearly killing Isabelle. Once on the island, nothing and no one is as she suspected. The Master of the island is living under a curse and Isabelle sets out to free him, but his manners and attitude certainly don’t help.

“Legacy” by Ruth Ryan Langon is one of those stories that most of us at one time or another dream of happening to us. Aidan O’Mara’s mother has died. Aidan gave up her job to nurse her mother and now learns that she has no job to go back to. Out of the blue she gets an invitation to Ireland and a note explaining that her mother was this man’s daughter and he wants to meet her. Since Aidan knew her grandparents, she’s sure there has been some mistake but a short vacation in Ireland along with a hefty sum of money for the inconvenience of the visit would certainly help with the bills and her mental health. Of course that was the plan. Her maybe-grandfather and his handsome single lawyer are much more than she expected. This one is mostly a straight story of love found in the most unexpected places. Not only love but possibly family when Aidan thought she’d lost it all. A heartwarming story, especially at this time of year.

Each story is a gem. Well told with strong central female characters who struggle with who they are and where their lives are going. What values to stand up for and willing to take the consequences.

Postscript from Pemberly is book seven of the Pemberley Chronicles. Unfortunately, I haven’t read any of the previous six books. Well, that’s not entirely true. I did read the “look inside” of the first book a while back and put it on my wish list on Amazon; but with the height of my TBR pile…. But, when I got the chance to read Postscript from Pemberley, I wasn’t going to be stopped by the lack of prior book knowledge (and you shouldn’t either). The book, you see, has an appendix that lists the major characters and their family relationships. As you can probably imagine by the seventh book, we’re into cousin and grandchildren territory.

The main point of view character is Jessica Courtney. Jessica is the daughter of Rev. James Courtney and Emily Gardiner Courtney (the daughter of the Gardiners — Elizabeth’s and Jane’s Aunt and Uncle Gardiner). Jessica’s parents run the church and parish at Kympton. When the book opens we learn that Julian Darcy, the oldest son of Elizabeth and Fitzwilliam Darcy, is having problems. His wife, Josie, has left him and their son to run off with a man who has promised to publish her book. We later learn that the book never got published, Josie got left on her own, and is very ill. Josie doesn’t recover and dies. Julian returns home to leave his son with his sister and her husband before going to France to continue his research.

All this is in the first few pages but it sets up the relationship that develops between Jessica and Julian as they become friends. Whether this relationship will develop into anything more is anyone’s guess as Julian is much older (Jessica is eighteen). Besides, Julian is headed to Paris for more study and Jessica is offered the chance to run the expanded and upgraded school on the grounds of Pemberley.

Mr. Darcy, ever concerned for the people that look to him for their livelihood, has decided that the current school at the church and at Pemberley is not educating the children for anything other than menial jobs and he wants to do better. Jessica is hired (and moves into Pemberley) to run the school and hire two additional teachers to develop a course of study that will better prepare the area’s children.

Thus we have at least two plot lines going. Actually there are several other plot threads in this volume. Will Jessica and Julian fall in love? Will they remain friends? Will the school work out? Will Jessica find qualified teachers? Will bringing two people in who have not been part of the previous books cause problems? What other family squabbles and events will occur to stir up the family.

What’s a novel without some conflict? Not very interesting, actually. Luckily for us, Rebecca Ann Collins knows that we need to have some conflict and some ambiguity in our reading and she provides it. Told mostly from Jessica’s point of view, we learn about the ups and downs of the now fairly large cast of characters. Jessica being the kindhearted person she is tends to be the one that her cousins turn to when they need advice or just to talk candidly without rumors spreading. Jessica listens, seldom judges, and knows how to keep secrets — especially her own. One interesting choice is that some of Jessica’s interior thoughts are told from snippets from her journal and from letters written to her and from her to others.

When a young lady with impeccable teaching credentials returns to live with her parents, Jessica finds not only an exceptional teacher for the school but a friend. However, Jessica is not the only person with secrets. Remember too that while we’ve reached 1866 — the times are not our own and in many ways the rules of behavior in that period of time make it difficult to understand the utter devastation that can be done to someone’s reputation for behavior that in our time wouldn’t even lift an eyebrow. Women were kept to a strict standard that most of us would rebel against with all our might today.

Postscript from Pemberley is fine addition to the growing list of Pride and Prejudice sequels. A marvelous book to curl up with on a rainy day with a hot cup of tea, to sink into a time and place so different from our own and visit people who seem so familiar. There’s no explosions or car chases, but there is tension and conflict and people we care about and hope will turn out happy at the end. It’s a book that when you finish you give a sigh of satisfaction and perhaps turn back to page one and start over.

Bibliographic Info:
Crow Call by Lois Lowry.
Illustrator: Bagram Ibatoulline.
ISBN: 978-0-545-03035-9
Scholastic Press.
$16.99 US/$21.99 Canada.
Published: October 2009.
Hardcover.

The cover was so stunning that I just stared at it for a while before I bothered to open the book. The front flap said the story was based on the author’s personal experience. I flipped through the pages before reading and the art is all of that wonderful muted colors that, while not really old, gives the impression of time past and long ago. The scenes are all realistic and, for this reader, made me remember my own childhood in Maine. The town. The cars. The restaurant/diner. The countryside. Perhaps I don’t really remember but only think I do from photos, but nonetheless the images evoke that feeling of long ago but almost now. A magical time.

The story is a simple one. A young daughter is trying to connect to the father than has been gone for so long, fighting a war in a far off land. He’s back now. Her father. A stranger. This quote from the book, which was also on the flap makes the young girl’s feelings clear:

I sit shyly in the front seat of the car next to the stranger who is my father, my legs pulled up under the too-large wool shirt I am wearing.

I practice his name to myself, whispering it under my breath. Daddy. Daddy.

Saying it feels new. The war has lasted so long. He has been gone so long.

It’s the next page when she finally talks to him to say, “I’ve never gone hunting before….” that caused me to hesitate. At this point the story could go many different ways. Lowry has often taken me where I didn’t want to go in her books. So, I took a deep breath to calm myself and continued. Yes, they’re off to go hunting — crows not deer. The crows are eating crops and need to be culled.

But first there are a few incidents that are great opportunities to talk with children. They stop for breakfast at a diner. Obviously they are going hunting and girls don’t hunt. Liz has her braids tucked into her shirt and the waitress calls her “son”. Neither Liz nor her father correct the mistake and later they joke about it. I had to laugh because nowadays girls are allowed to do so much more than they were when I was a child and children on farms were often taught to do the same chores no matter what their gender. But, it’s more than that — it’s a nice bonding moment for Liz and her dad.

Once they arrive at the field where they will hunt the crows. Liz takes out her Crow Call. It’s her job to call the crows to them so her father can shoot them. They discuss this a bit and Liz is determined to go through with it because she wants to show her dad that she can be strong — but it’s fairly obvious that she doesn’t feel right about this.

Once she blows the call, the crows rise into the air and respond. The moment in story and illustration becomes almost magical. Have you every watched birds just fly for the fun of it. Circle on the air. Chase each other. Ride thermals. Can you imagine hundreds of crows answering a call of another crow in the distance.

It’s a simple story but one with many opportunities to talk with your child(ren) about what life was like, about activities that you or your grandparents used to play. Does anyone play kick the can or one-two-three-red light anymore? Or just spin and spin until you fall over and then watch the stars and fireflies until the world settles down? The world before Nintendo and Wii.

On the other hand, even though the world has changed since Lois Lowry was a child (there’s a photo at the end of the book of her in her big woolen shirt), this is still a story that children of today can relate to and enjoy. The fact that it’s also beautifully presented and is a bit of nostalgia for adults doesn’t hurt either when you’re looking for a good book for a gift.

In the world of PC and “won’t someone think of the children”, there’s nothing here that should upset children — or adults.

My Little Polar Bear is written and illustrated by the author, Claudia Rueda. Published by Scholastic Press in hardcover with a dust jacket which has nice sparkles like falling snow everywhere but the words, the bears, and the snow. The book is aimed at 4-8 year olds. At that age they may be able to read it to themselves as the words are very simple and very, very few — many that repeat. However, it can be read to children much younger.

There is no plot per se, the baby polar bear wants to know if he or she is a polar bear. The parent bear assures the child that indeed that’s what he/she is — a polar bear. The inevitable “Why?” elicits a list of polar bear traits that the baby shares with polar bears. The child is concerned because she/he doesn’t meet all those traits. It ends with the parent expressing an “I love you”. Simple affirmation of who you are and that you are loved for who you are–what all children should expect and receive–unqualified love. Just because you exist, you are loved.

I can see reading this snuggled up with a young child, and can almost imagine the questions the parent will get about polar bears and why can’t “I” be a polar bear. Parents will understand how the simplest story or homily will and often does turn into a philosophical discussion preceded by “Why?”. But its simplicity makes it a good cuddle down with me for five minutes book.

My only problem –and it’s a problem of my preferences in children’s art books–the art is very lovely in pale blues, white, and grey. I would have liked more contrast for young eyes. These older eyes prefer contrast too — while very stylistic and beautifully uncluttered I miss the contrast that could have been done with the dark sky of the winter polar region. But that’s only my preference.

However, I do love polar bears and thought as long as I’m talking about polar bears, here’s the National Geographic site which has some polar bear wallpaper that might just go along with the book, My Little Polar Bear. This particular photo shows what I mean about a stronger contrast between the blue and white–just saying.

With Jane, Elizabeth, and Lydia married, Mrs. Bennet has set her sights on marrying off Mary and Kitty. Since Kitty is currently away visiting her sisters, Jane and Elizabeth, Mary is taking the brunt of Mrs. Bennet’s efforts. While Mary is willing to meekly follow Mrs. Bennet’s instructions to smile and dance, she has no intention of marrying as she firmly believes that it is not a state she wishes to enter, having observed her sister’s marriages.

Ward has chosen to focus on Mary, the least understood and most overlooked of the Bennet sisters– in fact, in some movies based loosely on the original Austen story, they leave Mary out altogether. In A Match for Mary Bennet, Mary is very much as she was in Pride and Prejudice. She studies and reads but does not always get from the reading what most people would expect. She sees only the surface and assumes that what you see is all there is to a person. She doesn’t lie herself, and assumes everyone tells the truth. In a society based so much on hiding a person’s true emotions, Mary’s character leaves her ill prepared to deal with the world as it is. Luckily for Mary, she is somewhat protected by her family.

Mary also believes that people with authority are voices of reason; I believe that this is why she has been so taken with Mr. Collins. Her mother tells her Lizzie married Mr. Darcy to make up for refusing Mr. Collins and it was a huge sacrifice on Lizzie’s part. Mr. Collins tells Mary to never speak of Lydia again–to pretend she died. If authority says something, Mary doesn’t question–until she meets the new minister Mr. Darcy has chosen for Kympton, Mr. Oliver.

Without her sisters, Mary finds she’s asked to dance at the assemblies and that she also has to take part in conversations. We find that she’s not shallow. Mary has a good head on her shoulders, she just assumes that people are what they appear to be and when they ask a question — that is the question they are asking. As readers we find that Mary gives good advice. After meeting Mr. Oliver, she begins to pay more attention to the people around her and learns that she has often missed seeing the true person. Mary grows.

Her sisters’, Jane and Elizabeth, and their husbands, are aware that Mary doesn’t wish to marry and they manage to assist her in finding security in case she doesn’t change her mind.

There’s a lot going on in this book besides Mary finding herself and new inner strength to stand up for herself. Many of the original characters from Pride and Prejudice appear and continue their lives in concert with the way they were set in motion in that original book. Life goes on in the world of Pemberly and the people live their lives. Ward has fashioned an interesting story and has given us an interesting take on a Mary Bennet. It may not be to everyone’s taste as religion is a large part of Mary’s life and thus is a large part of her moving forward to become a more independent person. It’s not preachy and it’s totally in character.  And as it shaped Mary in Pride and Prejudice it shapes her thoughts and actions in A Match for Mary Bennet. And as readers, we come to know her better for spending some time with her.

Creator: Russell T Davies
Actors: John Barrowman, Eve Myles, Gareth David-Lloyd, Peter Capaldi, Paul Copley
Directors: Euros Lynn
Summary: In this new series, re-join Captain Jack, Gwen Cooper and Ianto Jones, who are still coming to terms with the death of two of their closest friends, Tosh and Owen. This time the Torchwood team are faced with their fiercest threat to date – one which throws the future of Torchwood and the entire human race spiraling into danger. They battle against the odds but do they stand a chance of saving mankind?

I’d already posted here earlier about how dark and emotional the first three episodes of this season where. Now I’ve seen the full season. Usually a season is more than six episodes but at the point this season was done they thought it might be the last. The entire season is one story so there’s continuity between the episodes.

In 1965, aliens contacted Britain and demanded 12 children. The government gave them the children and the aliens went away. They were supposed to never come back. But, now it’s present time and the aliens have returned, heralding their return by speaking with the voice of all the children of the world. This time they want 10% of the world’s children or they will destroy the human race.

What makes this season so powerful is that it’s so believable. Putting myself in the mindset of the show, we gave in before why not do it again. Isn’t 10% of the children of Earth a small price to pay to keep the rest of the species alive? If you do give them 10% shouldn’t they come from the worst schools, the dregs, the projects, the children who’ll only grow up to be trouble makers anyway? How do you decide? And, of course the children of all the politicians would be exempt; after all their children will be good citizens.

Does the good of the many out weigh the good of the few? Shouldn’t we give up those 10% so that the rest can live? What if they were your children? Would that make a difference? If it does make a difference when it is your child then can we really justify taking away the children of other parents?

This season is dark and it asks many ethical questions? You see the politicians making the plans and already putting a spin to make it look like a good thing? Reduce the worlds population. That can only be a good thing right? Get rid of the dregs — that’s got to help everyone?

This review is mostly questions because as I sat and watched the final episodes, that’s what I was left with. Questions and the belief that if there were aliens and if our government was faced with such a threat — could I trust them? Based on what I’ve seen of the world’s various governments and justice systems over the last twenty years or so — no, I can’t trust them. Not when ethics are involved. If such a scenario was to occur could the remaining citizens of planet Earth live with themselves, with what they did, no matter what choice they made.

Of course, the kicker which we and the viewers and the government officials know is what they want the children for. Even knowing that the aliens will be back again and again for their 10%, they are still willing to take the deal. Luckily Torchwood, now down to only three members is still around trying to fight. But even for them the cost of winning may just be too high — or at least too high to live with. Just how much guilt can a person take and continue to function?

Filled with action and suspense and some moments of sheer frustration and fury — this one will wring tears, anger, frustration, and hopefully some soul searching out of its viewers. This is amazing writing and acting — drama doesn’t get much better than this.

If you’ve seen this season, I’d really like to hear about your thoughts and opinions.

Mr. Darcy has married Elizabeth Bennet. Caroline Bingley is devastated and mortified by this turn of events. After the ceremony, she finds an empty room and gives way to her heartbreak and sorrow. Imagine her surprise when she realizes that her blatant display has been witnessed by a gentleman who had been in the room before she entered. They agree to never mention it again. Carolyn believes that is the end of the matter until months later when she is introduced to Mr. Darcy’s American cousin, Mr. Robert Darcy, the man who witnessed her loss of decorum and who, because of his station and relations, will be thrown into her company as he waits out the war before returning to America.

Most of the follow on books that continue the story of Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, deal with the lives of Elizabeth and Darcy. Monica Fairview has chosen to focus on Caroline Bingley. In Pride and Prejudice, Carolyn was depicted as a proud, jealous, status seeking, snarky, conniving woman who had set her sights on Mr. Darcy. In the very first scene, Fairview changes our perception of Carolyn by showing us that she didn’t just want Darcy’s fortune and status–she actually loved him. We can’t help but feel for her loss and sorrow–but can we come to like her? How will she take this loss — will she accept it and move on to try again, or harden her heart and become the woman we all thought she was?

It doesn’t take much effort to guess that Robert Darcy is smitten with Caroline Bingley. He was privy to her outpouring of emotional tears and had been touched by the depths of her feelings. He wants to get to know her better and perhaps take his cousin’s place in her affections, or at least gain her good will. We don’t get into his head, so we can only guess at his motives and wishes. However, it’s obvious that the two of them come from different backgrounds even though their status might be equal. So, there’s plenty of misunderstandings and cultural differences to add to the mix.

The major stumbling block is that Caroline is a woman of her times. She’s been trained from a young age in how to behave and what is acceptable and what is not. Over time she has had to give up almost everything she loved in order to become the woman that society expected her to be. But underneath, Caroline still remembers bits of what she lost and it’s only now, with the loss of Darcy to Elizabeth Bennet that she wonders if it was worth it. Caroline begins to question all her assumptions about society, her way of life, her status, and reputation. She’s beginning to see herself, her family, her sister, and her friends with some new insights. When Robert Darcy comes to the rescue of her reputation it just adds to her confusion.

Over time Robert Darcy and Caroline Bingley have their own dance of approach and avoidance and pride and prejudice. Some of the best and wittiest dialogue is during the fights these two have over their perceptions of right and wrong, society, reputation, and trust. You find yourself wishing you could reach within the pages of the book and give a shake or whisper in an ear — as with Pride and Prejudice, we can only sit and continue reading and hoping that these characters will eventually work out their differences and realize their true feelings for each other.

Along the way, Caroline reclaims herself, finding that many of the preferences and talents that she’d suppressed in order to be deemed “proper” are ones that if she’d had any say she’d never have abandoned. As she examines her life and her future, she becomes a person that this reader, at least, found she actually liked.

Fairview gives us a Caroline Bingley that has history, which in turns gives her depth. She allows us to see that there is more to this character than we could ever have guessed from the pages of Pride and Prejudice. Yet, she doesn’t do anything that would take away from the original presentation of the character; she only puts it in a different light and gives us background to understand Caroline a bit better.

Indeed, this is a worthy addition to the growing body of works that continue the stories begun in Pride and Prejudice.

Publishing Info: The Other Mr. Darcy. Did you know, Mr. Darcy had an American Cousin? by Monica Fairview. ISBN: 978-1402225130. Published by Sourcebooks Landmark, October 1st, 2009.

Adventures of Riley: Riddle of the Reef by Amanda Lumry and Laura Hurwitz, Scholastic Press, ISBN: 978-0-545-06847-5, $16.99 US, $21.99 Canada (Hardcover, there is also a paperback version).

Riley flies out to Australia to help Aunt Martha, Uncle Max, Alice, and Wyland find out what’s killing off the coral of the Great Barrier Reef. The set up of having Riley join them allows the authors to provide informational and scientific data within the context of the story as Riley asks the questions that most nine-year-old boys would ask about what is happening and what he’s seeing. Alice appears in the illustrations and seems to be the same age as Riley; but has no part in this story other than being there. Aunt Martha has only a few lines. It’s Uncle Max and Wyland who provide information, instructions, and work with Riley. I would have felt more comfortable with the females of the expedition also being more active in the imparting of knowledge rather than simply adding gender balance.

In the context of a story there’s not much here. But as a source of information about the Great Barrier Reef and Coral Bleaching, packaging the information in an adventure in which the young protagonist, Riley, gets to take part allows the authors to provide exposition in a more natural way than they otherwise could with standard fictional story. Here Riley is taking an active part but, because he’s young, inquisitive, and not trained — he becomes the sounding board for the adults.

While this lesson in environmental change and the destruction of the coral that makes up the Great Barrier Reef is easy to understand, given in small doses throughout, it does require that the reader or if read to, the hearer, to be moderately interested in the subject matter. The authors don’t tone down the information though they do use easily understood language and they also provide a Glossary at the end of the book.

The book is heavily illustrated with photos and art. The art is realistic and colorful and the photographs are matched to the text to help to make the material clear and to focus on what’s being imparted about the reef and coral. While having art on top of photographs is a bit jarring, it works in this context to keep some distance from the material, while having the immediacy of photography.

Using Wyland as a character in the book is a great way to appeal to children, many of whom will be familiar with his murals of sea life. We lived in Providence, Rhode Island for a while and one of his murals is visible from the interstate as you drive through. His realistic murals of undersea life and whale creates an instant connection for children who are familiar with his work.

The scientific information is given in two ways: as conversation/instruction or as insert/sidebars. The inserts/sidebars have a quote about coral, sea life, or some related topic and are fully attributed. I found this first one to be striking and memorable:

* A coral reef produces its own sunscreen, using the same chemical in the sunscreen that humans use.
* Corals are like tiny anemones or jellyfish. Over 3 million little algae live in their skin and produce energy for them to feed on.
* The Great Barrier Reef is so large, it can be seen from outer space!
— Tim McClanahan, Ph.D., Senior Conservation Zoologist, Wildlife Conservation Society.

In the end, our adventurers discover some of the issues that are destroying the reef and causing coral bleaching. The book ends with a few suggestions for what people can do to help slow the destruction.

This series has a website where you can get further information on this and other books about Riley’s adventures: www.adventuresofriley.com.

On the whole, I heartily recommend the book for a young person who wishes to know more about the environment, Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, coral, or the world’s oceans. The science is sound, though on a basic level, and matched to a young person’s understanding. Books on scientific topics are difficult to write for young people and these authors have done a wonderful job of balancing science information with a story narrative. If the reader has an interest in the core science area of the adventure, then they’ll enjoy the book.