Overheard at Table 3: Haiku Inspired by a Girl in the Dentist's Office

Haiku Inspired by a Girl in the Dentist's Office

Pasty white girls with 
teeth like little pearls, laughing
freely in the sun.


MR
2023-0329

Overheard at Table 3: More Quotes from Idle Hands

Some good quotes from "Idle Hands" by Cassondra Windwalker

These quotes are spoken by the narrative voice of Ella, who is, in fact, the devil.

From the Agora Books publication in 2022

p 26:  You are the only reason anxiety is a concept.  In fact, you could say it's the source of your occasional nobility.

p 27: The beauties of this world are already so terribly brief, and you shorten them even more with your incessant dissatisfaction.  It's a quality neither I nor your Creator much enjoy.

p 85: (about Perdie, the worried mother)  Now that's how I like to see someone.  In my vast experience, the nearer you are to claiming responsibility for someone else's happiness or misery, the closer you are to me.  Whether you admit it or not, every one of you has a God complex.  To be fair, They kind of built it into you.  At any rate, you'd all like to believe you have more control, more influence, than you do.  That your choice, whatever it was, matters so much more than everyone else's.  Which makes you easy to manipulate.  Easy to drive to despair.  And once in despair, you'll clutch at any unexpected lifeboat, however patently unseaworthy the craft.

Overheard at Table 2: "Idle Hands" by Cassondra Windwalker

 In the tradition of CS Lewis's Screwtape Letters, the Devil is detailing the events of this tale, at many times interjecting herself into the text to direct her observations at you, dear reader, and even placing herself directly into the plot. Of interesting note is that the Devil is female, whereas the Triune God she refers to as "they" - which subtly places "them" not only as plural (or at least non-binary) but puts them outside, afar, distant.

The philosophy espoused by Ella (the Devil) is theologically sound according the tenets of the Christian Faith, and it would be interesting to see if this author uses her again in another book.

This book is a twist on the Faustian tales, but instead of a male Faust selling his soul for worldly riches, we have Perdie (a mother of three) faced with decisions that tears at the hearts of so many mothers. Ella, of course, uses that for a bit of a game, a "what would you do if you could?" false choice, that leads to unexpected consequences.

Not more than that should be given, so as not to give any spoilers. Suffice it to say, this author has a good handle on the tone of the novel. At times, the philosophy may be a bit lengthy; however, the intensity of the story and the decisions that Perdie has to make keep you engaged and engrossed and turning the page.

The characters are flawed, indeed, and we know who to root for and who not to. Matt, the abusive husband, at times comes across as a bit one-dimensional, but Reilly (Perdie's second husband) is a wonderfully refreshing contrast to the stereotype of step-fathers being at best uncaring and at worst, abusive. He is kind, considerate, and makes decisions that true dads and husbands make.

The theme and the events of this book are intense, and the author handles them with grace, but doesn't shy away from the importance of the details (where Ella lives, of course) and the strength of this book is that it never gives you exactly what you expect. We've all read enough "family drama" stories to think, "Oh yeah, this will happen this way" ... but not here. This is truly a surprise, and hopefully that will encourage you to read this book, because yes, this is a book that people should read.

"Refreshing, intelligent, engaging, philosophical" are the terms I would splay over the front cover of any subsequent reprint of this novel.

Written 2023-0515

Posted on 2023-0315 (rough date of when I finished reading the book)

Overheard at Booth 3: "I Kill the Mockingbird" by Paul Acampora

 I enjoyed this book immensely, but in full confession, I read it just after reading Paolo Coehlo's The Pilgrimage, which was so offensive to a true Follower of Christ that anything after that would have been a relief.  This book was a perfect relief and a much-needed bright "lift" after reading something so evil.   Thus, my review should probably be taken in that context.

The story is simple enough: Jr High students start a "reverse psychology" campaign to encourage people to read "To Kill a Mockingbird" by hiding all the copies in the local bookstore.  They have given the illusion that the supply is reduced, thus increasing demand.  They also send out a multi-media effort to pretend that the book has been banned, which also increases interest in the book.

The novel is fleshed out with several subplots, such as the main character dealing with her mother's cancer as well as her burgeoning more-than-Platonic interest in her friend.  

Some harsher critics will (and have) dismissed the book's characters as reading like an adult's dream of how teens should act, and to be fair, yes, it is difficult to imagine a teenager who is a baseball star and whose favorite author is Charles Dickens; however, this is a delightful tale about bibliophiles and it obviously is designed to target the child in all of us who actually enjoy reading and enjoy reading well.  So yes, while it may have been more believable had these kids been reading "The Fault in Our Stars" more than "Fahrenheit 451," that doesn't change the fact that, however, fanciful, these characters are alive and, more importantly, fun.

It's a fun book.  Even with dealing with a cancer diagnosis.  It is about that summer between Jr High and High School, when everything is on the cusp of changing, and the last vestiges of childhood and innocence are going to be left behind.

Overheard at Table 4: Raw and Unfiltered Honey

Helen: I see you bought "Raw and Unfiltered" honey, so what's the difference between that and regular honey?

Carl: Regular honey just says, "I'm sweeeet!" but Raw and Unfiltered Honey says, "I'm sweet.  And THICK!  and RICH!  You're gonna LUUUUUUUV putting me into your body!" See the difference?

Helen: I do now, yes.

Overheard at Booth 3: A Few Proverbs for Your Day

"Not everything that can be counted counts, and not everything that counts can be counted."
- Albert Einstein


"With lies you may go ahead in the world, but you can never go back. "
- Proverb


"Give crayons. Adults are disturbingly impoverished of these magical dream sticks."
- Dr Sun Wolf

Overheard at Table 2: Pushing the Husband Away

 "Don't you think that constantly pushing your husband away, he'll one day reach a point where he stops trying?"

"Oh, I'm counting on it."