The Cinder Pond: A Free Book Review

The Cinder Pond (audiobook here) by Carroll Watson Rankin, differs considerably from Dandelion Cottage, though both involve (at least initially) architectural oddities.

The story opens with a splash as a boy accidentally plumbs the depths of Lake Michigan and is rescued by a girl who lives in a ramshackle building on a disused bit of pier. Humiliated, he trudges home and at least some of the truth comes out. But that story element soon goes into cold storage, and the reader will likely forget about it.

It does introduce our main character, Jeanne, the girl who lives on the pier. Her father is of French (ultimately Huguenot) origins, now eking out a living as a fisherman. Her mother is conveniently dead--conveniently for the story, I mean; it doesn't help Jeanne at all. Mom died of some illness, and Dad thought he was going to check out too, so when a small family took him and baby Jeanne in, he decided to marry the daughter of the clan to give Jeanne a mother. Unfortunately, everyone was taken in: Dad was not rich, as his new family supposed, and the new family was more obnoxious than he had realized. So Jeanne gets a friendly but utterly lazy step-mother and eventually a bunch of half-siblings.

Finally her father decides she is in a dead-end position, and he takes her to her rich grandfather, who disapproved of her parents' marriage. Is the grandfather a stern sort who can't help unbending and taking an interest in his granddaughter? Does she have to cope with obnoxious relatives?

What do you think?

Anyway, revelations are revealed and Stuff Happens, some of it rather sad.

Overall, I found The Cinder Pond weaker than Dandelion Cottage, which has a stronger focus. It builds better; events and people here are sometimes rushed on and off stage, and certain loose ends should have been tidied up, in my view. Also, the set-up for the ending is telegraphed a bit too much. It would have been better to share in Jeanne's surprise.

Still, there are some good characters here--Jeanne herself, for the most part, and her friend the Captain, who's actually the best part of the story, in my opinion. It's not a classic, but it is a good read in general.

The Cinder Pond:
E-text
Audiobook

Dandelion Cottage: A Free Audiobook Review

This is one of those annoying instances where I can't find a text to go with an audiobook. The good news is that the audiobook is well done, so at least you can hear it read.

Dandelion Cottage by Carroll Watson Rankin, gets little recognition online: no Wikipedia entry (I'm thinking about fixing that), no e-text that I can find, just an audiobook.

That link I keep giving has the best summary so far, though I hope to improve on it.

The cottage that has served as the parsonage for a local church has fallen into disrepair, and when a new minister comes with too large a family to fit, it is retired. The minister's daughter and three of her friends ask Mr. Black, a church official in charge of the cottage, for permission to use it as a playhouse during the summer. Since the yard is overrun with weeds, especially dandelions, he offers to let them use the cottage in return for weeding the place.

The girls not only weed the yard but do what they can to fix the place up, and they promise to invite Mr. Black to a dinner at the cottage once they have everything ready. But he has to leave town, and all manner of events transpire, some good, some bad. In particular, they pick up some odious neighbors who team up with a naive know-it-all to cause incredible trouble. There are some good lessons here concerning how to deal with jerks and the consequences of losing your temper.

The climax of the story is the long-awaited dinner, which in one way works out predictably and in another doesn't--though in retrospect it all makes perfect sense.

On the whole, this is a good book for children (except that it might give them ideas about trying the same thing...); just remember that the girls are just beginning their teens, and this was a different century. They're more childlike than modern kids in some ways and more mature in others. But kids can learn from that: it's good for all of us to know that there have been other times and ways.

So once again, this is the link for the audiobook.

The House with the Twisting Passage: a Free Audiobook Review

That's right: so far as I can tell, there isn't a free e-text available this time; The House with the Twisting Passage is the only free version. The reader, Xenutia, has a good voice and style for this sort of thing.

The book itself is hard to categorize. It's technically a children's story, though I'm not sure I'd try it on a modern child, for reasons I'll explain. And it has a curious structure. Essentially, there is a framing story about Jenny, a nine-year-old whose parents have gone to India for a few years. Jenny is being traded between two aunts, the interesting one being a caretaker for a mansion. This mansion of course has a twisting passage with a lot of disused rooms, and Jenny makes up residents for them all. She even makes up a personality to go with a portrait of a little girl, Miss Clare, whose doll she finds and adopts. She briefly encounters the real Miss Clare, to her great dismay, but continues her game.

Then she goes to stay with the other aunt for a couple months, and when she returns, the mansion is being used as a rest home for people almost exactly like the ones she had imagined. They tell her stories, which is the interior of the frame and a completely mixed bag. Many of the stories are anecdotes or vignettes, and they aren't of great interest. Others aren't bad, but even they, in my opinion, could be told more effectively. Let's go by chapter:

08 - Miss Primrose's Story: An old lady tells about her putatively magical adventures with her nephew Jerry. The problem for me is that the woman affirms magic in telling the tales, but it's fairly clear that there's no magic involved. I admit that sort of thing bothers me.

09 - Black Jack's Story: This is rather longer than most, about a sailor's accidental cloak-and-dagger adventure. Could be told more effectively, but quite good enough as is.

10 - Uncle Nodding: reminiscences about running a store.

11 - Miss Ruby's Story: A dressmaker is hired to make one good dress and one bad one.

12 - Tarramina's Tale: an anecdote that is supposed to be spooky but (IMO) doesn't make it.

13 - Peter Bollin's Tale: A doctor tries to help a boy back to the straight and narrow. Not bad, but a little too anecdotal: it could be better told.

14 - The Rhymes of Mr Dennis: some good, some not so good. Generally worth it.

15 - The February Lady's Story: about her two fat cats. Generally good, but sounds like a chat over tea--which is essentially what it's supposed to be.

16 - Jenny Meets the Littlest One: Bollins redux and rhymes about a little boy's adventures as a floor mat and with a mischievous postman. Rather good.

17 - Old Mrs Bunch's Tale: The adventures of a hall mirror. A good story, though I think the perspective may be too adult for children.

18 - Nanny Remembers: This is actually part of the frame story, about Miss Clare as a wilful child with an abusive father. In the context of the surrounding stories, it seemed especially heart-rending, but without it, the frame doesn't work.

19 - Phil the Fiddler's Story: A fairy tale about a witch, some dwarves, and a little girl with a terrible choice to make.

Most of the stories are okay, but they would probably seem too slow for a modern kid's jaded tastes. You could technically ignore any of them but Chapter 18, and I'd suggest running through all of them before trying them on a child. The target age levels just seem to vary too much for me.

Anyway, after all this, we resume the frame story, with Jenny being sent to the other aunt again and fearing the changes she might find on her return. But even changes may change, and some are for the better.

Overall, I liked the story, the frame more than the interior anecdotes. I would strongly advise listening to it before trying it on children, however. It might work to run the "younger" sections, such as the poems, past younger children and eventually get to the other sections as the children grow.

Mr. Wicker's Window: a Free Book review

[Sorry about the delay; it was a bad week.]

True to my threats, I'm reviewing an old book available free online in both text and audio book form.

Chris Mason has Problems. Not the typical, modern, angsty ones: his dad's away being naval, and his mom's apparently come down with a bad case of Incipient Death. So he does what any twelve-year-old would do: he goes out for a walk in his native Georgetown and gets talked into visiting an antiques store to ask the owner about giving a job to a friend.

Little does he know that the owner, Mr. Wicker, is a wizard recruiting for a job back in the 1790s. It's the sort of thing most kids would miss. Anyway, before even Chris can say, "Golly Moses!" (his typical exclamation), he's back in time and on the verge of a mission to help finance the fledgling American economy by doing something that would actually lead to a disastrous downturn in the prices of precious metals and gems and probably produce a global financial catastrophe. I hope no congresscreatures are reading this.

Anyway... The story features magic, sea adventure, near-fatal events, and some Amazingly Bad People for villains. It's a good yarn, but I'll mention a few issues:

1. Despite Mr. Wicker's claim that it's all really high tech, we're talking about magic here: magic words, sometimes with some material component, modifying reality. It's mostly about shape-changing, though there are some magic gadgets that are vaguely techy. Chris even brings a wooden statue to life, which is theologically problematic, but then, this isn't a Christian book.

2. The story goes downhill a bit toward the end, as though the author suddenly noticed a deadline. Specifically, the scene change between chapters 27 and 28 was so large and sudden that I actually thought for a moment that a chapter or two had disappeared. Similarly, there's a brief summary at the end of Chapter 31 that I would've fleshed out and made into a short chapter. And a duel introduced in Chapter 33 is never resolved, though I would like to have known who won.

3. A note about the audio book: while generally good, there are a few chapters that combine poor audio with a non-native speaker with a heavy accent rushing through the text. Under anything but optimal conditions (or with better equipment than my portable player), the result is hard to follow. You're better off reading the book there. The problem chapters are 2, 3, 18, and 19. The reader is intelligible in other chapters she reads, and I had no problem understanding these chapters when using my computer at home.

4. There is a fiddly point that can't be right: I'm certain that any professional sailor of the period could have recognized a slightly disguised ship he was already familiar with--the ship's lines, its movement, etc.

But these points aside, it is a good yarn, mostly on the right side of modern political correctness. There is violence, especially when the arch-villain, Claggett Chew, uses his whip, but it's well below Harry Potter level. The running time of the audio book is just under six hours, and I would suggest audio books as a good way to teach munchkins about the joys of being read to and of using their own imagination.

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness 3: The Bad Stuff

So what's the downside of Andrew Peterson's On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness? There are a few:

1. Needless vulgarity. The story practically opens with someone doing a face-plant in manure. That's a sign of things to come, though it isn't as constant as I feared. But the Fangs have disgusting taste in just about everything, and we do get to read about it all. Do we really need to?

Someone's bound to call me hypocritical based on my short story "At the Mountains of Lunacy" in the anthology Light at the Edge of Darkness, because it does feature a vulgar running gag. However, the gag is integral to the story: I can't imagine how to set up the situation otherwise, and it only occurs on-camera (so to speak) once, and even then in a non-graphic way. (I'll also admit that it's at the edge for me.) Here, the gross stuff adds to the atmosphere and characterization, but it's not truly necessary.

2. Disobedience. The kids apparently respect their mom and grandpa, but the boys in particular tend to disobey them in sneaky ways. They come close to getting eaten a time or so, but overall the results seem to justify the actions.

3. Bullying. If I had been reading this on my own, I probably would have quit about halfway through. Why? Because Podo, a generally likeable rascal, turns bully and begins abusing someone he must certainly know will not fight back. Your mileage may vary, but for me that's well over the line. It's true he has an irrational dislike for the character in question, but that doesn't even come close to justifying his own actions. (In fact, eventual revelations made his victim seem far superior to him.) I found myself hoping that Podo would expire, which should give you some idea how odious I found his behavior.

Theology. Those who are familiar with my reviews are probably wondering about the theological points. There aren't many. The Good Guys acknowledge and revere the Creator, and they do pray. There isn't a lot happening here theologically, but such as occurs is good. (In a story of this sort I think we can allow a low bar, especially for the first in a series.) Perhaps later installments will improve on that--I admit the theology of multiple sentient species is tricky, and I do wonder about the nature of the Fangs: are they more or less demons--the designated damned? Or can they be saved? And what is salvation here anyway? (The humans evidently derive in some way from Adam, so they do need a savior.)

But I can wait for more information. What is said is accurate, even if there isn't much of it.

So where am I on the story? I would suggest that a parent get the book and read it first. If that doesn't raise any problems, the next step is reading it to the kid(s). (Quit whining, you big baby! It's good for both you and the munchkins.) I will say that I'd be willing to read the next installment.

Other links on the tour:
Sally Apokedak
Brandon Barr
Jim Black
Justin Boyer
Jackie Castle
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
Gene Curtis
D. G. D. Davidson
Janey DeMeo
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Beth Goddard
Marcus Goodyear
Todd Green
Jill Hart
Katie Hart
Michael Heald
Timothy Hicks
Christopher Hopper
Jason Joyner
Kait
Carol Keen
Mike Lynch
Margaret
Rachel Marks
Shannon McNear
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Pamela Morrisson
John W. Otte
Deena Peterson
Rachelle
Steve Rice
Cheryl Russel
Ashley Rutherford
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Donna Swanson
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Robert Treskillard
Jason Waguespac
Laura Williams
Timothy Wise

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness 2: The Good Stuff

The best feature of Andrew Peterson's On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness is probably its emphasis on family unity. The Igibies stick together, and it isn't just out of tackiness. It would be nice if they had a bit more respect for each other, but on the whole it's like the Waltons or Little House on the Prairie, only with giant, homicidal, reptilian humanoids. Despite her walking handicap, Leeli is prone to wander off, and she generally does it much faster than her brothers can handle despite their superior running speed. But they always go looking for her and try to protect her against whatever she's encountered.

The humor is the second-best feature. (I know you thought I'd say it was best; consider this an early April Fool.) Humor of this sort is tricky, and some gags work better than others. The footnotes are a bit overdone, for example, but the book references generally succeed, especially those involving Oskar Reteep, my favorite character. One of the best examples occurs when Janner and Tink are helping Oskar sort some new books. They read off the title and author, and Oskar tells them where to file the book:

"The Sound of Sidgebaw, by...Riva Twotoe," Tink read.
"Ah, a fine work. Very rare. File under SITTING UTENSILS, there in the corner, see?" Oskar said.
"I Came and I Wept Like the Sissy I Am, by Lothar Sweeb," Janner said.
"Sweeb, Sweeb...yes, a mediocre talent, but very prolific. File under BACON SONGS, just behind the lampstand there."
"Bonked[,] by Phiksam Ponkbelly."
"GARDENING. Excellent book." (p. 76)

There's also some good suspense. In fact, sometimes a little too good: there's a scene (perhaps two) near the end that will probably be a bit much for younger readers, though all ends well. I'd go into more detail, but I don't want to ruin any surprises. If I do anyway, I'll join Oskar in saying, "In the words of the famed shoe burglar Hanwyt Moor, 'I'm so sorry. It won't happen again.'" (p. 140)

Tomorrow: the problems and my final recommendation for or against.

Other links that are probably more informative:
Sally Apokedak
Brandon Barr
Jim Black
Justin Boyer
Jackie Castle
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
Gene Curtis
D. G. D. Davidson
Janey DeMeo
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Beth Goddard
Marcus Goodyear
Todd Green
Jill Hart
Katie Hart
Michael Heald
Timothy Hicks
Christopher Hopper
Jason Joyner
Kait
Carol Keen
Mike Lynch
Margaret
Rachel Marks
Shannon McNear
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Pamela Morrisson
John W. Otte
Deena Peterson
Rachelle
Steve Rice
Cheryl Russel
Ashley Rutherford
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Donna Swanson
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Robert Treskillard
Jason Waguespac
Laura Williams
Timothy Wise

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness 1: Dang the Fangs! Full Speed Ahead!

In a hole in the ground there lived a hobbit. He was probably hiding from On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness by Andrew Peterson. But if you're braver than the average hobbit, you may find this humorous fantasy to your liking.

The story (even with copy and paste I'm not going to refer to it by name more than once per post) involves a world where the reptilian Fangs of Dang have invaded the much nicer continent of Skree and its hapless, witless inhabitants. The Fangs are running and ruining everything now.

Enter the Igibies. (No, not that way! What do you think this is, Fantastic Voyage? Get back to your normal size this instant!) They consist of one grandfather and former pirate, Podo; one frightened yet noble mother, Nia; and three adorable muppets, Kermit, Gonzo, and Fozzie. No, wait--that's moppets. Hmm. Okay, that would be Janner (the writer), Tink (the artist--no relation to Peter Pan's friend, apparently), and the token sister, Leeli, a young songstress who doubles as Mephibosheth in drag. (That more or less makes sense if you get even a few chapters in. It makes even more sense later on.) There's also the kid's presumably defunct father, apparently dispatched by the Fangs some time before the story opens. None of the Igibies (singular "Igiby") is quite normal for the area, so of course they run into trouble with the local Fangs of Dang.

Faster than you can say "xpltrnmn" (which doesn't mean anything but is really hard to say), the Fangs are chomping at the bit, evidence of the fabled land of Anniera (east of the Lost World of Roi Rama) arises, and one or more of the good guys nearly gets snuffed several times.

But what of Anniera and its mysterious "jewels" that could mean the end of the Fangs of Drang (and perhaps even of the Fats of Drat)? Anniera is like Camelot or Avalon or maybe even Rich Mullins in one of his moods. It was the first place the Fangs conquered, and the only one tough enough to make them say "Please" first. (There was also a dispute about whether the Annierans said "Simon Says" at a critical moment, but the story passes over that in silence.) The jewels vanished, but the Fangs are on the lookout for them. Guess where they turn up. (And, yes, there is a cute twist involved. Wink-wink, nudge-nudge, and so on.)

Will the Igibies survive? Will the Fangs finally discover a decent dental plan? Will Smeagol ever get back with his Precious? (Okay, the last one's a yes of sorts, but that's another story.)

Tomorrow: the good points of the story. Maybe it'll even make sense.

Other links that are probably more informative:
Sally Apokedak
Brandon Barr
Jim Black
Justin Boyer
Jackie Castle
Valerie Comer
CSFF Blog Tour
Gene Curtis
D. G. D. Davidson
Janey DeMeo
Jeff Draper
April Erwin
Beth Goddard
Marcus Goodyear
Todd Green
Jill Hart
Katie Hart
Michael Heald
Timothy Hicks
Christopher Hopper
Jason Joyner
Kait
Carol Keen
Mike Lynch
Margaret
Rachel Marks
Shannon McNear
Rebecca LuElla Miller
Pamela Morrisson
John W. Otte
Deena Peterson
Rachelle
Steve Rice
Cheryl Russel
Ashley Rutherford
Chawna Schroeder
James Somers
Donna Swanson
Steve Trower
Speculative Faith
Robert Treskillard
Jason Waguespac
Laura Williams
Timothy Wise