Shadow of a Bull (1965)

Shadow of a Bull opens with this paragraph. "When Manolo was nine he became aware of three important facts in his life. First: the older he became, the more he looked like his father. Second: he, Manolo Olivar, was a coward. Third: everyone in the town of Arcangel expected him to grow up to be a famous bullfighter, like his father." (p. 23)  Young Manolo Olivar lives in his father's shadow--his father, the great bullfighter Juan Olivar.  At his father's birth a gypsy prophesied that he (Juan) would be a great bullfighter from age 12.  And so he was.  He was the best bullfighter the town of Arcangel, Spain, had ever seen.  He toured the country.  He toured Mexico and Central America.  And then at age 22, he died, gored by a bull.

Now Manolo feels trapped, and tricked, into being something he is not.  The people of the town have taken good care of him and his mother, and he feels some obligation to them for their care, so wonders how he will ever meet their expectations yet live his own life. 

Some aficionados (dedicated fans of the art of bullfighting) begin to take Manolo to bullfights and instruct him in the art.  He practices at night when his mother has gone to sleep, for he does not want to disappoint the men or dishonor the memory of his father.  Although he doesn't actually remember him, he was very young when his father died.

One time the men took him to meet a young man who had been gored in his leg by a bull.  He was there when the doctor came to fix up the man.  Manolo observed, "As he watched the magic way the man's hands brought torn flesh together, he thought that what the doctor was doing and had done was the most noble thing a man could do.  To bring health back to the sick, to cure the wounded, save the dying.  This was what a man should do with his life; this, and not killing bulls." (p. 96-97)  At this point Manolo was able to see a different future for his life.

In the end, Manolo was able to face the bull that terrified him, and also face the the truth of his real calling in life.

He received some great advice from Alfonso Castillo, critic of bullfights.  (Critic as in "a person who judges, evaluates or analyzes"--dictionary.com)  "I have found that you cannot confuse bravery or courage with lack of fear.  Real courage, true bravery is doing things in spite of fear, knowing fear." (p. 133)  Fear and courage seem to be common themes in these Newbery books.

"Don't let people push you.  If you are honest with yourself, you will do the pushing.  But only when it is important, important to you...Be what you are, and if you don't yet know what you are, wait until you do.  Don't let anyone make that decision for you." (p. 134)

Wojciechowska, Maia.  Shadow of a Bull. Simon & Schuster, 1964.

It's Like This, Cat (1964)

I know that I have commented before about books that don't have a defined plot direction.  Beginning, middle, end; intro, rising action, climax, resolution.  It's Like This, Cat is one of those books.  While it was not entirely annoying to read, it still lacked the satisfaction that comes with resolved conflict. 

Dave Mitchell and his father argue over many things, loud shouting matches that gives Dave's mom asthma induced by the stress of living with the two of them.

Dave gets in a fight with his best friend, Nick.  A real knock down, drag out fight.  Now they are no longer best friends and Dave has to find new friends.  One of these friends is Mary, a girl who he meets on Coney Island when he was still friends with Nick.  Her parents are hippies and don't seem to care about Mary's comings and goings.  Dave sees his parents in stark contrast as they always want to know where he is going, for how long, and with whom.  He also comes to appreciates that they care.

He meets an older boy who is down on his luck, living on the streets.  Dave's dad, a lawyer, is willing and able to help Tom.  This is a turning point in the father/son relationship, although Dave doesn't realize it at the time.  He sees his dad in a different light.  And the Mitchells are able to help Tom and his girlfriend-turned-fiancee to plan for their future.

He goes to crazy "aunt" Kate, whenever he needs a listening ear and some cottage cheese.  (She thinks cottage cheese is a wonder food.)  She has several cats in her apartment, as many as 15 on some days, and it is from aunt Kate that Dave gets his cat, which he names Cat. 

Cat is a catalyst in the story (pun intended).  Through Cat, Dave meets Tom.  Through Cat, Dave meets Mary.  Because of Cat, Dave and his father learn to respect each other.

Background to one quote.  When aunt Kate's brother died, whom she hadn't seen or spoken to in over 20 years, and left her a fortune, she was devastated because she thought her simple life would have to change.  Dave observed her, "Kate is staring out the window and stroking an old stray tomcat between the ears, and it hits me: there isn't a person in the world she loves of even hates.  I like cats fine, too, but if I didn't have people that mattered, it wouldn't be so good." (p. 144)

Neville, Emily Cheney.  It's Like This, Cat.  HarperCollins, 1963.

A Wrinkle in Time (1963)

I couldn't decide on one book cover picture, and this one came in a three-pack combo...Even so, the cover of the book I read is different from these.

This is one of my favorites so far!  I remember reading it as a child and liking it and this re-read fulfilled my expectations.  It celebrates a 50 year anniversary this year.  Happy Birthday, A Wrinkle in Time!

One of the first things that caught my attention was the opening line.  "It was a dark and stormy night."  Classic.  But listen to the next paragraph.  "In her attic bedroom Margaret Murry, wrapped in an old patchwork quilt, sat on the foot of her bed and watched the trees tossing in the frenzied lashing of the wind.  Behind the trees clouds scudded frantically across the sky.  Every few moments the moon ripped through them, creating wraith-like shadows that raced along the ground."(p. 3)  Isn't that just great?!  L'Engle's writing is just super.  She did not write down to the young target audience, but brought them up.

The letters Meg's father have been sending have stopped.  He has been missing for at least a year, the government isn't telling the family anything and no body knows where he is.  Meg is very defensive and has a difficult time getting along in school and with her peers.  Her youngest brother, Charles Wallace, is just four years old but has a wisdom well beyond his years.  They, along with a new friend Calvin, have to rescue Mr. Murry. 

With the help of Mrs. Whatsit, Mrs. Who and Mrs. Which, I would describe them as angels, the three children "tesser" to another planet where Mr. Murry is imprisoned.  Tessering is a way of time/space travel in which space is bent or wrinkled and therefore takes much less travel time.  Before they arrive at their destination, they make a rest stop and are shown a dark shadow covering some planets.  '"But what is it?" Charles Wallace demanded. "We know that it's evil, but what is it?" YYouu hhave ssaidd itt!" Mrs. Which's voice rang out.  "Itt iss Eevill.  Itt iss thee Ppowers of Ddarrkknesss!"  Earth is in the shadow, but many have been fighting it."  "Who have our fighters been?" Calvin asked.  "Oh, You must know them dear...And the light shineth in darkness; and the darkness comprehendeth it not."  "Jesus!" Charles Wallace said.  "Why of course, Jesus!" (p. 88-89)

The planet Camazotz is much how I imagine Satan's plan for our "salvation," with no choices or free will (agency).  Charles Wallace, in trying to understand the system, gets drawn into it.  He argues with Meg about the merits of this new place."In the dark is correct,"Charles continued. "They want us to go on being confused instead of properly organized."  Meg shook her head violently. "NO!" she shouted. "I know our world isn't perfect, Charles, but it's better than this.  This isn't the only alternative! It can't be!" "Nobody suffers here...Nobody is ever unhappy." Charles intoned.  "But nobody's ever happy, either," Meg said earnestly. "Maybe if you aren't unhappy sometimes you don't know how to be happy." (p 142)

The only thing I didn't like was that Meg often seemed whiney. I bet that if I were in her shoes I would whine too. A definite must-read.

Here are some other quotes I liked.
Mrs. Murry to Meg.  "I don't understand it any more than you do, but one thing I've learned is that you don't have to understand things for them to be." (p. 23)

Again Mrs. Murry.  "I think that with our human limitations we're not always able to understand the explanations.  But you see, Meg, just because we don't understand doesn't mean that the explanation doesn't exist." (p. 46)

Meg fighting the evil on Camazotz.  "Her body trembled with the strength of her hatred and the strength of IT. With the last vestige of consciousness she jerked her mind and body.  Hate was nothing that IT didn't have.  It knew all about hate....Suddenly she knew.  She knew!!  Love.  That was what she had that IT did not have." (p. 207)

This is a link to an article about the book, or you can listen to a piece about it.  8 minutes long.

http://www.npr.org/2012/03/05/146161011/the-unlikely-best-seller-a-wrinkle-in-time-turns-50

L'Engle, Madeleine.  A Wrinkle in Time.  Farrar, Straus and Giroux, Inc.,1962.

The Bronze Bow (1962)

I first read The Bronze Bow in the fall of 2010, and I credit that reading with the idea to read all of the Newbery winners, which lead to the idea of blogging about them.  I thought then, "Wow! I loved this book.  What other Newberys have I missed?"  I continue finding new treasures...

Set in Galilee during the Roman occupation of Israel, The Bronze Bow tells the story of Daniel, a young Jewish boy who wants desperately to rid his land of the Romans.  Blaming the Romans for the death of his parents and the helpless condition of his sister Leah, he hates them with all of his being.  He went to the mountains to join a band of rebels who he believed would one day fight the Romans, but after several years he returns to his town when his grandmother dies and there is no one to care for his sister.

He has three friends: two young people in Capernaum, the nearest big city; and Simon the Zealot, who gives him his blacksmith shop so that he (Simon) can leave the town and follow Jesus and which will give Daniel some way to make a living, as he has been trained in blacksmithing, and care for Leah.

Daniel has a real dilemma in reconciling the things he learns from Jesus with the hate and vengeance he feels for the Romans.  Over the course of the book we see him learning to see the men on the mountain for what they really were--outlaws.  And to see the Romans for what they were--fellow human beings.  This is really a fabulous look into how this one character allowed the teachings of Jesus to change his life and bring love and happiness to him despite his circumstances. 

Some favorite quotes.  I warn that some are quite lengthy, but I do not apologize because they are so good.:

At his first hearing Jesus preach in a synagogue in his village:  "The man's figure was not in any way arresting.  He was slight, with the knotted arms and shoulders of one who has done hard labor from childhood.  He was not regal or commanding...Yet when he turned and stood before the congregation, Daniel was startled.  All at once nothing in the room was distinct to him but this man's face.  A thin face, strongly cut.  A vital, radiant face, lighted from within by a burning intensity of spirit...A shock ran through Daniel at the first words.  A gentle voice, barely raised, it carried to every corner of the room, warm, vibrant, with a promise of unlimited power.  It was as though only a fraction of that voice were being used, as though if the full force of it were unstopped it would roll like thunder." (p. 46-47)

Comparing the leader on the mountain, Rosh, to Jesus:  "Rosh looked at a man and saw a thing to be used, like a tool or a weapon.  Jesus looked and saw a child of God." (p. 111)

Daniel's conversation with Jesus:
     "Should I love the Romans who killed him?" he asked with bitterness.
     Jesus smiled.  "You think that is impossible, don't you?  Can't you see, Daniel, it is hate that is the enemy?  Not men.  Hate does not die with killing.  It only springs up a hundredfold.  The only thing stronger than hate is love."....
     "Daniel," he said.  "I would have you follow me."
     "Master!"  A great burst of hope almost swept him to his knees.  "I will fight for you to the end!"
     Jesus smiled at him gently.  "My loyal friend," he said, "I would ask something much harder than that.  Would you love for me to the end?" (p. 224-225)

Speare, Elizabeth George.  The Bronze Bow.  Houghton Mifflin, 1961.

Island of the Blue Dolphins (1961)

I have to start by saying that writing a review of a book a month after finishing it, while having read a couple of others in-between, is not ideal.  I really need to recommit to my project. 

Island of the Blue Dolphins did not seem to me, as a child, a book I would enjoy, so this is my first time reading it despite the surprise I have gotten from people who know I love to read but had not read this one.

Karana lived with her family and tribe on an isolated island in the Pacific Ocean.  They sometimes were taken advantage of by hunters who would hunt the sea otters, and this lead to conflict and bloodshed.  Mostly the islander's.  When a ship came to the island offering to take the whole tribe to a much safer and predictable place to live, the tribe decided to leave.  But on the day of departure, a storm was brewing.  Karana's younger brother, Ramo, went back for his spear (or something) and he got left on the island.  She couldn't bear to leave him alone there, so jumped off the ship and swam back to the island thinking the ship would come back soon for the two of them. 

On their second day alone wild dogs killed Ramo.  Now 12-year-old Karana was on her own.  She had to build a shelter, find food, make weapons, protect herself from the dogs.  She captured one of the dogs and tamed it so that she would have some companionship. 

She had to be very resourceful in every aspect of her solitary life on the island, which lasted for 18 years before another ship came and found her.  In all those 18 years she interacted only once with people who had come to the island.  They were hunters and she didn't trust them, so she only befriended the woman brought with them to cook, but did not make herself known to the men.

When a ship finally came that she felt good about, she met the men, ready to go.  When the men spoke to her, she did not understand anything, but here are her thoughts, "I shook my head and smiled at him.  He spoke again, slowly this time, and though his words sounded the same as before and meant nothing to me, they now seemed sweet.  They were the sound of a human voice.  There is no sound like this in all the world." (p. 178) 

Karana did now dwell on her loneliness.  She lived life in the best way she could on her own and did not complain or think of the "unfairness" of her situation.

I liked Island of the Blue Dolphins better than I expected.  It doesn't drag as I thought it would and I enjoyed it even more when I learned that the story is based on a true story.  In the author's note at the end of the book, Scott O'Dell wrote, "The girl Robinson Crusoe whose story I have attempted to re-create actually lived alone upon this island from 1835-1853, and is known to history as The Lost Woman of San Nicolas."  He then sketches the brief facts known about her.

O'Dell, Scott.  Island of the Blue Dolphins. Random House, 1960.