This is what happens when you don't stick to the reading list...

I'm really enjoying the way the Keeping It Real challenge categories are encouraging me to browse my local library for books that catch my eye, whether those are books I've been meaning to read for a while but not gotten around to yet, or books that just look interesting. The DDC for March was 800-899, which generally includes a lot of poetry, humor, plays, some well-known fiction, and non-fiction about writing and writers. Along with the book listed below, I also read Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats, by T.S. Eliot, which was too short to count towards my reading total for the year, but frequently gets referenced by my in-laws, so now I'll know what they're talking about. I didn't end up completing the challenge for April, but the DDC for this month was 500-599, which allowed me to celebrate Star Wars day on May the 4th by reading a book about the science in Star Wars, totally indulging both my inner science nerd and my inner Star Wars nerd. I've also got a few books on real physics and space stuff out of the library, which I haven't had time to start yet.

As for the KidLit for Grown-Ups challenge, the category for March was Newbery Medal winners and Newbery Honor books, which made me very excited. And after I went and looked at my shelves, I got even more excited. I own quite a few books from the list of winners and honorees (twenty-five of them, to be exact), and I also had a Newbery Honor book out of the library for the Birth Year challenge. I ended up reading four books for March's KidLit challenge, and all of them were excellent. Then, the KidLit challenge for April was to read the first book in a children's series that you either hadn't read or hadn't read since you were a kid, which resulted in me reading two more fun books, including one off my TBR pile that I'd been excited for. All in all, this particular monthly challenge has been great so far.

16. Where the Mountain Meets the Moon, by Grace Lin

(Read for the Mount TBR and KidLit challenges.) This book was even better than I hoped it would be, and I had pretty high expectations to begin with. There were three things I particularly loved about it. First of all, it's beautiful to look at. I love the illustrations, I love the chapter headings, and I love the use of different fonts and headings for the stories within the story. It's a pleasure to read, and not just because of the writing. Secondly, I love the way the stories within the story are more than just stories. The moment I figured that out was the moment I knew I was going to love this book. And thirdly, I love that we not only get the tale of Minli's quest, but also get to see Ma and Ba dealing with her absence while she's off seeking their fortune. That really grounded the story for me, and made me love it all the more.   My rating: 10/10

17. The Shadow of the Wind, by Carlos Ruiz Zafón

I really love the writing in this, which leaves me wondering how the translation compares to the original. I wish I knew Spanish, but the translator did an amazing job, and the story itself is wonderfully structured and beautifully told. I do feel like Nuria Monfort's account occasionally felt too much like a recap and lost some of its effectiveness, but whenever it came back to focusing on the interpersonal connections that really drive this story, it drew me back in. And the main story surrounding that account is full of intriguing characters and shadowy mysteries, which all converge nicely in the end.   My rating: 9/10

18. Creation Regained, by Albert M. Wolters

(Read for the Read It Again, Sam challenge.) This was another book I originally read in college that was fairly influential in the maturation of my worldview (not surprisingly, since it's a book about worldview). It's a bit of a dry read, but the concepts in it are really useful, with a lot of potential for application in all of life (which is kind of the point). I wish there was a simplified version of this book to recommend to newer believers or those without an academic background, as I would be hesitant to recommend this particular book to such people, even though they could benefit greatly from the ideas, just as I have.   My rating: 7/10

Possums and skunks and monsters - oh, my!

Today, I'd like to discuss two fairly unrelated topics, which have combined to cause massive adrenaline spikes on a nightly basis. First, spring has arrived here in Ohio, and along with the occasional downpour and the warmer weather, it's brought with it an abundance of nocturnal creatures that like to hang out in our backyard. Along with the skunk that featured prominently in my last post, we've also had possum and raccoon sightings, none of which are animals I particularly want Radar trying to befriend.

My nightly routine has therefore expanded to include the following process: Turn on the yard and patio lights. Stand at the door and shine a flashlight around, looking for any critters. Step outside and stomp around on the patio, making lots of noise to deter any nocturnal beasts from wandering into the area, all the while praying that the skunk isn't hanging out behind the grill or the bush or the ornamental grasses. Take the dog out on a leash, having a heart attack anytime a shadow moves or the wind blows or the neighbor's cat makes an appearance. I highly recommend this as a bedtime routine for anyone who never wants to sleep soundly again.

Second, about a week into this springtime routine, I went to see A Quiet Place for the first time. I would highly recommend it, as it's the best movie I've seen in theaters so far this year. There are many things I love about it, and one of those things is the way it plays with sound. For anyone who hasn't heard about the movie yet, the basic premise is that it follows a family who has to live in almost complete silence, because the world has been overrun by creatures who hunt by sound. I won't go into much detail (since I don't want to spoil anything), except to say that I have twice now watched audiences go from munching popcorn to total silence as the film progresses - it creates an atmosphere where you feel like you can't make a sound, because the family onscreen can't. It's quite the experience, and it's a movie that sticks with you.

Which is great, because it has some wonderful things to say about family, and terrible, because you leave that theater noticing every little sound you make. And, as previously mentioned, my nightly routine involves going outside in the dark and stomping around - a process that's bad enough when you're worrying about skunks, and which gets ten times worse when somewhere in the back of your mind, you're convinced that any loud noise could result in a creature coming out of nowhere and skewering you. I have so far been an adult and kept up the stomping, since the skunk is real and the monsters are (probably, hopefully) not, but it's certainly added an extra layer of entertainment to the routine, especially because I can't help laughing at myself - once I've made it safely back inside, that is.